This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
Wednesday's nine-game slate kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET. Significant events have popped up after these articles publish every night this week, so please keep in mind that the last editing eyes on this article occur around 9:30-10 a.m. ET. Late-breaking COVID news won't be updated here, and it's even more important to pay attention to the news cycle.
SLATE OVERVIEW
NYK (-6) @ DET O/U: 206.5
IND (-2.5) vs. CHA O/U: 227.5
BOS (-5.5) vs. LAC O/U: 211.5
CHI (-8.5) vs. ATL O/U: 220.5
MEM (-4.5) vs. LAL O/U: 225.5
SAS (-3) vs. MIA O/U:215.5
PHO (-14.5) vs. OKC O/U: 216.5
UTA (-6.5) @ POR O/U: 229.5
DAL (-1.5) @ SAC O/U: 219.5
BACK-TO-BACK GAMES: Thunder, Kings, Lakers, Knicks
INJURIES
DET Cade Cunningham (COVID-19 Protocols) - QUESTIONABLE
DET Jerami Grant (thumb) - OUT
DET Cory Joseph (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DET Trey Lyles (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DET Isaiah Stewart (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DET Saben Lee (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DET Killian Hayes (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DET Josh Jackson (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Derrick Walton ($4,000) came out of nowhere to score 19 points three nights ago, so he's an interesting pivot to consider. If Cunningham misses, Saddiq Bey ($6,400) will be the top performer for Detroit, with Hamidou Diallo ($6,000) and Frank Jackson ($5,500) providing support. I doubt I want to pivot to a center for this team, but Luka Garza ($4,700) will likely be the first man up.
CHA Miles Bridges (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
CHA P.J. Washington (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Terry Rozier ($6,400) and Mason Plumlee ($4,700) have seen the most significant boost during these absences, although the rest of the starters have also absorbed some of the output.
IND Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) - QUESTIONABLE
An Achilles injury is no joke, so expect Brogdon to be out. Caris LeVert ($6,600) should be set to smash again in his place.
LAC Paul George (elbow) - OUT
LAC Reggie Jackson (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
LAC Nicolas Batum (ankle) - OUT
LAC Isaiah Hartenstein (ankle) - OUT
Eric Bledsoe ($5,500) and Marcus Morris ($6,500) figure to be the top pivots here.
BOS Dennis Schroder (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
BOS Marcus Smart (hand) - QUESTIONABLE
BOS Enes Freedom (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Keep riding Al Horford ($7,000) and Robert Williams ($6,500) with Freedom out, and we will see more of Josh Richardson ($4,800) if Smart sits.
ATL John Collins (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ATL Delon Wright (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ATL Bogdan Bogdanovic (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ATL Kevin Huerter (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ATL Danilo Gallinari (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ATL Gorgui Dieng (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
ATL Onyeka Okongwu (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
There's a lot to process here. Cam Reddish ($5,400) and Skylar Mays ($4,300) should be the best pivots, but Chaundee Brown ($3,800) will also be in line for an enhanced role.
CHI Lonzo Ball (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
CHI Alex Caruso (foot) - OUT
CHI Derrick Jones (hamstring) - QUESTIONABLE
We've mentioned many pivots for this spot before, but it's looking like you should only look at Zach LaVine ($8,600) if you want to take advantage of this spot. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu haven't done enough to warrant serious consideration.
LAL Kent Bazemore (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
In Bazemore's absence, Stanley Johnson ($3,900) will have an enhanced role.
MEM Dillon Brooks (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
MEM De'Anthony Melton (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Desmond Bane ($7,600) should continue to put up great numbers in this scenario.
MIA Bam Adebayo (thumb) - OUT
MIA Kyle Lowry (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
MIA Max Strus (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
MIA Dewayne Dedmon (knee) - OUT
MIA P.J. Tucker (leg) - OUT
The starters will shoulder a heavier load here, while Gabe Vincent ($5,700), Duncan Robinson ($4,700), Caleb Martin ($5,300) and Omer Yurtseven ($5,500) will all work as Atlanta pivots.
SAS Dejounte Murray (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
I'll take Derrick White ($8,000) despite the elevated salary.
OKC Josh Giddey (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
OKC Darius Bazley (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
OKC Derrick Favors (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
OKC Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Isaiah Roby ($3,500) will take over center duties in this spot, while Aaron Wiggins ($5,200) should continue to have an impact.
