This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There will be no shortage of action across the NBA on Wednesday with nine games on the schedule. Let's get right down to business and discuss some players to consider for your Yahoo entries, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Kyrie Irving, BKN vs. NO ($46): After James Harden (hamstring) went down early in Monday's game against the Knicks, it became the Irving show. He nailed 15 of his 28 shot attempts on his way to 40 points, helping them earn a narrow victory. Harden is going to be out for at least 10 days, so expect Irving to be extremely aggressive in a great matchup against a Pelicans team that has the third-worst defensive rating in the league.
R.J. Hampton, ORL vs. WAS ($11): The Magic eased Hampton into action after acquiring him for the Nuggets, which resulted in him logging 17 minutes or fewer in each of his first three games with the team. However, he's played at least 31 minutes in back-to-back contests, which included starting Sunday against his former squad. He scored at least 28.6 Yahoo points in both of those games, so he could be well worth the risk at such a cheap salary, especially facing a Wizards team that has played at the fastest pace in the league.
Guard to Avoid
Devin Booker, PHO vs. UTA ($36): Suggesting it might be a good idea to avoid Booker might same crazy on the surface, especially since he has scored at least 49.7 Yahoo points in three of his last five games. However, this has the makings of a low-scoring game between two of the best defensive teams in the league. The last time he faced the Jazz, Booker scored a modest 36.1 Yahoo points. For a night with a ton of viable options, Booker isn't overly appealing.
FORWARDS
Chuma Okeke, ORL vs. WAS ($20): With this favorable matchup and a thin depth chart, Hampton isn't the only player on the Magic to consider. Okeke has become one of their main offensive weapons, averaging 16.3 points and 2.0 three-pointers over the last seven games. He's not just scoring, either, averaging 5.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals during that stretch.
Miles Bridges, CHA at OKC ($14): This is going to be a rough stretch for the Hornets with LaMelo Ball (wrist), Gordon Hayward (foot) and Malik Monk (ankle) all out. Bridges had been pushed to a reserve role this season, but he's logged at least 30 minutes in four of the last five games because of all of their injuries. He's generally played well when given the opportunity, averaging 14.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists across 10 games in which he has logged at least 30 minutes.
Forward to Avoid
Kevin Durant, BKN vs. NO ($48): The bad news for the Nets is that they will now have to play without Harden. The good news is that Durant (hamstring) is expected to make his return for this game. As exciting as that is, he hasn't played in nearly two months. Expect him to be eased back into action with limited minutes.
CENTERS
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN at IND ($50): Towns has been demolishing the opposition lately, scoring at least 50.4 Yahoo points in eight of his last nine games. On the surface, this might seem like a tough matchup against a Pacers team that has normally been a good defensive team. However, they could be severely compromised up front after Myles Turner was forced to leave Tuesday's game against the Bulls with an ankle injury. With the expectation that he likely sits this game out, Towns could continue to thrive.
Wendell Carter Jr., ORL vs. WAS ($18): Carter badly needed a change of scenery. He could never lived up to lofty expectations with the Bulls, starting off his career with a mixture of underwhelming play and frequent injuries. However, he's healthy now and looks to be refreshed playing for the Magic. He's logged at least 30 minutes in three straight games, cashing in his added playing for at least 39.4 Yahoo points in each contest.
Center to Avoid
Moses Brown, OKC vs. CHA ($26): Brown has come out of nowhere to be a significant contributor for the rebuilding Thunder. However, he's cooled off a bit lately, scoring 25.8 Yahoo points or fewer in each of the last four games. He can explode any given night, but with Carter playing well and having a significantly cheaper salary, Brown might not be a wise addition to your lineup.
