With all the health and safety protocols teams are going through, we are going to likely see a new trend emerge - the late unscratch. We're used to Joel Embiid being held out of the game 5 minutes prior to tip-off, but now two negative test results could have guys cleared that we assumed were out.

It happened last night with Trae Young being a somewhat surprising addition to the Hawks lineup, but let's just chalk that up to yet one more hurdle we all have to jump in the 2021/22 "Year of the Protocol"

On to the 8 game slate:

Tonight's Key NBA Matchups

Wizards @ Heat (-6.5) , O/U 208.5 7:30 ET

Jimmy Butler's back, Kyle Lowry's out. That's pretty much the way things are going this year for the Heat who have still managed to stay afloat in 4th place in the East. On the bright side, Miami has been able to find some depth during these times most notably 7-footer Omer Yurtseven who has 12+ rebounds in five straight. Bradley Beal's 10-days are up for Washington so he can return tonight.

Lakers (-5) @ Rockets, O/U 226.5 8:00 ET

Houston is on the back to back but also back home after a five game road trip (1-4). The Rockets lost 123-99 in Charlotte last night, their fourth straight loss by 12+ points.

Knicks (-3.5) @ Timberwolves, O/U 213.5 8:00 ET

Minnesota is down to 4th stringer Nathan Knight at C, but he had 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead an inexplicable 108-103 win over Boston last night. The Celtics center combination of Robert and Grant Williams did combine for 23 points and 17 rebounds so NY post players should still be a target.

Cavs (-4.5) @ Pelicans, O/U 212 8:00 ET

Cleveland is showing their depth, beating Toronto by 45 points on Sunday night. It helped that the Raptors had 10 players in health and safety, but the Cavs had 7 of their own out too. The Pelicans may be a bit thin too, with Brandon Ingram playing just 8 minutes on Sunday after suffering an ankle injury.

Nuggets @ Warriors (-7), O/U 217.5 10:00 ET

Draymond Green has entered health and safety protocols, which helps the Nikola Jokic value tonight as Green had held the MVP to 15.2 ppg in 20 career meetings.

Thunder @ Kings (-5), O/U 223 10:00 ET

De'Aaron Fox returned from his 10-day absence with just 12 points on Sunday but perhaps more importantly Tyrese Haliburton had only 18 points and 7 assists, breaking a streak of four straight 20+ point / 10+ assist double-doubles. The Kings were in a blowout loss to Memphis, but do both of these players lose value moving forward?

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Steph Curry DK $11.5k FD $10.4k vs. Denver

• Other spend ups Giannis Antetokounmpo (@ ORL) and Joel Embiid (@ TOR) could be in blowout games

• Curry had 32, 53, and 35 real points in three games vs. Denver last season (59, 69, 47 fp).

• +2.54% usage, +9.99 usage without Draymond Green and Jordan Poole

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander DK $9.5k | FD $9.2k @ Sacramento

• 19+ shots in 5 of the last 6

• +8% usage, +15.37fp with Josh Giddey (health and safety) out of the lineup

• Kings allow 2nd most opponent points, 38+ fp to four straight PGs

Ricky Rubio DK $6.4k | FD $6.7k @ New Orleans

• Darius Garland into protocols, Rubio gets start at PG

• Solid matchup, New Orleans has allowed 45+ to five straight PGs

• Rubio near 6X in 3 of last 4

Malik Monk DK $4.1k | FD $4.5k @ Houston

• Small sample size, but 32fp and 35 minutes on Christmas against Brooklyn after being in protocols since December 12th

• Rockets playing on the back to back, rank 27th vs. the SG position

• Houston allows 3rd most points in the NBA

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Julius Randle DK $10.5k | FD $8.7 @ Minnesota

• Attacking the banged up Minnesota front court down to 4th string center

• Timberwolves also on the back to back

• 49fp floor in two games vs. T'Wolves last season

Franz Wagner DK $7.2k | FD $6.9 vs. Milwaukee

• Bucks #11 in pace, have allowed 35+ fp to 3 of past 5 SFs

• Blowout minutes available with Bucks -14 point favorites,

• 14+ shots in 6 of the last 7

Otto Porter, Jr. DK $4.9k | FD $6.5k vs. Denver

• Was starting for Andrew Wiggins, stays in starting lineup with Draymond Green out

• Been in three straight perfect lineups

• DK pricing only

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Omer Yurtseven DK $5.8k | FD $5.4k vs. Washington

• Had 16 points and 15 rebounds Sunday vs. Orlando

• 12+ rebounds five straight games

• Washington down Thomas Bryant and Montrezl Harrell in front court

Nathan Knight DK $3.2k | FD $3.8k vs. New York

• Solid punt play for the price after 20/11/4 in season high 29 minutes

• Karl-Anthony Towns possibly back tonight but who knows?

_______________________________

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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