Hoops are back to the sole focus of the sports world (OK maybe there's a MNF game) tonight and one of the biggest stories heading into tonight's 9-game slate is the Knicks announcing that Alec Burks is their new starting PG and that Kemba Walker is no longer in the starting rotation. Walker's return to the Mecca hasn't gone as planned (11.7 ppg, 3.1 apg).

Other headlines for tonight's action is Nikola Jokic (questionable - wrist) probably continuing to sit out in his first meeting with the Heat after the Markieff Morris skirmish, a battle of the bads with the Thunder at the Rockets, and the Pelicans playing one of their last couple games (at the Clippers) without Zion Williamson who was just cleared to return to basketball activities over the weekend.

We've also got 🏀vs.🏀when LaMelo visits big bro Lonzo in Chicago. Let's get to it:

Tonight's Key NBA Matchups

Magic @ 76ers (-14), O/U 205.5 7:00 ET

Nice contrarian game to play here as it's supposed to be a blowout (PHI -14) and low scoring 205.5. Joel Embiid ($10.5k) returned from the COVID list Saturday with 42/14 (71fp) and might still be the C play, especially with the Nikola Jokic status up in the air.

Hornets @ Bulls (-5.5), O/U 224 8:00 ET

The only game on the slate with a betting total in the 220s, and Charlotte is coming off a high-scoring 146-143 loss to Houston on Saturday. Four different Hornets scored 20+ real points in that game, and LaMelo Ball wasn't one of them. Does his brother Lonzo Ball shut him down tonight?

Thunder @ Rockets (-2), O/U 216.5 8:00 ET

Is it time to start targeting the Rockets? Houston beat the Bulls 118-113 on Wednesday and outlasted Charlotte 146-143 on Saturday. The Rockets are also #2 in pace, but their problem (for DFS purposes) is balance with 8 players scoring in double figures vs. Chicago.

Pacers @ Timberwolves (-2.5), O/U 217 8:00 ET

Should be a nice close game here, and Minnesota is under-the-radar on the roll with wins in six of the last seven. D'Angelo Russell ($7.8k) blew up for 61fp in Saturday's OT win over Philadelphia, but it's Karl-Anthony Towns who has beat up Indiana for 59 and 54 fp the last two meetings.

Trail Blazers @ Jazz (-7.5), O/U 223 9:00 ET

The first meeting of the year between these two, but the Jazz have won three of the last four, usually in lower scoring games (under is 5-2 last 7). Portland has won a single road game this year (1-9) and that was at Houston.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Luka Doncic DK $11.3k FD $10.6k vs. Cleveland

• Always a blowout potential vs. Cavs, but Cleveland has kept within 5 points vs. the Nets and Suns the last week

• Has hit the perfect lineup in two straight since returning from injury, but also still at only 5X

• Cleveland 30th vs. PG last 5 games, so have to play the matchup.

Dejounte Murray DK $9.6k | FD $10k vs. Washington

• Hard to argue with the consistency, hitting a 55fp floor in five of the last six, which is almost 6X the DK price

• Gets a matchup with Washington tonight, who have approved overall defensively this season but have allowed 113.3 ppg last three

• Scored 46 and 61fp in two games vs. the Wizards last season, including a 25 point, 17 rebound performance last April

Lonzo Ball DK $7k | FD $6.7k vs Charlotte

• Had two down games vs. Hornets (LaMelo) with 16 and 26 fp last season, but it's revenge time with a new team

• Zach LaVine is questionable with an illness, and teams usually err on the side of caution in this day and age (+2.17% usage, +10fp)

• Has over a 5X floor last three games (37fp)

Gary Harris DK $3.5k | FD $4.1k @Philadelphia

• Should see plenty of minutes blowout or not, as Orlando has 7 players on tonight's injury report

• Minutes have increased to 31.5 per as the Magic deal with all the players out of the lineup

• Philly giving up 24+ fp to five straight PGs, although matchups have including 35 real points to D'Angelo Russell on Saturday

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Brandon Ingram DK $7.5k| FD $7.4k @ Clippers

• Trending down, but past games have included a 22 point loss at Utah, 25 point win over Washington, and 14+ point losses vs. Minnesota and Indiana

• Clippers are on the back to back tonight, and Paul George played 37 minutes in the 105-90 loss to the Warriors

• Zion Williamson cleared, so Ingram only has a few more games to be option 1A in the offense

Lauri Markkanen DK $5.6k | FD $6.3k @ Dallas

• Dallas has allowed at least 27fp to five straight starting SFs

• Has taken 13+ shots in all three games back from injury, also averaging 8 rebounds/game over that span

• Had 29 points and 10 rebounds vs. the Mavericks last January (with Chicago)

Caris LeVert DK $5.3k | FD $5.6k @ Minnesota

• Quite the price drop for a $7.5k player on November 10th

• Great matchup tonight with Minnesota's #5 pace

• Is starting to launch again, with 13+ field goal attempts last three

• On back-to-back, but played just 27 minutes yesterday vs. Milwaukee (Brogdon 34)

Kelly Oubre, Jr. DK $5.3k | FD $5.5k vs. Chicago

• The KellyKoaster is trending up, with 30, 34, and 39 fp last three games

• Has 17+ shot attempts last three games

• @ the Bulls with the highest betting total of the night (223)

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Rudy Gobert DK $8.5k | FD $8.9k vs. Portland

• Should be lower ownership after just 29 and 22 fp in consecutive games vs. the Pelicans over the weekend

• Had 20/17, 18/20, and 15/20 in three games vs. Portland last season

• Can also save $1k, and go Jarrett Allen who has 42fp in three straight and plays the Mavs defense that is 27th vs. the center position.

Nikola Vucevic DK $8.3k | FD $7.6k vs. Charlotte

• Matchup game for Vuc, as the Hornets give up 35fppg against the Hornets

• Highest betting total of the night (only one 220 or higher) and Charlotte allows the 3rd most opponent points per game

• Zach LaVine is questionable for Chicago (illness) which is +6.7% usage and +14.9 fantasy points

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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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