NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, January 3

NBA DFS Picks: DraftKings Plays and Strategy for Wednesday, January 3

This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.

Slate Overview

WAS at CLE: Wizards 3-15 on road; Cavs on two-game slide    

MIL at IND: Second of back-to-back meetings, after Pacers defeated Bucks in Milwaukee on Monday

OKC at ATL: Thunder on five-game win streak and face second game of back-to-back; Hawks 4-9 at home 

BKN at HOU: Nets on four-game slide and face second game of back-to-back; Rockets 13-5 at home 

NOP at MIN: Pelicans on three-game win streak and face second game of back-to-back; Timberwolves 14-1 at home

TOR at MEM: Raptors 4-11 on road; Grizzlies 3-12 at home and face second game of back-to-back

POR at DAL: Trail Blazers 3-7 in last 10 games; Mavs 4-6 in last 10 games

CHI at NYK: Bulls 4-11 on road and face second game of back-to-back; Knicks 9-4 at home 

LAC at PHX: Clippers on three-game win streak; Suns on four-game win streak

DET at UTA: Pistons 1-9 in last 10 games; Jazz on two-game win streak

MIA at LAL: Heat on two-game slide; Lakers 3-7 in last 10 games

ORL at SAC: Magic on two-game slide and face second game of back-to-back; Kings 11-6 at home and face second game of back-to-back

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 to Monitor  

For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report       

CLE - Darius Garland (jaw); Evan Mobley (knee): OUT
Dean Wade is up for another start in place of Mobley. Caris LeVert and Sam Merrill will continue to see more opportunity in the backcourt.     

MIL - Pat Connaugthon (illness), Khris Middleton (knee): Questionable
MarJon Beauchamp could get a boost.

IND - Bruce Brown (knee), Andrew Nembhard (back): Questionable 
Aaron Nesmith is in line for a bigger role. 

HOU - Tari Eason (leg), Dillon Brooks (oblique): OUT
Jae'Sean Tate and Jeff Green are up for more action.   

NOP - Trey Murphy (knee): Questionable 
Naji Marshall and Dyson Daniels could get more opportunity. 

MEM - Derrick Rose (thigh): OUT
Luke Kennard and Vince Williams are in line for extra playing time.

POR - Moses Brown (wrist), Toumani Camara (knee), Anfernee Simons (illness),Duop Reath (back): Questionable; Deandre Ayton (knee): OUT
Scoot Henderson and Malcolm Brogdon get a boost in the backcourt. Jabari Walker and Ibou Badji are in line for more opportunity in the frontcourt.   

DAL - Maxi Kleber (toe), Dante Exum (heel): OUT
Josh Green and Derrick Jones get a boost without Exum. Dwight Powell continues to see more action without Kleber.     

CHI - Coby White (ankle), Patrick Williams (ankle): Questionable; Nikola Vucevic (groin), Torrey Craig (heel), Zach LaVine (foot): OUT
Ayo Dosunmu and Jevon Carter continue to get more playing time in the absence of LaVine. Andre Drummond is up for another start in place of Vucevic.         

PHX - Kevin Durant (hamstring): OUT
Eric Gordon, Chimezie Metu and Josh Okogie are likely to all get additional minutes. 

DET - Isaiah Stewart (toe): OUT
Kevin Knox is up for another start. 

MIA - Josh Richardson (back): Questionable; Caleb Martin (ankle): Doubtful; Jimmy Butler (foot), Haywood Highsmith (concussion): OUT
Jaime Jaquez, Duncan Robinson and Kevin Love remain up for more action.  

LAL - Anthony Davis (ankle): Probable; LeBron James (illness), Cam Reddish (groin): Questionable; D'Angelo Russell (lower body): Doubtful; Rui Hachimura (calf), Gabe Vincent (knee): OUT
Austin Reaves and Christian Wood are up for more responsibility. 

ORL - Markelle Fultz (knee), Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), Joe Ingles (ankle): OUT
Cole Anthony and Anthony Black continue to get a more opportunity in the backcourt. Goga Bitadze also remains in line for a boost without Isaac and Ingles.       

