GSW @ DEN: This should be a good barometer of how much the Nuggets have improved. They had lost three straight before a very impressive upset in Memphis on Monday, then repeated in Minnesota two nights later to get back to .500 for the year. Ty Lawson has been more aggressive, which frees up Andre Iguodala, and Danilo Gallinari has begun to knock down shots. When all the big guns are firing, Kenneth Faried is content to grab rebounds like a Manimal, and the second unit keeps the pressure on, led by Andre Miller.
The Warriors have rookie center Festus Ezeli trying to fill the large shoes of injured Andrew Bogut, yet they keep surprising people; just ask the Nets. Stephen Curry and David Lee are consistent fantasy studs, and after a long slump, Klay Thompson finally found the range on Wednesday. I don’t think they can win, but this game should be high-scoring and entertaining. Start everyone you own.
SAC @ UTA: Who knows what lurks in the mind of Ty Corbin? The Jazz have been experimenting with the lineup; Derrick Favors starting at PF is theoretically a good idea, but Paul Millsap is not as happy or effective at SF. Gordon Hayward lost the starting SG job tothe inferior Randy Foye, and Marvin Williams now comes off the bench. None of this should matter against the Kings, who are winless on the road and have no idea what they are doing.
Sacramento did spring a big upset last game against the overconfident and listless Lakers, but DeMarcus Cousins has to deal with the huge Jazz frontcourt tonight, and there isn’t enough other scoring, with the exception of sixth man Marcus Thompson. The PG ‘controversy’ has Aaron Brooks starting ahead of Isaiah Thomas; neither is a strong fantasy play if Tyreke Evans controls the ball.
NOH @ PHO: If Anthony Davis (ankle) can play, this could be close. If not, the Suns are solid favorites. A major lineup shuffle saw Luis Scola benched and Markieff Morris starting at PF, with Shannon Brown taking over at SG from the very disappointing Jared Dudley. It worked, as they blew away Portland by 27, so look for more of the same. Marcin Gortat said some uncomplimentary things about the organization in a Polish interview, then scored 22 points in one of his better games; he will be pumped against former teammate Robin Lopez.
Ryan Anderson will start again at PF if Davis is unavailable, and is one of the two best fantasy plays on the Hornets, along with Grieivis Vasquez. Rookie Austin Rivers is getting a rude NBA baptism, averaging 7.4 points on 31.9% shooting through his first nine games; nobody will be happier when (if?) Eric Gordon is able to play.
MIN @ POR: Despite his 34 points and 14 rebounds in a surprise return on Wednesday, Kevin Love still has a sore hand. He might not be dominant until it’s fully healed, and is up against LaMarcus Aldridge tonight. The other Timberwolves need to step up their games; Nikola Pekovic (ankle) made a quiet return after missing a couple of games, and while J.J. Barea is useful when healthy, he takes away minutes from rookie Alexey Shved. My guess is that Malcolm Lee won’t be starting at SG much longer when the guard situation is sorted out. Derrick Williams, who had a couple of nice games while Love was out, got a surprise DNP-CD, a scary development for his fantasy owners.
J.J. Hickson didn’t play on Wednesday and rookie Meyers Leonard was called out for poor defense in his place; the Blazers are expected to be at full strength tonight. The sensational Damian Lillard — who sits atop Chris Bernucca’s Rookie Rankings — could go off against Luke Ridnour, and Nicolas Batum is having a career year. Portland should win, and their starters are almost always useful in daily leagues.
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