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Top NBA Plays Wednesday December 8th|Harden or Hardly?
After a light 3-game load on Tuesday, the NBA is back with a jam packed 13 game card tonight. Health and safety protocols continue to ravage rosters, but maybe the biggest news for tonight is Lamarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant sitting out for rest on the back to back.
The Aldridge and Durant absences would seem to open the door for a James Harden play, especially in a visit to his old stomping grounds Houston. Harden played 42 minutes last night against Dallas though and he's priced at $11.2k.
Let's see how the slate breaks down:
James Harden returns to Houston tonight
In 8 years with Rockets:
• 1 60-win season
• 5 50-win seasons
• 2 WCF appearances
• .639 win % in games played
• 1x MVP
• 3x Scoring champ
• 1x Assist champ
• 330 30-point games
• 106 40-point games
• 23 50-point gamesLegend
— ً (@arxanii)
5:03 PM • Dec 8, 2021
Tonight's Key NBA Matchups
Sixers (-6) @ Hornets, O/U 214.5 7:00 ET
Do we run it back on Joel Embiid tonight after his 43/15/7 line in a 127-124 win over the Hornets on Monday (75fp)? This one could get ugly though as the Hornets are playing their third game in four nights and they're already shorthanded with four players on the COVID list.
Bulls @ Cavs (-3), O/U 211.5 7:00 ET
DeMar DeRozan is one of four Bulls players in the health and safety protocols. With Chicago a bit shorthanded is this an upside game for Kevin Love or Ricky Rubio coming off the bench for Cleveland?
Knicks @ Pacers (-5), O/U 208.5 7:00 ET
New York is on the back to back after a 121-109 win in San Antonio last night. That could give Domantas Sabonis some value after a 30/10/6 (60fp) and as he heads into what could be his last games with Indiana after the Pacers announced they are open to trading the big man.
Bucks (-6) @ Heat, O/U 216.5 7:30 ET
Jimmy Butler reinjured his tailbone Monday night and will likely be out for the Bucks matchup. With Bam Adebayo also out the Heat have been getting dominated by opposing C's.
Mavericks @ Grizzlies (-3), O/U 216.5 8:00 ET
Two teams going different ways meet up in this spot, with the Grizzlies on a five game win streak and the Mavs having lost 8 of 10. Memphis won this matchup 97-90 on Saturday but with Dallas missing Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, who are expected back tonight.
Trail Blazers @ Warriors (-14), O/U 215.5 10:00 ET
Definitely a blowout spot with Golden State as -14 point favorites, and Steph Curry played just 4 minutes in the 4th quarter of Monday's 31-point win over Orlando (53fp). Something to note is that Curry is just 15 three-pointers away from the all-time record and goes on the road for five games after tonight.
Does Steph Curry have a record 16 3-pointers in him tonight to break Ray Allen's career mark before the Warriors go out for an extended road trip? We should know during the first quarter whether he's going for it. Right opponent, right situation, right guy with sense of history.
— Carl Steward (@stewardsfolly)
7:44 PM • Dec 8, 2021
Celtics @ Clippers (-4), O/U 210.5 10:30 ET
Boston is on the back to back after a 15-point loss to the Lakers last night. Obviously, there's no travel involved here, but the status of Jaylen Brown is still in question for the Celtics after he sat out vs. the Lakers.
Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables
Steph Curry DK $11.4k FD $10.7k vs. Portland
He's going to be launching here with a chance to break the three point record at home (needs 16)
Possibility for a blowout against shorthanded Portland, but he had 53fp in a 31 point win against Orlando on Monday
Has gone for 56+ in three straight against the Trail Blazers
Darius Garland DK $7.7k | FD $7.7k vs. Chicago
Down game last time (26fp) was on 0 days rest
17+ shots in two games prior
Bulls are very shorthanded including missing Alex Caruso their best backcourt defender
Chicago has allowed 38+ fp to four of the past five starting PGs
Caris LeVert DK $5.9k | FD $5.1k vs. Knicks
Time for Indianapolis to start showcasing LeVert for trade partners
Has taken 16 and 18 shots the last two games
Knicks playing on 0 days rest
Dennis Smith, Jr. DK $5.8k | FD $5.5k @Golden State
Not many other players available for minutes for shorthanded Portland
Has logged 37+ minutes last two games, hitting 6X in both games
Could be a lot of blowout minutes available in this one (GSW -14)
Tonight's SF / PF Notables
Brandon Ingram DK $9.1k | FD $7.7k vs. Denver
Pretty solid FD pricing considering he's averaged 24 field goal attempts and 38 minutes last two games
Has posted 57+ fp in consecutive games
Tobias Harris DK $7.6k | FD $7.6k @Charlotte
Run it back, he just had 21/11/4 (49fp) Monday vs. Charlotte - although that was in OT
Charlotte has allowed 50+ fp to five straight PFs
Has gone for 40+ in three of four vs. Hornets last two years
Norman Powell DK $4.8k | FD $5.2k @Golden State
Under $5k and took 24 shots last game 👀
44 minutes in loss to Clippers for shorthanded Portland
Tonight's Center Position Notables
Nikola Vucevic DK $9.5k | FD $9k @ Cleveland
Took 24 shots in Monday's first game without DeMar DeRozan
+7.46% usage and +26.68fp with all Chicago's absences
Cavs have allowed 20 rebounds to Rudy Gobert and 16 to Bobby Portis at the center position the last two games
Bobby Portis DK $7.5k | FD $7k @ Miami
Run it back after a 19 point, 16 rebound night vs. the Heat on Saturday
Miami struggling on the post without Bam Adebayo, also giving up 16 rebounds to Steven Adams on Monday
Portis also had 16 rebounds on Monday against Cleveland
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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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