Sixers Tour of Futility Continues
Memphis Grizzlies* at Orlando Magic (7:00 pm EST); over/under 181.5 ; Grizzlies -1.5. INJURIES: MEM: Mike Conley (Q), Tony Allen (OUT) ; ORL: none.
Dallas Mavericks* at Indiana Pacers (7:00 pm EST); over/under 197.5 ; Pacers -9.5. INJURIES: DAL: none ; IND: Andrew Bynum (OUT).
Atlanta Hawks* at Toronto Raptors (7:00 pm EST); over/under 202 ; Raptors -6.5. INJURIES: ATL: Pero Antic (OUT) ; TOR: Amir Johnson (Q).
Patrick Patterson/TOR is worth a look if he starts in place of Amir Johnson/TOR. Both Kyle Lowry/TOR and DeMar DeRozan/TOR are solid choices.
San Antonio Spurs at Boston Celtics (7:30 pm EST); over/under 194.5 ; Spurs -3.5. INJURIES: SAS: Patrick Mills (P), Danny Green (P), Kawhi Leonard (OUT), Manu Ginobili (OUT), Tiago Splitter (OUT), Tony Parker (OUT) ; BOS: Brandon Bass (Q), Avery Bradley (D).
With the Spurs’ talent thinned out and this being the last game before the break, I look for Tim Duncan/SAS to have a monster game inside against the undersized Celtics.
Charlotte Bobcats at Brooklyn Nets (7:30 pm EST); over/under 191 ; Nets -7.5. INJURIES: CHA: Kemba Walker (Q) ; BKN: none.
Cleveland Cavaliers* at Detroit Pistons (7:30 pm EST); over/under 208.5 ; Pistons -8. INJURIES: CLE: C.J. Miles (Q), Anderson Varejao (OUT) ; DET: Josh Harrellson (OUT).
Two teams that have turned it around in the last week meet. Without Varejao/CLE, the Cavs will not be able to stop the Andre Drummond/DET-Greg Monroe/DET combination. If Josh Smith/DET plays well, the Pistons will win easily.
Sacramento Kings* at New York Knicks (7:30 pm EST); over/under 203 ; Knicks -6. INJURIES: SAC: none ; NYK: Tim Hardaway (Q), Kenyon Martin (OUT), Andrea Bargnani (OUT).
Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 pm EST); over/under 209 ; Wolves -6. INJURIES: DEN: Ty Lawson (OUT) ; MIN: Kevin Martin (OUT), Nikola Pekovic (OUT).
The betting should be a few points higher considering the Nuggets’ engine (Lawson/DEN) will sit this one out. This isn’t the best matchup for Kevin Love/MIN, but I expect the Wolves’ supporting players like Corey Brewer/MIN and Duante Cunningham/MIN to have good games.
New Orleans Pelicans at Milwaukee Bucks (8:00 pm EST); over/under 193.5 Pelicans -7;. INJURIES: NOP: Ryan Anderson (OUT), Jrue Holiday (OUT) ; MIL: Ersan Illyasova (Q), O.J. Mayo (OUT), John Henson (OUT), Larry Sanders (OUT), Caron Butler (OUT), Ekpe Udoh (OUT)
Things are primed for Anthony Davis/NOP to dominate inside, but the Pelicans sometimes have trouble getting him the ball.
Washington Wizards* at Houston Rockets (8:00 pm EST); over/under 203 ; Rockets -9. INJURIES: WAS: Al Harrington (OUT) ; HOU: Dirk Nowitzki (P).
Philadelphia 76ers at Utah Jazz* (9:00 pm EST); over/under 203.5 ; Jazz -7.5. INJURIES: PHI: Hollis Thompson (Q) ; UTA: none.
I predict that the Sixers won’t lose by 40+ points. Gordan Hayward/UTA is the best bet for a big game.
Miami Heat* at Golden State (10:30 pm EST); over/under 205 ; Warriors -1. INJURIES: MIA: Dwayne Wade (Q) ; GSW: Andrew Bogut (Q), Jermaine O’Neal (OUT).
As it stands Bogut will likely play, but his minutes may be limited. Marreese Speights/GSW is still great value as Bogut’s direct back up. I like the Heat defense and LeBron James/MIA in this matchup.
Portland Trail Blazers* at Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 pm EST); over/under 215.5 ; Clippers -9. INJURIES: POR: LaMarcus Aldridge (P), Mo Williams (Q), Joel Freeland (OUT) ; LAC: J.J. Redick (OUT).
With Aldridge/POR not healthy, the Clippers defense will be able to concentrate on shutting down the perimeter game. Los Angeles will push the tempo and I expect this to be the highest scoring game of the day by a significant margin.
My Lineup at DraftStreet
The following is my recommended lineup, subject to change, for the $22/$50,000 Big Wednesday GPP at DraftStreet (closing at 7 pm EST). 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-Andre Drummond/DET-$17,936, F-Josh Smith/DET-$16,377, F-Tim Duncan/SAS-$15,830, G-DeMar DeRozan/TOR-$15,717, G-Bradley Beal/WAS-$10.474, G-Brian Roberts/NOP-$8,847, G-Dion Waiters/CLE-$8,402, F-Marreese Speights/GSW-$6,095.
Others to consider: Kevin Love/MIN, Blake Griffin/LAC, Kyle Lowry/TOR, Gordon Hayward/UTA, Tony Wroten/PHI, Dante Cunningham/MIN, Corey Brewer/MIN, Cory Joseph/SAS, Richard Jefferson/UTA.
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