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:

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.

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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