Elite Players

Guards

James Harden, Clippers ($8,700) at Suns

Harden surpassed 40 DK points in four of the last five games, including two with more than 50 and a high of 55.5. He faces a great opportunity to thrive against the Suns, who give up the league's sixth-most points per game to opposing point guards. The Suns will also be at a disadvantage on the defensive end, without Kevin Durant in the lineup. 

Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers ($9,500) vs. Wizards 

After returning from a four-game absence, Mitchell delivered two impressive performances, including a high of 61 DK points in the game-before-last. He is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.9 steals on the season, and he is likely to shine against the Wizards, who are giving up a league-high 126.2 points per game. 

Forwards/Centers

Kawhi Leonard, Clippers ($8,400) at Suns 

Leonard returned from a four-game absence to drop 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and a block, for a total of 49 DK points in the last game. Leonard also topped 50 DK points in two of the three games prior to his absence and is averaging 24.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals on the season. Additionally, he is up for a favorable matchup in the absence of Kevin Durant.

Lauri Markkanen, Jazz ($8,100) vs. Pistons 

Markkanen is coming off a couple of quieter outings, but he topped 45 DK points in the previous three games, including a high of 56.3. He faces a great opportunity to stand out against the Pistons, who give up the league's seventh-most points per game to opposing power forwards and remain shorthanded in the frontcourt.

Chet Holmgren, Thunder ($8,000) at Hawks

Holmgren continues to impress, averaging 18.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.4 blocks over the last 10 games, including six games with more than 40 DK points. Despite facing the second game of a back-to-back, he should excel against the Hawks, who give up the league's fifth-most points and eighth-most rebounds per game to opposing centers. 

Expected Chalk 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder ($10,500) at Hawks 

Gilgeous-Alexander continues to deliver massive numbers, including 36 points, six rebounds, seven assists and a steal on Tuesday night in a win over the Celtics. He is averaging 33.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 2.2 steals over the last 10 games, including two with more than 60 DK points and a high of 67. He is likely to keep rolling against the Hawks, who give up the league's fourth-most points per game. 

Mid-Range Money 

O.G. Anunoby, Knicks ($5,600) vs. Bulls

Anunoby seemed to thrive in his first game with the Knicks, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds and two steals for a total of 31 DK points. He is averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals on the season and should continue to make his mark with a defined role on his new squad. He is also likely to have success from long range against the Bulls, who give up the league's sixth-most three-pointers per game. 

John Collins, Jazz ($5,300) vs. Pistons

Collins is averaging 10.5 points and 6.8 rebounds over six consecutive starts, including a high of 30.3 DK points. He also has three games with more than 40 DK points among 30 appearances this season, including a high of 52.3. Collins has a good chance to stand out against the Pistons, who give up the league's sixth-most points in the paint and remain shorthanded in the frontcourt. 

Jarrett Allen, Nets ($7,800) vs. Wizards

Allen surpassed 55 DK points in three of the last five outings, including a high of 65.3 DK points, while averaging 20.6 points, 14.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.0 steals over that span. He faces an excellent opportunity to prosper against the Wizards, who give up the league's most points and most rebounds per game to opposing centers.

Value Picks

Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls ($4,900) at Knicks

Dosunmu continues to pick up extra playing time in the absence of Zach LaVine. Dosunmu is averaging 12.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals over the last 10 games, including two games with more than 40 DK points. 

Kris Dunn, Jazz ($4,700) vs. Pistons 

Dunn is finding his groove, averaging 6.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists through six consecutive starts, including two games with more than 40 DK points. He is up for a favorable matchup against the Pistons' struggling defense, which concedes the league's second-most points per game to opposing point guards. 

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including – but not limited to – games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Dan Bruno plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: duelingdan.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dan Bruno
Dan has been writing all things NBA for RotoWire since 2014. He is an active fantasy sports player, with a love for DFS. Dan is a certified Coach with the Ontario Basketball Association and is a recreation professional in his home city.
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