NBA Grind Down: Wednesday, January 31st

by Derek Farnsworth (Notorious) Last Updated 2018-01-31 20:21:56

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Welcome to the RotoGrinders NBA Grind Down. In this all-encompassing preview of today’s NBA action, every game will be broken down statistically, with several key elements highlighted in our charts.

Vegas lines are broken down to show projected Implied Team Totals, to give you an idea of who is favored to win, and often more importantly, how many points they’re expected to score. We also provide pace numbers, so you can spot a game that might have a few extra possessions and more opportunities for fantasy points.

We also provide position-by-position matchup rankings for every team, to give you an idea of the players who will be in better situations to succeed. Using Defense versus Position data, every projected starter is listed along with his opponent’s rank in points allowed to players of his position. These color-coded charts will help you spot the best matchups of the night at a glance.

If you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use promo code “GRINDERS” to receive the best perks in the industry.

Legend & FAQ

Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic – 7:00 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers							Orlando Magic
			Vegas Total		217.0					Vegas Total		217.0
			Vegas Spread		-2.5					Vegas Spread		2.5
			Implied Team Total		109.8					Implied Team Total		107.3
			Pace Projection +/-		1.6					Pace Projection +/-		3.8
Projected Starters	Tyler Ennis	Kentavious Caldwell-Pope	Brandon Ingram	Julius Randle	Brook Lopez		Projected Starters	Elfrid Payton	Evan Fournier	Jonathon Simmons	Aaron Gordon	Bismack Biyombo
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	30	29	19	28	23		DvP	22	24	26	27	15
DRPM Rat.	23	27	30	27	26		DRPM Rat.	14	7	26	16	20

Los Angeles Lakers

Before we get into the slate, I wanted to mention that I will not be writing the Grind Down for the next two days. I am heading to Scottsdale for the Waste Management Open, so I won’t be doing the Grind Down or the video update again until Monday. We kick off this eight game slate with one of the best games to stack. We have two fast-paced teams that are ranked in the bottom four in points allowed per game this season. The total is set at 217 points and the game features a spread of only 2.5 points. Anything can happen in a single NBA game, but if this one goes as planned, it will be full of fantasy production.

Lonzo Ball has already been ruled out of tonight’s game, which means another start at point guard for Tyler Ennis. While this is a great matchup, Ennis hasn’t been seeing more than 15 minutes regularly. Jordan Clarkson is averaging 32 minutes and 38 fantasy points over his last five game and will essentially be the Lakers’ point guard tonight. Clarkson’s price has come down a bit on FanDuel, making him an excellent tournament play against a Magic team that is ranked 29th in efficiency against point guards. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been struggling for nearly a month now. While this is certainly a slump-busting matchup, there are better plays at shooting guard.

Brandon Ingram has played at least 33 minutes in three straight games and appears to be over his injury that forced him to miss a couple of outings. He can fill up all areas of the stat sheet and he’s one of the few Lakers’ players that sees consistent minutes night in and night out. Ingram is a borderline elite play in all formats, especially if you want to stack this game and need exposure to the Lakers’ side of the ball. Julius Randle, Larry Nance, and Kyle Kuzma should all play between 25-28 minutes tonight. Trusting any of the three in cash games is a bit of a stretch, but all three have the potential to post 30+ fantasy point outings against the Magic. With Nikola Vucevic still out for Orlando, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both teams play small in what should be the fastest-paced game on the schedule.

Notable Injuries

Lonzo Ball (Out)

Los Angeles Lakers Offense

Points Per Game: 106.7 (10 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 109.8 (2 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: 3.1 (5 of 16)

Matchup vs. Orlando Magic

Points Allowed Per Game: 110.4 (28 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 109.0 (27 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -4.0 (29 of 30)
Pace of Play: 101.0 (7 of 30)

Elite Plays – Brandon Ingram, Jordan Clarkson (GPP), Julius Randle (GPP), Larry Nance (GPP)

Secondary Plays – Jordan Clarkson (Cash), Julius Randle (Cash), Larry Nance (Cash), Kyle Kuzma

Orlando Magic

The Magic are playing in the second half of a back-to-back after allowing the first ever 60 point triple-double in NBA history. Sure, James Harden saw a nice boost with Chris Paul and Eric Gordon out, but there are no excuses for Orlando’s defense. Luckily, they face a similar team tonight in the Lakers. On the season, Los Angeles is ranked first in pace of play and 27th in points allowed per game. The Magic have an implied total of 107.3 points, which is the sixth highest overall and two points above their season average.

