Kevin Durant $10900 scored 30 points in 19 minutes on Thursday before rolling his ankle. Though it’s not a serious sprain, his status tonight is unknown. Russell Westbrook $11500 might have to carve up L.A. by himself, with a little help from Serge Ibaka $6800.
Do not expect much defense to be played in this one, but the Lakers can only be better than they were in a listless performance against the Pacers on Wednesday. Kobe Bryant $9400, Nick Young $5200 and Wesley Johnson $4800 are playable, with Carlos Boozer $5800 posting consistent double-doubles since being ‘demoted’ to the second unit.
The other late game is fantasy gold. an over/under about 215 as the Clippers visit Denver. Timofey Mozgov $5500 got schooled twice this week by Dwight Howard and must take on DeAndre Jordan $8200 tonight, while the Nuggets have nobody who can stop Blake Griffin $10500. Both PG, Chris Paul $10300 and Ty Lawson $9200, are capable of big numbers, Wilson Chandler $6000 has rarely been better and Arron Afflalo $5600 played well in an OT loss to Houston. As a flyer, Danilo Gallinari $3000 is back from his latest injury and will never cost less.
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The Cavaliers were embarrassed at home by Atlanta on Wednesday and will come out with intensity. LeBron James $11400 might even make a personal statement, reducing Kevin Love $9500 and Kyrie Irving $9300 to expensive sidekicks. Consider a stars-and-scrubs lineup built around LBJ (below) and steer clear of the Nets tonight.
With Rajon Rondo traded, Marcus Smart $4100 may have to start for Boston despite a sore Achilles tendon. If the rookie is not 100%, Avery Bradley $4400 and Evan Turner $4600 will handle the ball more than usual. Tyler Zeller $5000 has been starting at C, with Kelly Olynyk $4900 more than paying his way off the bench. Jeff Green $6400, rumored as the next Celtic to be moved, might be showcased. Although this game doesn’t matter as much as others, it has the potential to be entertaining and profitable. Thaddeus Young $7100 and trade-bait Corey Brewer $5700 are playing well, Gorgui Dieng $7000 keeps improving and Zach LaVine $5000 will appreciate the easier opposition. Shabazz Muhammad $4500 has turned into a scoring threat off the bench.
Andre Drummond $8900 is on a roll, Josh Smith $7500 can be great and so Greg Monroe $7000 backs them up. The Pistons are big, and Jonas Valanciunas $6200 must avoid foul trouble. With Amir Johnson $5100 and Patrick Patterson $5000 at PF, the Raptors are a bit undersized but should still win, because Kyle Lowry $10200 is (in the words of PBP man Matt Devlin) a baby-faced assassin. Lou Williams $4500 and James Johnson $3700 can be key contributors off the bench.
The Grizzlies have a 12-1 home record and just beat two of the league’s best teams. Meanwhile, the Bulls are tired and missing Derrick Rose (illness), so they don’t figure to be as dangerous as usual. Aaron Brooks $3300 makes today’s Short List — pun intended just a little — after 18 points and five dimes in 25 minutes last night. Jimmy Butler $6800 was sensational against the Knicks’ D, but even with Tony Allen $3300 (eye) questionable, Memphis is a much tougher test. Marc Gasol $8900 and Pau Gasol $8700 have both been brilliant all year, and Mike Conley $8100 is a very solid play.
Back at full strength, the Jazz were good enough to beat the Heat (or what’s left of them) on Wednesday. I don’t think they can repeat in Orlando. Nikola Vucevic $9000 and Tobias Harris $7200 are both in top form again, while youngsters Victor Oladipo $6500 and Evan Fournier $4800 might fare better against Utah’s similarly inexperienced backcourt than they do when facing the league’s top guards.
It should be easy enough for Al Jefferson $8900 and Kemba Walker $8600 to repeat their big efforts from Wednesday, but Lance Stephenson (pelvis) is doubtful so other Hornets will have to respond. Gary Neal $3700 and Gerald Henderson $4000 seem most likely to benefit. If the well-rested Sixers are to win their first home game of the season, Michael Carter-Williams $9100 and Nerlens Noel $5200 are key. Robert Covington $5800 was a terrific add in traditional leagues and an extreme bargain for a while in dailies, but his salary has adjusted upward.
Be careful using the Wizards tonight, as they could win so easily that everyone on both benches gets extra minutes. Dwyane Wade $8400 is now a one-man team and Chris Andersen $3000 had to play 26 minutes on Wednesday as the last healthy big man standing. Obviously John Wall $10400 and Marcin Gortat $7100 can carve them up, and are worth more the better Miami plays.
The Blazers and Spurs met on Monday in Portland, as Damian Lillard $8500 and LaMarcus Aldridge $10800 led the way, but both Tim Duncan $8800 and Manu Ginobili $5000 were rested (or “Pop-ped”) that night. Tony Parker (hamstring) is still missing, Kawhi Leonard $7300 (hand) sat out Wednesday’s game and Danny Green $6200 (foot) was limping after a spectacular performance in that triple-OT loss. As usual with San Antonio, there’s money to be made if you can pick the hot hand(s) but that’s never easy. For bargain-hunters, Thomas Robinson $3000 started alongside LMA as the first replacement for Robin Lopez (hand), double-doubled and remains dirt-cheap.
| Pos | Premium | Midrange | Bargain |
| PG | R. Westbrook $11500 | Mike Conley $8100 | Aaron Brooks $3300 |
| SG | Dwyane Wade $8400 | Jimmy Butler $6800 | Gary Neal $3700 |
| SF | LeBron James $11400 | Wilson Chandler $6000 | S. Muhammad $4500 |
| PF | Blake Griffin $10500 | Thaddeus Young $7100 | Thomas Robinson $3000 |
| C | Al Jefferson $8900 | Gorgui Dieng $7000 | Chris Andersen $3000 |
The Fantasy Spin features DFS advice every day of the NBA season. Follow Kent Williams @SheridanFantasy for updates.
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