PHO Deandre Ayton (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
PHO Frank Kaminsky (knee) - OUT
PHO Jae Crowder (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
JaVale McGee ($5,200) will fill in for Ayton until he is out of protocols.
UTA Donovan Mitchell (back) - OUT
Mike Conley ($7,100) and Jordan Clarkson ($6,100) are your best Mitchell pivots.
POR CJ McCollum (lung) - OUT
POR Jusuf Nurkic (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
POR Dennis Smith (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
POR Robert Covington (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
Nassir Little ($6,500) and Larry Nance ($5,700) are both fine pivots.
DAL Luka Doncic (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DAL Tim Hardaway (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DAL Trey Burke (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
DAL Maxi Kleber (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
We'll discuss Dallas pivots later in the article.
SAC Davion Mitchell (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
SAC Alex Len (COVID-19 Protocols) - OUT
There's not much movement here in the form of pivots.
ELITE PLAYERS
As one might suspect, Trae Young ($9,700) leads the pack of elites as he tries to carry his team amid the litany of COVID-related absences. DeMar DeRozan ($9,200) and the Bulls will be on hand to try and take advantage of the Hawks, so he also gets a nod in the elite ranks. I also expect a great night from Damian Lillard ($9,000), whose salary is very appealing as he faces a battle similar to Young's.
Elsewhere, Kristaps Porzingis ($8,900) and Julius Randle ($8,700) are the two best big men to target up top, followed closely by Rudy Gobert ($9,100) and Domantas Sabonis ($8,300). Of the group, I prefer Randle and Gobert as they both find themselves pitted against teams with depleted frontcourts.
Also consider: Jimmy Butler, MIA ($8,500) @ SAS, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC ($8,300) @ PHO
EXPECTED CHALK AND CORE TARGETS
Jaylen Brown, BOS ($8,800) vs. LAC
You'd expect Paul George to lineup opposite Brown or Jayson Tatum in a normal setting. In either case, George's absence leaves a gaping hole for the Celtics to exploit, and if both Smart and Schroder miss, I like Brown over Tatum in a scenario that remains static for Tatum. With the backcourt absences, Brown will probably get an assist bump and more perimeter scoring. He's also logged four consecutive games with 40 or more points, and while he really needs around 44 FP to pay off, it's too good of a spot against the Clippers.
Jalen Brunson, DAL ($7,400) @ SAC
I don't think we are overvaluing Brunson, even though he hasn't absorbed Doncic's production as consistently as we'd like. He has the upside to push his total above 40 FP, and Brunson's salary would definitely pay off with a number like that. Even though Sacramento's backcourt is healthy, Brunson has a very reliable assist target in Porzngis. The big man's ability to get open will likely be the difference-maker in this contest, and Brunson is the top guy to deliver him the ball.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC ($7,400) vs. DAL
The other side of this matchup also works with Fox, who let Tyrese Haliburton take the lead in the first half of the back-to-back. I believe it will be Fox's turn this time, and at this historic low for Fox, we should snap-click him in a good number of lineups. If he can get a handle on turnovers, a hot hand could put Fox well over 5x value at this salary.
Also consider: Clint Capela, ATL ($8,000) @ CHI
VALUE PLAYS
My top value plays from the injury section: Reddish, Nance, Bey and LeVert.
Norman Powell, POR ($6,100) vs. UTS
Although the Jazz are a formidable opponent, the absences for the Trail Blazers give Powell maximum opportunity to beat value at this salary. Powell's ability to rack up secondary numbers (especially rebounds) will be a great help, and he can pick up a few more without Jusuf Nurkic lurking under the basket. I'm also a fan of Anfernee Simons ($3,700), who we'll often see in the backcourt tonight.
Kyle Anderson, MEM ($5,100) vs. LAL
I was somewhat surprised that Anderson showed up as much as he did in my builds, but a second look made me realize what a good spot this could be. When Anderson gets in the right situation, he can provide rebound support and decent mid-range scoring. Without Anthony Davis, Anderson would be able to sneak by while LeBron James tries to contain Ja Morant.
Also consider: Cameron Johnson, PHO ($5,300) vs. OKC. Tyler Herro, MIA ($6,200) @ SAS
