ORL @ NOH: The Magic were soundly beaten at home last night by a superior team. Jameer Nelson (knee) called himself 50-50 yesterday, so he could return tonight, but Greivis Vasquez is still the best fantasy play. If you’re in a very deep league, Henry Sims is the newest Hornet. The former Georgetown Hoya was a D-League all-star who averaged 17 points , 9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game for the Erie Bayhawks. He immediately becomes the main backup to Robin Lopez.
UTA @ MIL: If you read between the lines, Paul Millsap (ankle) would prefer not to play and Al Jefferson is questionable. There’s a reasonable chance that Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter will get another start. The Bucks should win either way, as Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova are playing well enough up front, and the Jazz guards are absolutely no match for Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings.
MIA @ MIN: Playing back-to-back games on the road is easier when the second one is against a team beset by injuries. The Heat can take it easy on their superstars and still win their fifteenth straight. There is no word that either Nikola Pekovic (abdomen) or Andrei Kirilenko (calf) will return for the Timberwolves, who have dropped five straight and are just 4-21 in their last 25. Kevin Love (hand) should be back in two or three weeks.
ATL @ DEN: After playing the Lakers last night, the Hawks could be in trouble at high altitude against the deep, fast Nuggets. Ty Lawson makes everything go, and lately Wilson Chandler has been terrific, with 35 points off the bench on Friday to beat the Thunder. Danilo Gallinari is getting back up to speed after missing some time with a thigh bruise and defensive stalwart Andre Iguodala can contribute at both ends of the floor.
CHA @ POR: This is just unfair. The Bobcats would be huge underdogs even if they weren’t exhausted and mired in a horrible slump. Portland can get some much-deserved rest for banged-up Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews while continuing to integrate newcomer Eric Maynor into the attack. Playing in a small backcourt with Damian Lillard on Saturday, Maynor had a career-high 12 assists. J.J. Hickson is a must-start, but rookie Meyers Leonard is coming on and may get some extra minutes if this becomes a rout.
TOR @ GSW: It was a terrible week for Golden State, losing four games in five nights, though for fantasy owners of Stephen Curry, it couldn’t have been better. Toronto has only a slim chance, less so if Rudy Gay (back spasms) can’t play. We were mocked for touting Andrea Bargnani last week on the theory that coach Dwane Casey would try to get him back on track away from home, where he is being booed constantly. He started at C (sending Jonas Valanciunas to the bench) and played 33 decent minutes in Milwaukee; pick him up if he’s been dropped and cross your fingers.