It's a 4-game Thursday night slate (Bulls @ Raptors cancelled) and a team in each of the games is on the back to back. With most teams already shorthanded due to health and safety protocols, usage will likely stay the same even on 0 days rest - but that doesn't mean performance will.

The docket looks like more of a low scoring night, but with shorthanded and fatigued defenses we may get more points than expected. Let's see who to target:

Tonight's Key NBA Matchups

Pistons @ Pacers (-10), O/U 209.5 7:00 ET

Indiana is a double digit favorite despite losing by 15 to a Giannis-less Bucks squad last night. That tells you about all you need to know about Detroit right now in the midst of their 12-game losing streak.

76ers @ Nets (-1), O/U 216.5 7:30 ET

Philly lost 101-96 last night to a Miami squad missing Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro. That doesn't exude a lot of confidence coming into tonight's game even if the Nets are extremely shorthanded. One good thing about last night's loss to the Heat was that Joel Embiid wasn't a scratched about 4 seconds prior to game time like he was on Monday.

Knicks (-5) @ Rockets, O/U 214 8:00 ET

Houston got spanked by 35 points last night in Cleveland but the big question is if Eric Gordon (groin) and Christian Wood (knee) were sitting because they were truly injured, or because it was the first leg of a back to back?

Wizards @ Suns (-9), O/U 213 9:00 ET

Washington suffered a 119-105 loss to Sacramento last night, a horrible offensive output against one of the worst defenses in the league. Things probably won't get a lot better tonight against Phoenix.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Cade Cunningham DK $8.6k FD $7.9k @ Indiana

• Well rested after this week's scheduled game with the Bulls was postponed

• Made the perfect lineup (52fp) playing in the first game without Jerami Grant (thumb) last time out on December 12th

• Has taken 17+ shots in four straight games

Tyrese Maxey DK $6.9k | FD $6.4k @ Brooklyn

• Ownership should be low (even on a short slate) after playing 42 minutes last night

• PGs vs. Brooklyn came through on Tuesday with Fred VanVleet scoring 31 points and dishing out 8 assists (in OT game though)

• Nets have allowed 50+ to three of last five PGs

Patty Mills DK $6.6k | FD $6.5k vs.Philadelphia

• Not a whole lot of other options for shots on the Nets (besides Durant)

• Took 20 shots Tuesday, including 7-14 from three point range

• Sixers have allowed 30+ fp to 4 of past 5 PGs

• Philly on the back to back

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Kevin Durant DK $12.3k | FD $12k @ Milwaukee

• Consecutive 70-Burgers 🍔 and a short slate are going to get that price tag

• Took nearly 1/3 of Brooklyn's shots on Tuesday with all their absences

• Had 29/15/12 vs. 76ers at the end of October (74fp)

• Philadelphia on the back to back

Chris Duarte DK $4.6k | FD $5k vs. Detroit

• Low ownership after three horrible games (18fp ceiling) but matchup play

• Pistons have allowed 33fp to three of past five SFs

• Detroit allowing 31fp on average to SF starters over past 20 games

• Played just 26 minutes last night, fresh for the back to back

KJ Martin DK $4.1k | FD $5.1k vs. Knicks

• Shooting more with Houston's absences, 10+ fga last two games

• 26.5 mpg last two outings

• 26 minutes last night has him fresh

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Deandre Ayton DK $8.8k | FD $8k vs. Washington

• 50fp from Tuesday is going to be hard to replicate because he did play 45 minutes and hit 12/17 shots.

• Washington is 25th dVp against centers though and gave up 19 rebounds to Nikola Jokic on Monday

• Wizards playing on game two of the back to back

Andre Drummond DK $7k | FD $6.1k @Brooklyn

• Joel Embiid is on the back to back (sat out Monday as well) and Drummond was priced at just $4.7k last night 👀

• Had three 20+ rebound games when starting for Embiid last month

• Brooklyn very depleted in the frontcourt

• Ownership should be incredibly low (still a punt play though)

_______________________________

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.

🚨 Bonus: Get 3 Free Months of LineStar Premium

Stuck in DFS?

Try something new for a change, MKF is pretty legit and a lot of fun.

If you're looking to try something new to switch it up, we'd appreciate you supporting us by going through the link below and using Promo code: LINESTAR

Get 3-months of LineStar Premium for new users to Monkey Knife Fight who deposit/play $10!

Terms: Partnership offers do NOT renew. See Monkey Knife Fight landing page for full terms and conditions. Must be a new user to MKF and deposit and play a minimum of $10 to qualify. If you have an existing LineStar Premium subscription you get a Hat/Tee/Pen combo instead of the 3-months.