How much do you take spreads and totals into account when putting together your DFS lineup? Experienced bettors know that the line tells the story of the game (a majority of the time). Obviously, if you can figure out which way a game is going to go based on the spread, it helps make putting your DFS lineup together that much easier. Of course, if we could all predict or at least 'read' the way every NBA game is going to play out we'd be putting our lineups together from one of several yachts.

The only way to get better is to try. So let's do that with Thursday's 6-game card.

Tonight's Headline Games

There's finally some optimism in Knicks Nation as the team has inconceivably won 3 of 4. They are in a very winnable game vs. Cleveland tonight and you know what that means - inevitable disappointment and a huge Cavs win. Does Kevin Love go off at Madison Square Garden?

From the betting angle, Houston -9.5 seems like a ton of points vs. the Heat who just beat Golden State. The Rockets also lost in Charlotte last night. Is the line pointing to a 15-16 point win for James Harden and Co.?

Speaking of the Warriors, +6.5 at Orlando would probably appear to be a good hammer bet opportunity because GSW doesn't lose two in a row, do they? The Magic have a great shot at an outright win according to that spread.

Guards

Goran Dragic (DK: $4,400 FD: $4,100 Y! $13) Ownership: 0.6%

There's salary relief right off the bat for Thursday in the form of Miami's Goran Dragic. You can see him getting more comfortable / healthy just three games back from a knee injury. Dragic had a 20-point quarter Wednesday vs. Golden State en route to 33 fp. The Heat are on a B2B, but so is their opponent, the Houston Rockets. Dragic played just 20 minutes vs. the Warriors and Houston is an absolute sieve to the PG spot, allowing five straight 50+ fp games to PG starters. Dragic comes off the bench, but the opportunity should still be there.

Emmanuel Mudiay (DK: $4,900 FD: $5,900 Y! $18) Ownership 3.57%

The Knicks' Emmanuel Mudiay appears to be healthy as he logged 32 minutes Wednesday vs. Orlando. Over that time he put up 18 shots and grabbed 8 boards, which is impressive considering the NY PG is just three games back from a shoulder injury. He has at least 15 points in all three games and should be solid in another home game and against the Cavs. Cleveland is 29th defensively vs. both PG and SG, so Mudiay and the Knicks back court should thrive in this one.

Dion Waiters (DK: $4,900, FD; $5,700 Y!:$17 ) Ownership 17.5%

How bad is Houston defensively vs. the opposing back court. Enough so that a Miami stack on a back-to-back is looking like a great play. Remember, the Rockets are on 0 days rest too. Thanks to foul trouble, Dion Waiters played just 23 minutes on Wednesday - and he had a horrible night with 5 points and 3 rebounds. Expect Waiters to be one of the freshest regulars on the court and actually approach a 40 point fantasy night. There's no Hassan Whiteside for Miami again tonight.

Forwards

Kevin Love (DK: $6,900 FD: $7,500 Y! $31) Ownership 5.48%

Much like Marvin Bagley III on Wednesday, is this the last night Kevin Love is available for less than $7,000 (DK)? Love is back in the lineup full-time the last three games and has responded with 32, 54, and 37 fantasy point nights. He's still not getting a ton of PT (28 minutes high) but is producing, with 16+ points and 11+ boards the last three. Love had 32 points Saturday vs. Memphis and will likely see more usage at Madison Square Garden. He had 54 points and 15 boards at MSG back in 2013 as a member of the Wolves.

Jimmy Butler (DK: $7,100 FD: $8,300 Y!: $34) Ownership 14.65%

Comedian Anthony Jeselnik has a bit about people who post "thoughts and prayers" after a national tragedy. In a nutshell, he thinks what they're really saying is, "don't forget about me today." That's kind of a way to think about Jimmy Butler on Thursday as the Sixers take on Oklahoma City. With no Joel Embiid, the talking points of this game are how Ben Simmons and newcomer Tobias Harris can go toe-to-toe with Paul George and Russell Westbrook. This could be a game, especially since it's nationally televised, that Butler says, "hey, don't forget about me." OKC has given up at least 34 fp to Joe Ingles, Will Barton, and Kenrich Williams over the last four games, so shouldn't Jimmy Butler go much higher than that?

Taj Gibson (DK: $3,700, FD: $3,800 Y! $16) Ownership 17.08%

The production for Taj Gibson has been down the last two games to just 21 and 19 fantasy points. That was largely because his usage was only 11 and 17 minutes. The two games prior, Gibson saw the court for 25 and 31 minutes (fill-in start) and responded with 29 and 41 fantasy points. The minutes should be back Thursday, as Minnesota is playing on 0 days rest vs. the Pacers, who also played on Wednesday. As stated, Gibson had just 11 minutes so he should be fresh. The Wolves are not only on a B2B, but Jeff Teague, Luol Deng, and Gorgui Dieng are all on the injury list. Myles Turner played 30 minutes for Indiana yesterday and they're missing backup Domantas Sabonis due to injury. Now or never, Taj.

Center

Nikola Jokic (DK: $10,000 FD: $11,100 Y!: $51) Ownership 22.84%

Although you're paying a pretty penny, Nikola Jokic rarely disappoints. He's gone for 60+ in 3 of the last 6 games. Worried about playing Rudy Gobert and the Jazz defense on Thursday? Don't be, Utah is on 0 days rest after playing the Clippers Wednesday and Gobert logged 33 minutes. Plus, when the teams met up in January, Jokic had 28 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists which was just under a 70 point fantasy night.

Utility Player

Aaron Gordon (DK:$6,400 FD:$7,000 Y!27) Ownership 7.53%

Tonight's lineup leaves $8,100 and the highest priced available player is Donovan Mitchell (on a B2B) at $8,000. Something you should try to do tonight is get an Orlando player or two in the lineup because they are a solid upset pick vs. Golden State. Aaron Gordon has a tough matchup with Draymond Green who only played 23 minutes because of foul trouble vs. the Heat. Even so, Gordon has the best chance at a ceiling game (or Evan Fournier).

There's a lot of value mixed in with the big name players of tonight. That's usually the norm on a middle-of-the-pack 6-game card. There's a lucky 7 game slate Friday to wind down the week and kick off March. Check out Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports) on Twitter to find the formerly-red-hot-but-still-warm "Contrarian Confidence Power Rankings" for NBA betting.

Freeroll

Congratulations to the winners of yesterday’s freeroll contest!

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