This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Wednesday will be an eventful night in the NBA with 11 games on the schedule. The Hawks, Celtics, Pacers, Timberwolves, Grizzlies and Suns will all be playing the second game of a back-to-back set, so rest situations could come into play. The Bulls will be in action, which means DeMar DeRozan will have a chance to make history. He has a six-game streak of scoring at least 35 points and shooting at least 50 percent from the field, which ties him with Wilt Chamberlain for the most such consecutive games in NBA history. He will try to break the record against the Kings, who have the second-worst defensive rating in the league. Let's get down to business and highlight some players to consider for your Yahoo lineups, as well as a few to possibly avoid.
GUARDS
Tyrese Haliburton, IND vs. WAS ($34): The Pacers have wasted no time throwing Haliburton into a leading role. He's logged at least 36 minutes in all three games since joining the team, which he turned into at least 44.8 Yahoo points two times. With the expectation that Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) is held out again, Haliburton could produce another juicy stat line.
Seth Curry, BKN at NY ($19): Curry was busy in his first game for the Nets, scoring 23 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the field. He logged 32 minutes, also contributing seven rebounds and five assists. With Kyrie Irving out, Curry should again have one of the highest usage rates on the team. At this salary, that makes him an appealing option, even against a Knicks team that has played at the second-slowest pace in the league.
Guard to Avoid
Jordan Poole, GS vs. DEN ($19): Poole is usually only a viable option in DFS when Klay Thompson sits for rest. Poole hasn't scored more than 27.1 Yahoo points in any of the last four games, one of which Thompson even sat out. Curry has the same salary as Poole, but he has a much more significant role for the Nets. There will be nights when Poole is still appealing, but this might not be one of them.
FORWARDS
DeMar DeRozan, CHI vs. SAC ($46): Anytime a player is in the same rarified-air as Chamberlain, you have to stand up and take notice. DeRozan will look to break Chamberlain's record against a Kings team that has the second-worst defensive rating in the league. Add Zach LaVine (knee) being out again and the result could be another monster scoring performance from him.
Buddy Hield, IND vs. WAS ($16): Hield went from a crowded situation in Sacramento to a Pacers team that needs his scoring, especially with Chris Duarte (toe) out. He's attempted at least 17 shots in all three games since joining the team, including 20 shot attempts Tuesday when he hung 36 points on the Bucks. Duarte won't play again in this game, leaving Hield with the potential to provide value.
Forward to Avoid
Jerami Grant, DET at BOS ($25): Amazingly, the rebuilding Pistons decided not to move Grant at the trade deadline. He's been quiet of late, scoring fewer than 30 Yahoo points in five of their last six games. This game has plenty of blowout potential against a Celtics team that has the second-best defensive rating, which makes Grant very risky considering his salary doesn't come at much of a discount.
CENTERS
Nikola Vucevic, CHI vs. SAC ($42): While DeRozan has grabbed all of the headlines in Chicago, Vucevic is also playing extremely well. During DeRozan's masterful last six games, Vucevic has averaged 22.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 blocks. Expect him to have a high floor with LaVine out again.
Jakob Poeltl, SA at OKC ($28): The Thunder are a mess at the center position, which has contributed to them allowing the most rebounds per game in the league. That makes them a great matchup for Poeltl, who is averaging a career-high 9.0 rebounds per game. He only needed to play 26 minutes in a blowout victory against them in January, but he still scored 42.6 Yahoo points.
Center to Avoid
Nicolas Claxton, BKN at NY ($19): Things aren't looking good for Claxton. While he was cleared to return following an injury to his hamstring, he did not take the floor at all Monday against the Kings. Andre Drummond logged 24 minutes, LaMarcus Aldridge played 19 minutes and even Blake Griffin played three minutes. With the possibility that Claxton has fallen out of their rotation entirely, don't even think about adding him to your lineup.
