We could have a doozy on our hands for tonight's NBA slate, as 5 of the 6 games have betting totals in the 220s. The only lower scoring game (on paper) is the Heat @ Magic tilt and that's still got a lot of DFS potential. There's so much chalk out there tonight it looks like a combination of a LeBron James intro and a New Year's Eve party at Pablo Escobar's house. Let's sift through and find tonight's top plays.

Tonight's DFS Headlines

Hawks @ Celtics

This one has potential for a 💣Blowout Game 💣considering the Celtics are -11 favorites but the flu is also ripping through the Boston locker room. Jaylen Brown ($7.7k) was down on Tuesday and the C's have no Kemba Walker tonight. Trae Young ($9.2k) is also back for Atlanta after missing the last two (ankle).

Heat @ Magic

Yuck. Miami prevailed 84-76 last night at home vs. Toronto but it's hard to expect that kind of defensive intensity on 0 days rest. Orlando could actually be a team to target vs. a tired Miami team because a) they've beaten the Heat 8 of the last 11 and b) somebody will have to step up in the absence of Aaron Gordon (Achilles) and Jonathan Isaac (knee).

Trail Blazers @ Wizards

This game is the highest of the highs with a betting total of 235. Portland is a 6.5 point favorite, but have also lost 5 straight including by 24 to the Knicks on New Year's Day. Has the hangover subsided for Portland after spending NYE in the Big Apple?

Sixers @ Rockets

James Harden ($10.9k) just put up a 55fp night on Tuesday vs. Denver's #8 ranked defense. The Rockets competition now jumps up two slots vs. Philly's #6 ranked unit. It is a Sixers team that could be without Joel Embiid (knee) as he sat out last game - but is probable for tonight.

Knicks @ Suns

The Knicks are playing well with a 3-game win streak and a 6-6 record under interim coach Mike Miller. New York has held three straight opponents under 100 points so (gulp)...is it time to fade Phoenix here?

Pelicans @ Lakers

It's your classic 🚨Revenge Game🚨with so many players facing a former team after the Anthony Davis ($10.3k) trade the past offseason. It's a LAL -10.5 spread but the Pelicans should be able to avoid the 💣Blowout Game 💣after winning 4 in a row. That streak includes double-digit wins at Denver and vs. the Pacers and Rockets.

Guards

Marcus Smart DK $5.1k | FD $5.1k

With Kemba Walker out, Marcus Smart slides over to the PG spot in an instantly favorable matchup with Trae Young and the Hawks. Smart is worth a flier at just $5.1k, especially with the 11.34 fp increase he gets with Walker off the court. Smart will be entering his 3rd game back from an eye infection and has had the last 2 nights off for added recovery.

Jrue Holiday DK $7.4k | FD $8.4k

Make no mistake, there are some risks in rostering Jrue Holiday tonight, specifically up against the Lakers' #4 defense considering the fact this could be a blowout game (NOR +10.5), and the Pelicans being on leg one of a back-to-back with a much more winnable game coming up tomorrow against the Kings. Even so, Holiday is just a kid from Studio City returning to California for a 🏠Hometown Game🏠. The Pelicans met the Lakers at the end of November and Holiday shot 12-23 while dishing out 12 assists in 40 minutes. Holiday averaged 21/5/9 in three games vs. the Lakers last season.

Frank Ntilinka DK $3.2k | FD $3.9k

Phoenix is getting lit up in the back court defensively as of late, which may be perfect timing for Frank Ntilinka. Elfrid Payton (personal reasons) and Dennis Smith, Jr. (oblique) could both miss tonight's game, giving Ntilinka the start. The French Prince should have confidence after dishing out 10 assists in 23 minutes Wednesday vs. the Trail Blazers. Between the injuries and the matchup, the timing is just right for this play.

🏀👍 Other Likes  / Dislikes 👍🏀

There's going to be a lot of chalk on Damian Lillard ($9.7k) and CJ McCollum ($7.1k) just because of the matchup with the Wizards.

