We're set for an eight-game slate Wednesday, one that's actually smaller by two games than the unusually robust 10-game ledger we had Tuesday night that consisted of In-Season Tournament Group Play games.
We have some big names carrying injury designations as usual on Wednesday, but with 16 teams in action, we shouldn't have much trouble finding viable options across the salary cap in what is still an expansive player pool.
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 11/15/23. Remember to monitor NBA injury news and our awesome new NBA injuries report tool as the slate can completely change before lineups lock. Good luck Rotoballers!
DraftKings and FanDuel Guards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Luka Doncic - PG, DAL at WAS ($12,100 DK, $12,000 FD)
The case for Doncic kind of writes itself, considering the MVP-worthy first month of the season he's enjoying. Doncic did run into a tough matchup Tuesday against Herbert Jones and the Pelicans, but that's an outlier that won't replicate itself against a highly porous Wizards squad Wednesday.
Washington has been a sieve defensively all season and surrendered the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (30.8). Meanwhile, Doncic has made 60+ fantasy points the norm early this season, making even his sky-high salaries look like a bargain if he goes for one of what's turned out to be "average" performances thus far in the current campaign.
LUKA DONCIC IS LOSING HIS MIND 🔥
40+ points (+500) ✅
6+ threes (+650) ✅(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/J8dAK5TzIx
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) November 11, 2023
Donovan Mitchell - PG/SG, CLE at POR ($9,500 DK, $9,700 FD)
Mitchell has already delivered multiple performances worthy of a five-figure salary this season, so nabbing him at his current figures and in this matchup makes him a very prudent investment if you're paying up at guard Wednesday. The sharpshooting wing is averaging just under 50 fantasy points per game, and he's actually been a better three-point shooter on the road (37.5% in six games).
The Trail Blazers have allowed an NBA-high 32.4 offensive efficiency rating to shooting guards, along with 38.6 percent three-point shooting to the position. Mitchell has been in a shooting slump the last three games, which has helped bring down his salary, but the Blazers could well be the cure for what ails him and help him overdeliver Wednesday.
Malik Monk - PG/SG, SAC at LAL ($5,900 DK, $5,700 FD)
Monk is another potential "late-night hammer" for your lineups on Wednesday that could offer a strong return on investment. The veteran guard is averaging just under 30 fantasy points per game and has been under 20 just twice so far this season despite filling a bench role that's yielding a relatively modest 23.5 minutes per contest.
Monk has actually shot better on the road than at home, and he faces a Lakers team that's conceding elevated 44.0 % three-point shooting to two-guards. The Kings-Lakers matchup could well turn into a wire-to-wire affair, and Monk is heavily relied on as a source of scoring on the second unit that could even see a minutes uptick in what's the potentially hotly contested game.
Others to consider: Anthony Edwards - SG/SF, MIN at PHO ($8,900 DK, $9,600 FD); Zach LaVine - SG/SF, CHI vs. ORL ($7,700 DK, $7,900)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Forwards - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Scottie Barnes - SF/PG, TOR vs. MIL ($9,200 DK, $9,500 FD)
The exit of Fred VanVleet to the Rockets this offseason opened up plenty of usage, and Barnes seems to have absorbed a significant chunk of it. The third-year pro is averaging career highs across the stat sheet, even standing out in defensive categories with 1.8 blocks and 1.8 steals. Barnes is averaging just under 50 fantasy points per contest as well, making him a very strong play despite the elevated salaries.
The Bucks have allowed the 10th-highest offensive efficiency rating to small forwards (23.1), and Barnes already hung 51.5 DK/48.9 FD points on Milwaukee in the one previous meeting with the Bucks this season. With four games of over 50 DK points and three of over 50 FD points, Barnes' upside is too much to bypass in what should be a very competitive game.
Scottie Barnes Signature "Look Back" On A Fast Break 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/pbmq71TvCd
— BASKETBALL ON 𝕏 (@BasketballOnX) November 8, 2023
Paolo Banchero - SF/PF, ORL at CHI ($7,700 DK, $7,900 FD)
Banchero has stepped up his production after a relatively slow start to the season, scoring over 20 actual points in four of his last six games and falling just short Tuesday with 19. The second-year star is averaging just under 40 fantasy points per game and he's shooting an impressive 41.2 percent from three-point range in five road games
The Bulls will be short-handed Wednesday, as DeMar DeRozan will miss the game due to a personal matter. That should help open the door for more production for Banchero, who's also in a good spot against a unit that's allowing 52.0 percent shooting to power forwards, including 44.4 percent from behind the arc.
Max Strus - SF/SG, CLE at POR ($5,600 DK, $5,800 FD)
Strus has had a couple of shooting clunkers, but he's generally been even better than expected during the early portion of his first season with the Cavs. The former Heat wing is averaging a career-best 14.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, clocking over 30 points per game in the process. Strus has been at his best on the road as well, shooting 52.4 percent, including 45.2 percent from three-point range, in six games away from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
The Trail Blazers have been good against small forwards overall, but Strus's balanced contributions across the stat sheet and the fact Portland will be preoccupied with defending Cleveland's star backcourt should give Strus plenty of opportunity to deliver a strong return on his modest salary.
Others to consider: Julius Randle - PF/C, NYK at ATL ($8,200 DK, $8,400)
DraftKings and FanDuel Centers - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Anthony Davis - C, LAL vs. SAC ($10,200 DK, $11,500 FD)
Davis continued to play through his hip/adductor issues Tuesday and delivered another fantasy-friendly effort, posting 52.8 DK points against the Grizzlies in just 27 minutes during a 134-107 rout in favor of Los Angeles. That means A.D. shouldn't be overly affected by the second night of a back-to-back set against a Kings team he tallied 65 DK/67.2 FD points in the first meeting with this season.
Sacramento is allowing 57.4 percent shooting to centers while ranking No. 19 in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to the position (33.0), and Davis checks in averaging an elite 59.6 DK/62.9 FD points on his home floor. With the matchup in his favor and the fact he delivered approximately 6x his current salaries in the first game against Sacramento, he's a very viable play again.
ANTHONY DAVIS BLOCKS JAREN JACKSON JR FOR THE FOURTH TIME TODAY
5 BLOCKS FOR ADPOY 〰️🔥 pic.twitter.com/RErEQkNYdT
— The Laker Files (@LakerFiles) November 15, 2023
Nikola Vucevic - C, CHI vs. ORL ($7,800 DK, $8,200 FD)
As mentioned earlier, Vucevic will take the floor without DeRozan on Wednesday, which automatically makes the big man more appealing than he usually would be. Vucevic already checks in averaging just under 40 DK points per contest and having scored over 40 fantasy points in three straight, including over 50 in his last two games.
The matchup against his old Orlando squad is a good one for centers as well, as Orlando is allowing 59.4 percent shooting to fives, along with over 50 fantasy points per game to the position. With DeRozan out, look for Vucevic to take on plenty of extra offensive responsibility and potentially churn out one of his best-scoring performances of the campaign.
Goga Bitadze - C, ORL at CHI ($5,200 DK, $4,600 FD)
Bitadze continues to fill in for Wendell Carter Jr. (finger) and should draw another start Wednesday. The young big has already posted over 20 or more fantasy points in four of his last five games on DK, and he should draw a minutes load in the low-to-mid-20s at minimum again Wednesday at what are still very discounted salaries.
Others to consider: Pascal Siakam - C/PF, TOR vs. MIL ($8,700 DK, $8,300 FD)
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