This feels like an Elfrid Payton night, doesn’t it? There are three things going for him in this matchup — favorable matchups against Tyler Ennis and Jordan Clarkson, the fact that the Lakers don’t have an elite rim protector, and the fact that the Magic could be without two of their highest usage players. Payton is too volatile to trust in a cash game setting, but is one of my top tournament targets in the slate. Evan Fournier is starting to find some form, averaging 28 fantasy points over his last five games. He’s the one Magic player with a difficult matchup (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), but I’m still willing to play Fournier in a game stack in tournaments.

Jonathon Simmons has been up and down all season, but is averaging 31 minutes over his last five games. His price on FanDuel ($4,900) is quite tempting in a matchup against the Lakers, especially if Aaron Gordon is ruled out. Mario Hezonja’s fantasy appeal obviously hinges on the availability of Gordon, who missed last night’s game with a hip injury. In the ten games that Gordon has missed this season, Hezonja has averaged 26 fantasy points. He would immediately become one of the top value of the slate if Gordon is ruled out. While the matchup sets up well for Bismack Biyombo, he seems a bit overpriced for a player that is averaging 22 minutes in his last four games.

Notable Injuries

Jonathan Isaac (Out)
Nikola Vucevic (Out)
Aaron Gordon (Questionable)

Orlando Magic Offense

Points Per Game: 105.2 (15 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 107.3 (6 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: 2.1 (6 of 16)

Matchup vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Points Allowed Per Game: 110.0 (27 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 105.0 (11 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 0.7 (11 of 30)
Pace of Play: 103.2 (1 of 30)

Elite Plays – Elfrid Payton (GPP), Jonathon Simmons (FD), Mario Hezonja (if Gordon is out)

Secondary Plays – Elfrid Payton (Cash), Jonathon Simmons (DK), Evan Fournier, Khem Birch (if Gordon is out)

Memphis Grizzlies at Indiana Pacers – 7:00 PM ET

Memphis Grizzlies							Indiana Pacers
			Vegas Total		203.5					Vegas Total		203.5
			Vegas Spread		7.0					Vegas Spread		-7.0
			Implied Team Total		98.3					Implied Team Total		105.3
			Pace Projection +/-		-0.9					Pace Projection +/-		-3.3
Projected Starters	Tyreke Evans	Andrew Harrison	Dillon Brooks	Jarell Martin	Marc Gasol		Projected Starters	Darren Collison	Victor Oladipo	Bojan Bogdanovic	Thaddeus Young	Myles Turner
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	10	9	12	15	28		DvP	9	20	7	14	1
DRPM Rat.	17	1	28	9	16		DRPM Rat.	10	17	14	16	15

Memphis Grizzlies

If you put all of the Grizzlies player’s names in a hat and randomly drew one out, you’d have a very good chance at picking someone that was injured. The Grizzlies’ injury report seems to get longer and longer with every game. This makes predicting fantasy production difficult, but luckily this is one of the first games to tip-off tonight. Memphis draws a nice matchup against the Pacers, who are ranked 15th in defensive efficiency and 21st in rebounding differential. The Grizzlies have the lowest implied total on the board, but that’s to be expected given how slow they play.

Tyreke Evans came off the bench the other night against the Suns, but should be back in the starting lineup tonight. He offers plenty of upside, but we have to pay a premium for him. Darren Collison isn’t a great on-ball defender, but the Pacers as a whole are ranked third in efficiency against point guards. We have to take a wait and see approach with Mario Chalmers and the wing players from Memphis. With three players questionable, there could be a lot of playing time that opens up in the rotation. Dillon Brooks, Andrew Harrison, and/or Wayne Selden could become intriguing value plays in the right situation.

The best way to attack the Pacers is with opposing bigs. Jarell Martin has really played well over his last five games, averaging 31 minutes and 25 fantasy points. The only game that he didn’t exceed value in was the one against the Clippers where he got into early foul trouble. The only issue with Martin is that there are two elite value plays at his position tonight (Bobby Portis and Frank Kaminsky). Marc Gasol is about as consistent as they come, but he is priced up for this matchup. I love targeting centers against the Pacers, but Gasol is far from a must play at this price point — $8,500 on FanDuel and $8,300 on DraftKings.

