Alex Hunter breaks down his top DraftKings DFS targets and value plays for the NBA slate on Wednesday, November 12.
Wednesday’s main NBA DFS slate on DraftKings begins at 7:00 PM EST and includes the first games of the night. DraftKings continues to offer huge contests for DFS players, and below, I break down some of my favorite NBA DFS options at each position for Wednesday’s NBA action.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $333K Zone Special [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Derrick White, Boston Celtics vs. Memphis Grizzlies, $7,300
It took some time, but White is finally starting to adjust to his new role for the Celtics with Jayson Tatum (Achilles) sidelined. After an inconsistent start to the season, White has scored at least 35 FPTS in five straight games. With Tatum on the shelf, White is handling a career-high 23.2% usage rate and he is scoring 1.0 FPTS per minute this season.
White has struggled with his outside shot, shooting a career-low 28% on three-pointers, but he has showed some progress in that department, knocking down at least three three-pointers in back-to-back starts. In a prime matchup vs. the Grizzlies tonight, White should continue to improve as a shooter and he is a threat for 40 FPTS. Memphis ranks fourth in pace, 20th in defensive rating and the club is playing its second game in two nights.
Other Options: Cade Cunningham ($10,900, if he plays), Jrue Holiday ($7,500), Jaime Jaquez ($7,300)
Value
Craig Porter, Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat, $3,200
The Cavaliers are going to be very understaffed tonight. Donovan Mitchell (rest), Evan Mobley (rest), Darius Garland (toe) and Jaylon Tyson (head) are all out. Porter might not start in this situation, but nonetheless, he should see around 25 minutes of work, which is more than enough time for him to beat his near-minimum salary against this Heat team that leads the league in pace this season.
In the 75 minutes Porter has played with Mitchell, Mobley, Garland and Tyson off the floor the last two seasons, Porter is producing 0.8 FPTS per minute with an 18.4% usage rate and a 17.3% assist rate.
Other Options: Kon Knueppel ($6,600), Ryan Rollins ($6,100), Sam Merrill ($4,500), Lonzo Ball ($4,500)
Forward
Stud
Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, $8,600
With LaMelo Ball (ankle) and Brandon Miller (shoulder) both out for the fifth game in a row tonight, Bridges is a strong spend. The forward went off for 58 FPTS vs. the Lakers on Monday and in the 27 starts Bridges has made without Ball and Miller the last two seasons, he is amassing 40.7 FPTS per game with a team-high 31% usage rate.
The Bucks have struggled defensively this season, ranking 20th in defensive rating and Bridges has a ceiling well over 50 FPTS in this spot.
Other Options: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,700), Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,000), Deni Avdija ($8,700)
Value
De’Andre Hunter, Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat, $6,500
Hunter has scored at least 36 FPTS in back-to-back games, despite the Cavaliers being mostly at full strength. Now, with Cleveland extremely depleted tonight, Hunter should operate as the team’s main player and he should destroy this mid-tier salary facing the fast-paced Heat in this slate-high total – this game carries a 238.5-point total on DraftKings Sportsbook.
In the 79 minutes Hunter has played with Mitchell, Mobley, Garland and Tyson off the court the last two seasons, Hunter is handling a team-high 27% usage rate and he is generating 1.23 FPTS per minute. Hunter has 50 FPTS upside tonight and while he will be popular, he is good chalk to embrace at this affordable salary.
Other Options: Saddiq Bey ($4,800), Dean Wade ($4,100), Jordan Walsh ($3,900)
Center
Stud
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards, $9,300
Sengun has been excellent playing alongside Kevin Durant this season, averaging 50 FPTS per game. Even with Durant in town, Sengun is leading the Rockets with a 25.8% usage rate and his 35.9% assist rate is a career-high for the big man.
Sengun is supplying 1.4 FPTS per minute this season and Houston carries the highest implied team total on the slate hosting the lowly Wizards tonight (125.5 points). Washington ranks third in pace, second-to-last in defensive rating and it is allowing the second-most points in the paint. In this beautiful spot, Sengun should put up a Nikola Jokic-like stat line of over 50 FPTS.
Other Options: Victor Wembanyama ($11,600), Jalen Duren ($8,300), Alex Sarr ($7,300)
Value
Jalen Smith, Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons, $4,100
Smith has been flourishing as the Bulls’ backup center, posting back-to-back double-doubles of 42.75 FPTS vs. the Cavaliers and 30.5 FPTS vs. the Spurs, despite both of these being difficult matchups. Smith is leading the Bulls with 1.3 FPTS per minute this season and his 23.9% usage rate ranks second for the team, trailing only Josh Giddey.
Smith has been extremely aggressive when on the floor and with 15-20 minutes off the bench tonight, the veteran has a great chance to top 20 FPTS, regardless of this being a tough matchup vs. the Pistons, who rank fourth in defensive rating.
Other Options: Neemias Queta ($5,000), Derik Queen ($4,900), Luka Garza ($3,300)
