This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The NBA is rolling out a 15-game offering for the penultimate slate before the All-Star break. FanDuel's featured contests will include 28 teams, with the first tip-off occurring at 7:00 p.m. ET.
SLATE OVERVIEW
For the latest spreads and over-unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
INJURIES
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report. Below are some of the most recent and relevant injuries for Wednesday. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list. Use your best judgment when evaluating ongoing injury scenarios elsewhere on the slate.
MIL Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) - OUT
Giannis will be out through the All-Star break, and currently, Kyle Kuzma's ($6,500) salary and corresponding production have emerged as a better alternative than Bobby Portis.
CHA LaMelo Ball (ankle) -OUT
CHA Mark Williams (NIR) - OUT
CHA Moussa Diabate (eye) - QUESTIONABLE
Nick Smith ($5,000) is off the injury report, so he is worth a look as Ball's replacement. Due to the interior shortage, the Hornets will also call for Jusuf Nurkic ($5,600).
HOU Alperen Sengun (back) - QUESTIONABLE
Sengun should be monitored leading up to tip-off, but I'm not inclined to select a pivot for him with many other available slots on the slate.
BOS Jaylen Brown (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
I think the Celtics will exercise caution before the break and sit Brown. Look for Payton Pritchard ($6,100) to have a larger role in Brown's absence.
NOP CJ McCollum (personal) - QUESTIONABLE
If McCollum misses again, Jose Alvarado ($5,000) will see a production spike.
OKC Chet Holmgren (rest) - OUT
Isaiah Hartenstein ($7,400) will prop up the Thunder's frontcourt while Holmgren takes a seat.
DAL Daniel Gafford (knee) - OUT
This is bad news for the Mavericks, who already lost Anthony Davis for an extended period. P.J. Washington's ($7,000) role will increase, and he's the top guy to consider over a group of third-unit guys vying for time. There's a chance Washington could miss as well, in which case I would just fade the spot and look elsewhere.
POR Deandre Ayton (calf) - OUT
POR Scoot Henderson (ankle) - OUT
POR Jerami Grant (knee) - QUESTIONABLE
The big question is whether Portland will use caution and shut down Grant before the break. It's a tough game against Denver, but I'd look at the starting lineup and make a selection or two. Donovan Clingan ($5,200) should draw the start for Ayton.
IND Myles Turner (neck) - OUT
Thomas Bryant ($5,500) should be a popular pivot as the Pacers face the lowly Wizards on Wednesday night.
ELITE PLAYERS
The massive slate has seven players listed at $10k or higher. I think we can get away with fading the entire group due to the sheer number of elite options in the $8k and $9k range.
Domantas Sabonis ($9,700) and Karl-Anthony Towns ($9,600) work as expensive big men off the board, but I have a feeling I'll be filling the center spot with a budget call, so Sabonis and his dual eligibility make for a better pick over Towns. Damian Lillard ($9,500) has poured in big totals amid Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence, so he's my first guard off the board.
At the $8k level, I like Kyrie Irving's ($8,900) salary against the Warriors, and Myles Turner's absence compels me to give more exposure to Pascal Siakam ($8,200).
Also consider: Franz Wagner, ORL ($8,800) vs. CHA
EXPECTED CHALK AND OTHER TARGETS
Trey Murphy, NOP ($8,300) vs. SAC
Without McCollum, the Pelicans will be down one scoring weapon, and Murphy's recent history indicates that he'll rise to the occasion against the new-look Kings at home. The 22-year-old is enjoying a huge season in a starting role, and he should keep rolling in this spot.
Josh Hart, NYK ($7,800) vs. ATL
Although the Knicks will be playing the tail end of a back-to-back, I'll happily take Hart against the Hawks as he continues to rack up superlative totals. Hart hit a season-high 30 points in his last game, and back-to-back situations have had little effect on his results this season.
Zach LaVine, SAC ($7,300) @ NOP
I think we can begin to trust LaVine as he settles into his new role, although I still think you can do well with Malik Monk ($7,800) and DeMar DeRozan ($7,800). The trio is bunched very close together, and deciding the top producer is a toss-up, but taking LaVine at a slightly lower salary could reap benefits as his role continues to expand.
Jalen Green, HOU ($7,200) vs. PHO
Green already sets up well amid Fred VanVleet's (ankle) absence, and a potential scratch from Sengun should send even more production potential Green's way. Although his shooting has been a bit volatile recently, his secondary contributions have padded his results effectively.
Also consider: Bilal Coulibaly, WAS ($6,400) vs. IND
VALUE PLAYS
Although our best budget options are currently in the injury section, I'll add some of my favorites below $6,000, with a player at each position.
PG/SG Keon Ellis, SAC ($4,500)
SG/SF Quentin Grimes, PHI ($4,800)
SF/SG Toumani Camara, POR ($5,600)
PF Guerschon Yabusele, PHI ($5,400)
C Nick Richards, PHX ($4,800)
