Two days in a row with some significant news before an NBA slate.
The Blake Griffin happened Monday, then Tuesday night Kevin Love exited the Cavs’ game with a fractured hand, which will directly affect the Cavs’ tonight and beyond.
We have an 8-game slate on tap for tonight and with the trade deadline looming, as I am have mentioned before, anything can happen between writing this first-look breakdown and lock time, so keep your ears and eyes posted.
Now let’s get down to tonight’s action.
| O/U | Spread | Pace | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 30 | ||
| Indiana Pacers | 204.5 | -7 | 19 |
Injury News
Questionable: Mario Chalmers, Dillon Brooks, Lance Stephenson, Deyonta Davis, JaMychal Green, Ben McLemore
Memphis: We get the Memphis injury whirlwind once again tonight. But as of this publication, Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol are both on track to play, and they are really the only two that matter in this matchup anyway. Gasol is in an elite spot against Indy, one of the worst rebounding teams in the league. They are top 10 in points and rebounds allowed to centers this season. Guards haven’t been as successful against Pacers this season, but Evans’ usage is so high that he’s in play almost every night. Unless we get a mass exodus from the Grizz due to injuries, worrying about the value guys isn’t really worth the time on a larger slate.
Indiana: This is a pace-down spot for the Pacers tonight, and with such a high spread against Memphis, I am not so sure this game really stays close for four quarters. Indiana isn’t really a team I love to target right now anyway. Victor Oladipo is the usage king, but his price is really too much to stomach outside of a large-field GPP for me tonight. The one area where the Grizzlies have struggled this season is defending SGs – allowing more than 43 points per game, good enough for a top-10 allowance in the league. Thad Young, Darren Collison, Myles Turner, Bojan, all are really not worth rostering. I would consider Bojan slightly tonight if Lance Stephenson gets ruled out, but even then, it would be a last-man in situation for my DFS lineups.
Must Plays: Marc Gasol
Bubble Plays: Victor Oladipo, Tyreke Evans
Value Plays: None
| O/U | Spread | Pace | |
| Los Angeles Lakers | X | X | 1 |
| Orlando Magic | X | X | 7 |
Injury News
Out: Lonzo Ball
Questionable: Aaron Gordon
Los Angeles: I guess Aaron Gordon’s unknown availability for tonight’s game is worthy of no total early on. Lonzo Ball is out for the Lakers and they don’t have any other injury designations outside of that. It seems a bit fishy to me, but we will carry on like everything is normal without Lonzo. And the norm is not knowing who the eff is going to get the most run for the Lakers. Jordan Clarkson was on a nice 30-plus minute streak and then barely showed up his last time out. Luke Walton isn’t afraid to sit his current starter and put the ball in someone else’s hands. Julius Randle has all the upside in the world each night, we don’t know exactly how he will be used. This game is one of two high-paced projected games as the Lakers (No. 1 in pace) take on the 7th overall team in pace of play. Kyle Kuzma and Larry Nance are two big men that should see 22-30 minutes, but it’s hard to trust outside of GPPs. Brandon Ingram is really the only constant on this team and he gets a great draw himself as the Magic are top 10 in points, rebounds and assists allowed to SFs. He’s my favorite play on this team due to his minutes floor.
Orlando: Let’s see, the Magic are coming off an emotional, hard fought performance against the Rockets and returned home to face the fastest-paced team in the league at home. Orlando is really hard to trust these days, so while this game looks tempting on paper, I do worry about the Magic actually showing up. It won’t keep me from rostering them, it will make me more uncomfortable than normal. Aaron Gordon is the key to this team tonight. It’s possible he was held out Tuesday to play on the second night of a back-to-back. Gordon would become one of my favorite plays against a front court that allows 33.9 points and 17.9 rebounds per game to opposing PFs. Gordon would eat so much here. Mario Hezonja would get the start in his place if he can’t go. Go with Elfrid, Fournier, Jonathon Simmons, Bismack Biyombo if you wish, but they are reserved for game stacks tonight.
Must Plays: Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Aaron Gordon (if he plays)
Bubble Plays: Evan Fournier, Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance, Kyle Kuzma, Elfrid Payton, Jonathon Simmons, Bismack Biyombo, Khem Birch, Mario Hezonja
Value Plays: None