Speaking of Washington, Ish Smith had 37 fp vs. Miami's tough defense without Bradley Beal on Monday. Beal is still dealing with leg soreness and could sit despite playing on Wednesday.

Forwards

John Collins DK $7.5k | FD $7.8k

There's a $1.2k price drop on John Collins tonight, which is understandable vs. Boston's #3 ranked defense and with Trae Young returning to hog usage for Atlanta. If there's a position that the Celtics do struggle against though, it's the PF spot. This is especially true against a PF with traditional post moves and not a stretch like a lot of teams use. Collins has double-digit rebounds in 3 of 4 games since returning from suspension and has 20+ shots in 2 of 4. Collins will be matched up with Jayson Tatum or Gordon Hayward tonight which would be a huge advantage- unless the Celtics decide to go bigger with Kemba Walker (flu) out.

Josh Richardson DK $5.9k | FD $6k

This is a play against the Rockets defense against the SF, which ranks 29th in the league. Josh Richardson is the best of both worlds in this game, as he'll see time against both James Harden at the SG and Eric Gordon at the SF. Tobias Harris, Philadelphia's starting SF, is priced $.7k higher, and also has a 15 and a 22 fp night his last two, shooting 8-24. Richardson has scored at least 35fp in 3 of the last 4. Basically, if he gets 13 shots, he gets you 6X.

Julius Randle DK $7.7k | FD $7.6k

6X for Julius Randle tonight is 46 fp, a number he has exceeded in 4 straight games. Randle has 30+ real points in 3 of 4 while taking 20+ shots in 3 of 4 as well. His numbers dropped to 22 real points Wednesday, but only because the Knicks were in the midst of a 24 point throttling of the Trail Blazers. The Suns are favored by -6.5 tonight but this "shouldn't" be any sort of blowout from either side. Phoenix is actually really good vs. the PF (6th) with the defense of Dario Saric, but Randle is getting so many opportunities right now it transcends matchups.

🏀👍👍 Other Likes / Dislikes 👍👍🏀

If there's ever a time for a ceiling game for Carmelo Anthony($6.7k) it's tonight vs. the Wizards' #30 ranked defense. Anthony would need 41 points for 6X, a number he hasn't hit since December 16th though, despite going for 26 points and 7 rebounds Wednesday in New York.

People are ready to jump off the Kelly Oubre, Jr. ($6.8k) train despite three straight 45+ fp nights. This is due to a matchup with the Knicks' suddenly strong defense. What a 2nd half the 2019/20 season is going to be.

Center

Nikola Vucevic DK $8k | FD $8.4k

Orlando would be really dumb to rush Aaron Gordon back from an Achilles injury tonight (see Durant, Kevin) and Jonathan Isaac is now going to be out multiple weeks with a knee sprain. This may mean we see a continued ascension for Orlando's Nikola Vucevic. In the 9 games since returning from an ankle injury, Vucevic has at least 15 shot attempts in each, 20+ points seven times, and four games of at least 11 rebounds - including 2 in the last 4. He's got a favorable matchup vs. Bam Adebayo who logged 35 minutes last night vs. the Raptors.

🏀👍 Other Likes / Dislikes 👍🏀

They really blew up Hassan Whiteside's price tag up to $9.5k after being $7.1 and $8.3 the last two. That's a lot of production to hit value, even against the Wizards' interior defense.

Anthony Davis ($10.3k) shot 30 times vs. his old team New Orleans back at the end of November. He's been held to under 45 fp in four straight though.

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.

Freeroll

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🔥 SuperDraft Multiplier Must-Play

Today's SuperDraft multiplier must-play is Nikola Vucevic. He has scored at least 20 points in 7 of 9 games since returning from an ankle injury. Has a favorable matchup vs. Miami on the B2B and with Orlando missing Jonathan Isaac and likely Aaron Gordon.

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