It's the CFP National Championship night, and I like to think that during major sporting events like this the NBA kind of flies under the radar, giving us a better chance at DFS and betting wins. I'm dead wrong, but it's a nice thought.

There is a fairly large 8-game pro hoops slate tonight, with COVID health and safety protocols really starting to put a dent in teams' lineups. Let's see who is in and who is out to start the week.

Today's NBA Matchups

Knicks @ Hornets (-4.5) , O/U 212, 7:00 PM ET

LaMelo Ball ($7.4k) got his first 50-burger (55fp) after posting a triple-double over the weekend, and the Hornets look good riding a 3-game win streak. Expect this one to be lower scoring though as NYK runs the 3rd slowest pace and has a top 10 defense - but is also on the b2b.

Grizzlies @ Cavs (-1), O/U 206 7:00 PM ET

Cleveland finds themselves a rare favorite in what is expected to be a very low scoring game. The Cavs haven't allowed more than 105 points in five straight, including a 94-90 win over Memphis last Thursday.

Notable Injuries: Collin Sexton has now missed two straight with a sprained ankle.

Bucks (-9) @ Magic , O/U 224 7:00 PM ET

MIlwaukee is in a 🕯️Blowout Spot 🕯️but they may tread lightly with Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11.2k) who took a hard fall Friday and missed Saturday night's game.

Suns (-6.5) @ Wizards, O/U 230 7:00 PM ET

Phoenix is now up to the 2nd slowest pace in the league behind LAC, but they're a target tonight vs. the Washington defense allowing the most points in the league.

Notable Injuries: Bradley Beal is in health and safety protocol, and Washington could also be without Thomas Bryant (knee) and Russell Westbrook (quad).

76ers @ Hawks, O/U 222 7:30 PM ET

The Sixers have been hit hard by injuries and contact tracing and suited up the league minimum 8 players in Saturday's respectable 12-point loss to Denver. The Hawks aren't exactly healthy either.

Pelicans @ Mavs (-3.5), O/U 215 8:30 PM ET

This game has been postponed

Raptors @ Trail Blazers (-5.5), O/U 230.5 10:00 PM ET

This game has a nice betting total in the 230s and features a Toronto team on the back-to-back after a 1-point loss to Golden State on Sunday. The Trail Blazers are running the #5 tempo in the NBA.

Pacers (-5.5) @ Kings, O/U 227 10:00 PM ET

Indiana is a target after Sacramento has allowed 137, 128, 144, and 125 points their last four.

Notable Injuries: Buddy Hield and Richaun Holmes are questionable with ankle injuries.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Malcolm Brogdon DK $8.3 k | FD $8.4k

18, 18, 25, and 20 shots the last four for Malcolm Brogdon up against a Kings team that has allowed 137, 124, 144, and 125 points in the last four. Broggy also has 7+ assists in four straight.

Devin Booker DK $7.9k | FD $7.6k

We're still waiting for that Devin Booker breakout game, but he had his best fp output of the year on Saturday (45), and gets a matchup with Washington's #1 pace and #27 defense tonight. Book was built for these games.

Terry Rozier DK $6.5k | FD $6.7k

The Hornets are getting confident with three straight wins, and part of that formula has been Terry Rozier logging 35 minutes and shooting 15 shots the last two games. The Knicks slow things down and play good D, but lost by 25 to Denver yesterday and now has to go on the road with 0 days of rest.

Tyrese Haliburton $6.2k | FD $5.4k

Buddy Hield is questionable tonight with an ankle injury, but the Kings seem to be moving towards a higher Tyrese Haliburton usage anyway. The rook has scored in double digits in six straight and has 6+ assists in five of those outings. The Pacers just allowed Devin Booker to have his best DFS night of the year on Saturday, so Indiana isn't invincible on defense (13th).

Tyrese Maxey DK $4.7k | FD $5.2k

The $1.3K price jump on FD stinks, but the 33 shots for Tyrese Maxey on Saturday...to quote Borat, "very nice." Maxey played 40 minutes out of necessity for the shorthanded Sixers this weekend, putting up 39 points. The thought of that usage continuing and against the Atlanta defense is very appealing.

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Chris Boucher DK $6k | FD $7.2k

It's great timing for 🎂Birthday Boy🎂 Chris Boucher who also gets a 🏠Homecoming Game🏠 at Portland... sort of as the Canadian played his college ball at Oregon. Toronto is on the back-to-back with Anunoby and Siakam both logging 37+ minutes in the frontcourt in the loss to Golden State. Boucher has double digits in two straight, and should be fresh after logging just 24 minutes yesterday.

John Collins $7.4k | FD $7.2k

Let's go to the tale of the tape. Because Philly is shorthanded due to injuries and COVID protocol, Danny Green will be moved to the PF spot. He's matched up with John Collins, who has a 3" height advantage, a 20-pound weight advantage, and is 10-years younger. If the Atlanta big man doesn't eat tonight, we can safely remove him from any future lineup considerations.

Rui Hachimura DK $5.5k | FD $4.9k

Rui Hachimura is very inconsistent and borderline bad, but you like him in this spot with the Wizards missing both Westbrook and likely Bryant. That gives an 8.43% usage and 11.97 fp boost, up against a Suns team that gave up 22 rebounds at the PF spot to Domantas Sabonis on Saturday.

Tony Bradley DK $3.3k | FD $4.6k

Is Tony Bradley a 👱🏿Hidden Rodman👱🏿? He's only played two games this season, but grabbed 8 rebounds in 17 minutes earlier vs. Cleveland and snagged 15 boards in 24 minutes Saturday vs. Denver en route to 36fp. The Hawks are a decent rebounding team, but the Sixers don't have a lot of other options to play.

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Nikola Vucevic DK $9k | FD $8.9k

Embiid has back spasms, Randle is on the b2b, Sabonis is in a chase spot, while Drummond and Sabonis both just hit ceiling games. That makes Nikola Vucevic a near default C play tonight, especially against the Bucks team that just gave up 24 boards to Drummond on Saturday.

Deandre Ayton DK $7.3k | FD $6.7k

Washington ranks 29th defensively vs. the C position, so does Deandre Ayton's matchup get better or worse with Thomas Bryant (knee) possibly missing this matchup? Miami's Bam Adebayo grabbed 16 boards in 21 minutes vs. the Wiz on Saturday, so it's a great spot for the Suns big man.

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You can follow me, Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports), on Twitter for more daily fantasy and sports betting talk and make sure to check out the LineStar chat.

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