We've got to pick and choose our battles early in the week, as it's almost NBA all-star game time. The NBA breaks on Friday and there are just 2-games on Thursday so let's get in early.

Tonight's DFS Headlines

Hornets @ Pistons

This is a game only a DFS player could love, as the Hornets have lost 13 of 14 while Detroit looks like a G-League roster with all their injuries and Andre Drummond being sent to Cleveland.

Nets @ Pacers

Kyrie Irving will miss his 4th straight game here but Caris Levert has really stepped up in his absence with 29, 23, and 37 real points over the last three. The Pacers have dropped 5 in a row.

Hawks @ Magic

Atlanta has won both games vs. Orlando this season including back in December without Trae Young in the lineup. The Magic do get the best pace boost of the night though - and the Hawks are not only on the back-to-back, they also went to OT Sunday in a win over the Knicks.

Timberwolves @ Raptors

Toronto has won 14 straight but Minnesota is coming in off a game where they hit 26 three pointers and dished out 39 assists on Saturday - and that was without highly coveted acquisition D'Angelo Russell (quad) who has yet to make his team debut. Russell will go through shootaround today, but his status for tonight is still uncertain.

Kings @ Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as a game-time decision for this game as he tends to a personal matter. Eric Bledsoe and Khris Middleton get a combined 30fp boost if the MVP cannot go.

Jazz @ Mavericks

Dallas has split the 6 games they've played without Luka Doncic so far but the Mavs defense has been impressive, holding 3 of the last 5 opponents to 103 points or less. Utah might be a bit fatigued here though after a last second 114-113 win in Houston yesterday.

Spurs @ Nuggets

San Antonio has dropped the first 4 on their annual rodeo road trip, allowing 120+ points in each of the last three. That bodes well for the Denver offense tonight even though the betting total is just 219.

Heat @ Warriors

The debuts of Jae Crowder and Andre Iguodala have come at the right time for Miami as they battle injuries to Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, and Meyers Leonard. Speaking of debuts, Andrew Wiggins had 43 fp on Saturday in his first game with Golden State.

Suns @ Lakers

Phoenix is looking very thin in the front court tonight if Deandre Ayton (ankle) joins Dario Saric (ankle), Aron Baynes (hip), and Frank Kaminsky (knee) on the bench. L.A. is a 13 point favorite here. Time to take a look at Dwight Howard and others on the Lakers bench for value?

Guards

Terrence Ross DK $4.9k | FD $5k

Terrence Ross only needs 30fp for 6X at this price, a number he hasn't hit in the last 8 games, but with solid upside tonight. The Magic get nearly a 7 possession pace boost tonight vs. the Hawks who are on a back-to-back. Atlanta also ranks 30th dVp against the SG, which makes it a now or never night for Ross.

Kendrick Nunn DK $6k | FD $4.6k

Kendrick Nunn had an awful shooting day yesterday, going 4-18 at Portland en route to a 15 fp outing. The good news is that he did play just 27 minutes and with Jimmy Butler, and Tyler Herro injured and Goran Dragic logging 31 minutes yesterday, it's looking like a good usage night for Nunn. He's getting the shots - 17+ in three straight - some of them need to start falling. That's possible against a Golden State defense that has allowed 115+ in 8 of 9 and is 25th dVp against the PG.

Buddy Hield DK $6.6k | FD $5.7k

Buddy Hield's price has gone up a little bit after some upside games, but he still has value tonight vs. Milwaukee. Hield seems to have meshed into his bench role nicely, coming off a 31/6/5 line Saturday vs. the Spurs. The Bucks rank last in the league in opponent three pointers made per game, good for Hield who has attempted at least 10 in 6 of the last 7 games.

Forwards

Khris Middleton DK $7.9k | FD $7.4k

Khris Middleton is a good play tonight that becomes a great one if Giannis Antetokounmpo (personal) does not play. Middleton has hit 6X this price in 3 of his last 4 games, Middleton has scored 20+ real points in all six games since torching Washington for 51. Over that span, he also has 5 games of 7+ rebounds and 6+ assists. Middleton also had a 27/11/4 line vs. Sacramento on January 10th.

Aaron Gordon DK $6.4k | FD $6.3k

The Magic get an up pace game with Atlanta tonight in a contest with a betting total of 222. Aaron Gordon needs a bounce back game after going 2-12 from the field including 0-6 from three point range on Saturday. The body of work for Gordon the last couple weeks is still impressive though, as he has 9+ rebounds in 4 of 7 and 16+ points in 4 of the last 5. Atlanta ranks 28th dVp against the PF spot while John Collins and Deandre Hunter both logged 48 minutes in an OT game vs. the Knicks yesterday.

Caris LeVert DK $7k | FD $5.6k

Caris LeVert is a steal on FD tonight after going for 40+ fp in three straight games since Kyrie Irving has been out. LeVert has taken 20, 20, and 18 shots over that span. The Pacers defense isn't the tough matchup they appear to be over that span, allowing 112+ points in four straight.

Center

Dwight Howard DK $4.1k | FD $4.3k

Let's get Dwight Howard some minutes tonight. The Lakers are 13 point favorites at home vs. the Suns. Phoenix has a banged up front court with Kaminsky and Baynes already out and Ayton battling a sore ankle. The Suns were struggling vs. the post even when healthy, as Jokic had a 23/9/6 line Saturday and Drummond had 31/19 last Wednesday in his last game with the Pistons. Howard had 12 points and 8 rebounds in 12 minutes Saturday vs. Golden State - let's see that court time double here.

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