Red Hot Grizzlies and Thunder Collide
Orlando Magic* at Indiana Pacers (7:00 pm EST); over/under 190.5; Pacers -15.5. INJURIES: ORL: Jameer Nelson (OUT); IND: Andrew Bynum (OUT).
We won’t see new recruit Bynum tonight, but the Pacers have enough to easily beat a Magic team missing its point guard. Victor Oladipo/ORL will fill in for Nelson, but he is still raw as a ball distributor. Several Pacers are solid plays tonight, David West/IND and Paul George/IND among them.
Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards (7:00 pm EST); over/under 205.5; Blazers -1.5. INJURIES: POR: none; WAS: Al Harrington (OUT).
Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat (7:30 pm EST); over/under 207.5; Heat -9.5. INJURIES: DET: Rodney Stuckey (P); MIA: Dwayne Wade (P).
Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 pm EST); over/under 208 ; Nets -10.5. INJURIES: PHI: Michael Carter-Williams (Q), Brandon Davies (OUT); BKN: Andray Blatche (Q), Andrei Kirilenko (Q).
There are plenty of low-priced Nets who are excellent value against one of the most porous defenses in the league. Joe Johnson/BKN is still getting minutes but not producing – his price has dropped into solid bargain territory.
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 pm EST); over/under 195; Knicks -6.5. INJURIES: NYK: Iman Shumpert (Q), Beno Udrih (Q), Andrea Bargnani (OUT); MIL: John Henson (Q), Ekpe Udoh (Q),O.J. Mayo (OUT).
Memphis Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder (8:00 pm EST); over/under 191; Thunder -8. INJURIES: MEM: Mike Conley (OUT), Tony Allen (OUT); OKC: Russell Westbrook (OUT).
The Thunder had a bad shooting night in losing to the Wizards. The Grizzlies are string in the interior, but Kevin Durant’s/OKC game revolves around the open court and mid-range shot off the drive. Put simpler, the Grizzlies will miss Conley and they don’t match up well with the Thunder and I expect a double digit win for OKC.
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans (8:00 pm EST); over/under 193.5; Spurs -4. INJURIES: SAS: Danny Green (D), Kawhi Leonard (OUT), Manu Ginobili (OUT); NOP: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson, Jason Smith (all OUT).
The Spurs pulled out a win over the Kings but didn’t look good doing it. If Danny Green/SAS misses this one I am calling for a Pelicans upset.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Dallas Mavericks (8:30 pm EST); over/under 205; Mavs -9.5. INJURIES: CLE: Anderson Varejao (Q); DAL: Shawn Marion (D).
The Cavaliers are in disarray – that much everyone knows. A big part of their terrible play has been the absence of Varejao/CLE. When he returns, look for an immediate boost in performance. Dirk Nowitzki/DAL is an expensive and risky play given the elevated probability of a blowout.
Toronto Raptors at Utah Jazz (9:00 pm EST); over/under 192.5; Raptors -4. INJURIES: TOR: Greivis Vasquez (OUT); UTA: Derrick Favors (Q), Jeremy Evans (OUT).
Without Vasquez, the Toronto reserves have a different dynamic – it may mean
Kyle Lowry/TOR plays even more minutes. DeMar DeRozan/TOR has proven himself healthy, and that pushes Terrence Ross/TOR back to fair value.
Los Angeles Clippers at Denver Nuggets (9:00 pm EST); over/under 216; Clippers -1.5 . INJURIES: LAC: Chris Paul (OUT); DEN: Ty Lawson (Q), JaVale McGee (OUT), Andre Miller (OUT).
The Clippers should win but I don’t expect a blowout. Blake Griffin/LAC is primed for a great game.
Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings (10:00 pm EST); over/under 191.5 ; Bulls-2. INJURIES: CHI: none; SAC: DeMarcus Cousins (Q), Jimmer Fredette (Q).
The Kings will have a difficult time slowing down Joakim Noah/CHI if DeMarcus Cousins/SAC misses this one.
My Lineup:
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $5/$5,000 standard payout GPP at DraftStreet. You are required to have three guards, three forwards, one center and one wildcard/utility player for a legal eight-player lineup in DraftStreet NBA contests:
C- Joakim Noah/CHI- $17,267, F-Blake Griffin/LAC- $17,249, G-Kyle Lowry/TOR-$15,724, G-DeMar DeRozan/TOR-$14,144, F-Paul Pierce/BKN-$10,987, F-David West/IND-$10,782, G-Joe Johnson/BKN-$7,069, G-Nick Calathes/MEM-$6,099.
Others to consider: LeBron James/MIA, Carmelo Anthony/NYK, Lance Stephenson/IND, Rudy Gay/SAC, Deron Williams/BKN, D.J. Augustin/CHI, Darren Collison/LAC, J.R. Smith/NYK, Shaun Livingston/BKN, Thabo Sefolosha/OKC, Tim Hardaway Jr./NYK.
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