Fantasy basketball picks, DFS and betting tips for Wednesday's NBA games

Peyton Watson, SF, Nuggets (50.0% rostered): Watson is playing some of the best basketball in the NBA right now. He has become one of the focal points of the Nuggets' offense in the absence of Jokic. Over his past eight games, he has averaged 24.6 PPG and 6.9 RPG, with excellent peripheral numbers as well.

Tre Jones, PG, Chicago Bulls (29.6%): Jones has played strong ball since taking over the starting job in Josh GIddey's absence. In those seven starts, he has averaged more than 14 points and almost eight assists, including a 20-point/12-assist double-double in his first start and a 34-point/seven-assist masterpiece last night.

Collin Murray-Boyles, PF, Toronto Raptors (11.3%): Murray-Boyles should start again on Wednesday with Jakob Poeltl listed as out. Murray-Boyles is a nightly double-double threat with strong defensive numbers and even the potential to distribute the ball on offense. In his past five games, Murray-Broyle has averaged 11.4 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 4.0 APG, 2.4 SPG and 1.0 BPG with one double-double, two 15-rebound efforts and two games with six or more assists as well.

Dre's bets for Wednesday

Jusuf Nurkic OVER 11.5 rebounds (-103)

Nurkic has grabbed 12 or more rebounds in four of his past seven games, including three in a row, with an average of 12.0 RPG in those seven. Nurkic has been on a rebounding tear this week, with 44 total rebounds in his past three games, his best three-game rebound total of the season. His Wednesday opponent, the Bulls, allow the eighth-most rebounds in the NBA to opposing centers (15.0 RPG).

Michael Porter Jr. OVER 25.5 points (-123)

Porter has scored 27 or more points in six of his past seven games, averaging exactly 27.0 PPG in those games. He is an instant-offense scorer with a perpetual green light for the Nets, and is achieving metronome-like consistency. In those seven games, five times he scored exactly 27 or 28 points. Porter's Wednesday opponents, the New Orleans Pelicans, are the third-friendliest defense in the NBA, allowing opponents to score 120.4 points per 100 possessions.

Tyrese Maxey OVER 27.5 points (-111)

An interesting misconception is at play here that could work to your advantage. The misconception is that Maxey, who is third in the NBA in scoring at 30.9 PPG, scores less when playing next to Embiid. I believe that's the reason why Maxey's line on Wednesday is more than three points lower than his season scoring average. But the truth is that Maxey's scoring average is actually slightly higher (31.4 PPG) when Embiid plays than when he sits (30.4 PPG). And Maxey's opponents tonight, the Cavaliers, allow the third-most points in the NBA to opposing point guards.

Peyton Watson OVER 19.5 points (-103)

Watson has become a primary scorer for the Nuggets in the absence of Jokic. He has scored more than 20 points in seven of his past eight games, averaging 24.6 PPG in that span. Watson dropped 31 points in his last outing, the second time he has scored 30 or more in his last four outings. Watson is also the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, the first time in his career he has earned that honor.

Alex Sarr OVER 2.5 steals + blocks (-175)

Sarr has become one of the most consistent defensive producers in the NBA. Sarr has three or more total stocks (steals + blocks) in nine of his past 11 games, averaging 2.9 BPG and 0.9 SPG (3.8 stocks/game) in that span. His Wednesday opponents, the LA Clippers, allow the third-most steals in the NBA to opposing centers.