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Eric Moody
Multiple Authors
ESPN’s fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you set your lineups for that night’s games. Here you’ll read our best advice for the night, including a selection of players to consider for DFS, best bets, as well as game-by-game injury reports.
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Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Wednesday’s games
Wednesday night’s play-in tournament features a matchup between the Golden State Warriors and LA Clippers in a must-win scenario at Intuit Dome. Golden State limps into the postseason dealing with key injuries, including season-ending losses to Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody, and Stephen Curry only just recently returned after missing 27 games. Despite the setbacks, Curry’s presence gives the Warriors a chance, and they’ll rely on veteran leadership and contributions from newcomers like trade-deadline acquisition Kristaps Porzingis to stay competitive in a win-or-go-home environment.
The Clippers, meanwhile, arrive with momentum after authoring one of the most surprising turnarounds in the league. After starting the season 6-21, Los Angeles rallied to finish 42-40 behind the steady play of Kawhi Leonard, who averaged 27.9 PPG with efficient shooting splits. A midseason trade for Darius Garland added another dynamic playmaker, and the Clippers have continued to trend upward, entering the play-in as the more consistent team.
This matchup carries added intrigue as a clash between resilience and resurgence. The Clippers won the regular-season series 3-1 and have been more efficient offensively, but the postseason spotlight sets the stage for a potential final showdown between Curry and Leonard. Ultimately, the game could come down to health and execution, with Golden State leaning on experience while Los Angeles looks to complete its improbable run. The winner goes on to face the Phoenix Suns.
The Philadelphia 76ers host the Orlando Magic in a play-in on the Eastern Conference side to open the night’s action. The winner advances to the playoffs, while the loser will take on the Charlotte Hornets.
Here’s a look at the betting angles and DFS plays of interest for Wednesday’s slate.
Moody’s bets for Wednesday
Wendell Carter Jr. 11+ points (-103)
Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane will command a great deal of defensive attention from the 76ers, and rightfully so, but there is value in a role player like Carter. He’s the best center the Magic have and should see ample minutes. Carter is versatile enough to exploit this matchup against Andre Drummond and Adem Bona, particularly if they play drop coverage, giving him space to operate in the midrange. He has cleared this line in three of his last five games and in 24 of the 38 games this season in which he’s played at least 30 minutes.
Draymond Green 6+ rebounds (+101) and 7+ assists (+115)
Green is one of the league’s most polarizing figures, embodying a “love or hate” dichotomy that he openly embraces. If the Warriors want to be competitive in this game, they’ll need Green on the court. The rapport between Green and Curry is undeniable, and I expect Green to look for Curry early and often, regardless of shot quality. Green has had at least six rebounds and seven assists in 13 of 19 games this season when he has played at least 28 minutes with Curry in the lineup.
Top Daily Fantasy Values of the Day
$8,100+ Salaries
Stephen Curry, PG, Warriors ($8,900): In a win-or-go-home scenario, Golden State will lean heavily on Curry as he works his way back from a knee injury. Curry finished with 40.5 fantasy points against the Clippers on April 12 and had 48.5 fantasy points against them on Jan. 5. He has posted a 32.8% usage rate this season.
Paolo Banchero, PF, Magic ($8,700): Banchero is at a slight discount, and DFS players should take advantage. He has scored at least 40 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including two with 53 or more. Banchero is the engine that drives the Magic’s offense. The 76ers have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to power forwards over the last 30 games. Banchero had 53.7 fantasy points against Philadelphia back in October.
$6,100-$8,000 Salaries
Darius Garland, PG, Clippers ($7,700): Garland’s workload has been managed due to a left toe injury, but he has been productive when on the court. He has scored at least 33 fantasy points in five of his last seven games. Garland has been a bright spot for the Clippers and looks like a key piece moving forward. He can further solidify his role with a strong performance in the play-in tournament and beyond. Garland and Leonard should be leaned on heavily in this matchup.
$3,500-$6,000 Salaries
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C, Warriors ($6,000): Given the stakes in Wednesday night’s game, there shouldn’t be a minutes restriction for Porzingis. He has averaged 34.4 fantasy points per game over his last seven games. When he’s at his best, Porzingis presents a clear height and size mismatch against the Clippers. That’s the version of “The Unicorn” DFS players hope to see Wednesday night.
Kelly Oubre Jr., SG/SF, 76ers ($5,500): Oubre has had a lot of success this season in games without Joel Embiid. He has averaged 15.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.6 APG and 1.8 SPG in 24 games without Embiid. Oubre had 52 fantasy points against the Magic on Oct. 27th in a game Embiid missed.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Orlando Magic at Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Line: Magic +1.5 (-105) | 76ers -1.5 (-115)
Money line: Magic +105 | 76ers -125
Total: 224.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 1.7, straight up 55%, 221.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Jett Howard, (GTD – Ankle); Jonathan Isaac, (GTD – Knee)
76ers: Joel Embiid (OUT – Appendectomy)
Golden State Warriors at LA Clippers
10 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Line: Warriors +5.5 (-115) | Clippers -5.5 (-105)
Money line: Warriors +170 | Clippers -205
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 5.6, straight up 67%, 214.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Quinten Post, (OUT – Foot); Jimmy Butler III, (OFS – Knee); Moses Moody, (OFS – Knee)
Clippers: Isaiah Jackson, (GTD – Ankle); Bradley Beal, (OFS – Hip); Yanic Konan Niederhauser, (OFS – Foot)