Top NBA Plays 8/7 | Floppin' in Memphis

It was all but a foregone conclusion that the teams holding the 1-8 seed in each conference heading into the Orlando restart would all be postseason bound - it was just a matter of at what seed. That was before the Grizzlies free-fall that has their bubble about to burst literally, figuratively, and all those other words.

The Grizzlies vs. OKC matchup is one of the co-headliners (Boston vs. Toronto, 9:00 PM ET) in this 6-game-turned-5-game DFS slate that has the Jazz v. Spurs game off the main slate. Apparently these 1:00 PM ET starts are too close to the first drink of the day for DFS researchers.

Let's see if there are any games besides Washington vs. New Orleans to target for tonight:

Tonight's NBA Matchups

Thunder (-3.5) vs. Grizzlies , O/U 224

4:00 PM ET

Thanks to Portland's 10 point win over Denver last night, the lead for Memphis for the 8 spot in the West has dwindled to just 1/2 a game. The Grizzlies need a win after starting off 0-4 in the bubble, but they're playing an OKC team that has won by 16 and 19 points so far in Orlando.

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Kings vs. Nets (OFF), O/U OFF

5:00 PM ET

You'd think the Nets would like to have the 7 seed over the 8 seed to avoid a meeting with Milwaukee in the 1st round but the 2 seed Toronto looks like just as formidable an opponent. Because of this Brooklyn could be very shorthanded in what is essentially a 'ho-hum' game against the Kings with Jamal Crawford (hamstring), Joe Harris (groin), and Jarrett Allen (ankle) in danger of sitting.

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Magic vs. 76ers (OFF), O/U OFF

5:30 PM ET

The 76ers begin bubble life without Ben Simmons who injured his kneecap Wednesday vs. the Wizards. Nobody really stepped up as the benefactor in Simmons' absence (Josh Richardson 15 points, Shake Milton 14) as Philadelphia scored just 107 points vs. Washington's 29th ranked scoring defense. Orlando was 6th in opponent's points-per-game in the regular season. The Magic also move on facing a big injury with Aaron Gordon (hamstring) likely out until the postseason.

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Wizards vs. Pelicans (OFF) , O/U OFF

8:00 PM ET

This has to be the game to target tonight, as it's the 29th and 27th ranked teams in scoring defense. The Pelicans are also 2nd and Washington 6th in possessions per game and with both teams all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, let's give the (virtual) fans a show.

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Celtics vs. Raptors (-3), O/U 218.5

9:00 PM ET

Boston taking on Toronto is likely going to be a good game to watch, but what are the DFS expectations with the #3 and #1 scoring defenses in the league? Toronto has given up a high point total of 103 to Miami in the bubble. Boston is coming off a 149 point output vs. the Nets though with 7 players scoring in double figures.

Guards

Caris LeVert DK $7.1k | FD $7.9k

If you don't know any of your teammates' names, you might as well shoot. That's where Caris LeVert is at today, as the Nets continue to drop like flies. There are around a dozen Brooklyn players on the injured / inactive list today!

LeVert struggled from the field last game going 6-14. He was returning from injury though and averaged 21 shots the first two games in the bubble. Brooklyn has Sacramento coming in on a back-to-back and the Kings have allowed 120+ points in 3 of 4 games in Orlando.

Not many players left for Brooklyn.

Cory Joseph DK $4.3k | FD $4k

Cory Joseph has put together a couple decent fantasy point nights with 28 and 25 the last two games. The minutes should be there for the Kings guard tonight, as Sacramento is coming off a fast-paced 140-125 win over the Pelicans yesterday in which the back court combo of De'Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic both logged 38 minutes. The Kings also play the Nets, who are the walking wounded right now.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander DK $6.8k | FD $7.5k

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander might not thrill you that often with a ceiling game, but he also very rarely tanks one to cost you the night. The Thunder G has posted 33+ fp in each of his three games in the bubble. Dennis Schroder is out of the bubble for the birth of his child and Terrance Ferguson will also miss the Grizzlies matchup with a leg injury. Memphis is also 7th in the league in pace.

Which will come first for SGA - the 40fp game or the 20?

Forwards

Gary Clark DK $3k | FD $3.5k

He's not the wide receiver from the 80s for the Redskins but Gary Clark has a great chance to make a name for himself today. The former Cincinnati Bearcat steps into the starting lineup for Aaron Gordon and should see nice usage with Jonathan Isaac also out for Orlando.

Orlando is up against the Sixers who have been getting torched by PF's even before the pandemic, allowing 36.9 FPPG to the position. Clark had 17fp in 15 minutes on Wednesday and that was against a good Raptors defense.

PFs vs. Philadelphia is a matchup to look at.

Troy Brown, Jr. DK $5.5k | FD $5.8

Let's go with another player who shares a name with a former NFL receiver in Troy Brown, Jr. The Wizards SF has the fast paced matchup with New Orleans tonight. Washington is giving Brown a look, as his minutes have been 38, 31, and 36 the last three games. Brown has responded 17, 11, an 16 FG attempts and at least 7 rebounds the last three. New Orleans is also 27th vs. the SF.

Harry Giles DK $3.6k | FD $3.8k

What's going on with the enigma that is Harry Giles? The Duke product went 9-11 from the field and grabbed 8 rebounds on August 2nd but then played just 1 minute yesterday vs. New Orleans. Those minutes should increase today with the Kings being on the back-to-back. Sacramento is also up against a glorified G-League roster, as the Nets literally ran out of room on their inactive list.

It's good to know there's at least a ceiling out there for Giles

Center

Thomas Bryant DK $7.2k | FD $7.7k

It's a price jump for Thomas Bryant today after he's posted 60, 44, and 47 fp the last three games in the bubble. You want to get as much exposure as possible in the Wizards vs. Pelicans game that has a betting total of 236 though. New Orleans ranks 19th defensively vs. the C position and have given up at least 9 rebounds to 3 of the last 4 big men they've faced.

Bryant has two things going for him the last three outings - he's getting boards and he's getting shots. The Wizards center has posted 13, 11, and 10 rebounds to go with 20, 12, and 17 field goal attempts.

People like Bryant today.

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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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