Damian Lillard is back for Portland tonight as the Trail Blazers try to make one last push toward the playoffs. It's a common trend in the NBA right now - give it one last gasp to see if you're a contender or a pretender.

As teams start to fall by the wayside, they'll begin shutting guys down which means we'll have to dig deeper for our DFS plays. Bring it on.

Let's see what tonight's 9-gamer has in store ahead of a smaller 4-gamer on Thursday.

Tonight's DFS Headlines

Celtics (-1.5) @ Cavs O/U 215.5

Boston faded down the stretch last night, blowing an 18 point lead to the Nets. The C's will not only be tired, but possibly shorthanded as Jayson Tatum (illness), Kemba Walker (knee), Gordon Hayward (knee), and Jaylen Brown (hamstring) could all be out.

Thunder (-7.5) @ Pistons, O/U 216.5

Is this the game the OKC offense gets back on track? The Thunder have been held to under 100 points in two straight but the Detroit injury list keeps getting longer now that Derrick Rose (ankle) is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.

Pacers @ Bucks (-11), O/U 222

Indiana isn't expected to put up much of a fight here as 11 point road underdogs. The last time these teams met in Milwaukee it was a 117-89 Bucks blowout win. Indiana does get the biggest pace boost of the night here though.

Magic @ Heat (-7.5), O/U 219

The Miami defense looked great on Monday in a 105-89 win over the Bucks - but Milwaukee was also on the back-to-back. The Heat could be an offense to target tonight as the normally stout Orlando defense has allowed 120+ in 3 of the last 4.

Grizzlies @ Nets (-2) O/U 225

What does Caris LeVert ($7.2k) have left in the tank after going for 37 points in the 4th / OT to lead a comeback win over the Celtics? Things don't get any easier vs. a Grizzlies team that has allowed under 90 points in their last two.

Jazz (-7.5) @ Knicks, O/U 220

Utah is climbing back up the Western Conference standings by beating on the bottom tier of the East. The Jazz have scored 126+ in back-to-back games vs. Washington and Cleveland and look for a 3rd solid outing in a row at the Knicks.

Bulls @ Timberwolves (-4.5), O/U 225.5

Just when the Bulls were starting to get healthier with Wendell Carter, Jr. and Otto Porter, Jr. back in the lineup - Zach LaVine will now be out at least a week with a quad strain. It's still a good spot for the Bulls facing a T'Wolves team on the back to back after a 139-134 win in New Orleans last night.

Pelicans @ Mavericks (-6), O/U 236

New Orleans is in a tough spot here having to go to Dallas after a grueling 139-134 loss to Minnesota last night. Four Pelicans starters scored 24 real points or more - but also played 32+ minutes. Dallas won 130-84 at home on December 7th as part of three straight wins vs. the Pels.

Wizards @ Trail Blazers (-7.5), O/U 239.5

The big story here is that Damian Lillard could return to action after missing 6 games with a groin injury. The Wizards are on the back-to-back after allowing 133 points to Sacramento last night and also rank 29th vs. the PG position.

Guards

Coby White DK $6.2k | FD $6.3k

The Timberwolves not only rank 25th vs. the PG position, they are on the back-to-back tonight and after an exhausting 139-134 win in New Orleans on Tuesday. Coby White's usage has been hit or miss - but that should be on the 'hit' side with Zach LaVine misses a second straight game with a quad injury. White played 32 minutes on Monday and took 20 shots without LaVine, which should keep up vs. the T'Wolves back court.

RJ Barrett DK $5.8k | FD $5.2k

The Jazz continue their slide down the defensive efficiency rankings as they now sit in 14th. Utah has been especially bad vs. the SG lately, allowing 31fp to 5 straight at the position including 31 to Kevin Porter of the Cavs on Monday. That coincides nicely with an uptick from R.J. Barrett who has 15+ real points in three straight including a 10-18 night (43fp) Monday vs. Houston.

Seth Curry DK $6k | FD $5.4k

The first thing to note is that Seth Curry is a game-time decision tonight after sitting out Monday vs. Chicago on the back-to-back. If Curry goes, it's a great matchup vs. a Pelicans squad that burned up a lot of minutes and energy in a 134-139 loss to the T'Wolves last night. The Pelicans rank 28th vs. the PG as it is and 23rd dVp against the SG. Curry has taken 15+ shots in 3 of the past 5 games he's played in and tonight's betting total is up there again at 236.

Forwards

TJ Warren DK $6.1k | FD $6.1

The Pacers get the best pace boost of the night at 7.22 possessions vs. Milwaukee. That should allow T.J. Warren to keep up his recent success of a 40.5 fp average over the last two games. Warren is getting his shots even as the Pacers have gotten relatively healthy, taking at least a dozen in all 9 games since returning from a concussion. Not only is he taking shots, they're going in as well, as Warren has hit 22-34 his last two games including 5-10 from three. The Bucks are last in the league in opponents' threes per game and Warren hit 16-19 shots against Milwaukee on February 12th.

Davis Bertans DK $5.6k | FD $4.9k

Davis Bertans is in the back-to-back tonight but he played a manageable 28 minutes yesterday vs. the Kings. He's worth a play with that FD price up against the Trail Blazers who are last in the league vs. the PF position. Bertan is getting his shots lately, with 13+ in 4 of the last 5. He has shot 14-22 from three the last two games and Portland is 27th in the league in opponents' three pointers made per game.

Thaddeus Young DK $5.7k | FD $5.9k

Thaddeus Young should see an ownership dip tonight, as there's rumors of Lauri Markkanen being active tonight, joining Warren Carter, Jr. and Otto Porter, Jr. back in the Bulls lineup. Does Young go back to a reserve role even after going for 30+ fp in 5 of the last 6? It would be a good spot for Young against the Minnesota defense that is 26th dVp against the PF. The T'Wolves are on the back to back as well after an exhausting game with the Pelicans last night and Young has taken at least 11 shots in 7 of the last 8.

Center

Jonas Valanciunas DK $7.8k | FD $7.1k

Jonas Valanciunas is on a nice little run right now and he's got a great matchup to boot. The Memphis big man is killing it on the boards with 15+ in three straight which has allowed him to go for 50+ fp in two of the last 3. The Grizzlies have the Nets tonight who not only rank 27th vs. the C position, but are also exhausted after going into OT last night vs. Boston, fighting back from an 18 point deficit.

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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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