Notable Injuries

Chandler Parsons (Out)
James Ennis (Out)
JaMychal Green (Doubtful)
Deyonta Davis (Questionable)
Mario Chalmers (Questionable)
Ben McLemore (Questionable)
Dillon Brooks (Questionable)

Memphis Grizzlies Offense

Points Per Game: 99.8 (29 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 98.3 (16 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: -1.6 (14 of 16)

Matchup vs. Indiana Pacers

Points Allowed Per Game: 105.4 (12 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.2 (15 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -1.1 (21 of 30)
Pace of Play: 98.5 (18 of 30)

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Tyreke Evans (GPP), Jarell Martin, Marc Gasol

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers have won seven of their last ten games and would sneak into the playoffs if the regular season ended today. While their form is nice, the matchup is far from it. The Grizzlies play at the league’s slowest pace and are ranked sixth in points allowed per game this season. Even though the Pacers are playing at home, they still have an implied total of only 105.3 points, which is the seventh lowest of the slate.

Darren Collison has played big minutes over the last three games and has now scored at least 23 fantasy points in nine straight outings. We aren’t used to seeing this kind of consistency from Collison, who was more of a boom or bust option early in the season. People will be hesitant to play him against the Grizzlies, but they have been mediocre at defending point guards this season. I would much rather play Collison at $5,700 over Victor Oladipo, who cracked the $10,000 mark on FanDuel. It will be hard for Oladipo to reach value in a pace-down game against a good defense.

Myles Turner has already been announced as the starting center for tonight’s game, which will send Domantas Sabonis back to the bench. Unfortunately, I don’t expect either player to crack the 30-minute mark in this one, which limits their upside. Thaddeus Young is my favorite target from the Pacers’ frontcourt, as the Grizzlies are ranked 21st in efficiency against power forwards. Unfortunately for Young, there are better point-per-dollar targets at his position, including one in this game (Jarell Martin).

Notable Injuries

Lance Stephenson (Questionable)

Indiana Pacers Offense

Points Per Game: 106.5 (11 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 105.3 (10 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: -1.3 (11 of 16)

Matchup vs. Memphis Grizzlies

Points Allowed Per Game: 102.5 (6 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.3 (16 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -2.0 (23 of 30)
Pace of Play: 96.1 (30 of 30)

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Darren Collison, Thaddeus Young

Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 PM ET

Philadelphia 76ers							Brooklyn Nets
			Vegas Total		211.5					Vegas Total		211.5
			Vegas Spread		-7.0					Vegas Spread		7.0
			Implied Team Total		109.3					Implied Team Total		102.3
			Pace Projection +/-		2.2					Pace Projection +/-		2.7
Projected Starters	Ben Simmons	J.J. Redick	Robert Covington	Dario Saric	Joel Embiid		Projected Starters	Spencer Dinwiddie	Allen Crabbe	DeMarre Carroll	Quincy Acy	Jarrett Allen
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	24	17	13	25	30		DvP	12	22	23	16	12
DRPM Rat.	6	15	2	14	25		DRPM Rat.	1	26	1	23	2

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are close to being healthy now that J.J. Redick is back in the starting lineup. They draw a favorable matchup against the Nets, who are ranked fifth in pace of play and 24th in points allowed per game. I will note that the Nets have significantly slowed their pace of play down over the last month of play, so they are no longer a truly elite matchup like the Lakers, Magic, or Suns. The Sixers come into this game with an implied total of 109.3 points, which is the third highest on the board and one point above their season average.

Ben Simmons has played well over his last few games, but has taken advantage of increased playing time and usage with a few of his teammates out of the lineup. With everyone healthy tonight, Simmons is a bit overpriced, even in an exploitable matchup against the Nets. J.J. Redick stands out as a nice value play on DraftKings ($5,000) assuming he is a full-go without any minute restrictions. Robert Covington and Dario Saric are in the same boat as Simmons. They seem a bit overpriced with everyone healthy.

Joel Embiid should be well-rested after getting Monday’s game off. His minutes have been volatile this season, but he’s shown an ability to play 35+ minutes in close games. With a spread of only seven points, I like his chances of seeing a full complement of minutes tonight against the Nets. This is a dream matchup for Embiid, as Brooklyn is ranked 27th in efficiency and 30th in DvP against centers this season. With all of the value available tonight, we can afford to spend up at center.

Notable Injuries

Markelle Fultz (Doubtful)

Philadelphia 76ers Offense

Points Per Game: 107.9 (7 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 109.3 (3 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: 1.3 (8 of 16)

Matchup vs. Brooklyn Nets

Points Allowed Per Game: 108.8 (24 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 106.8 (20 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -0.4 (15 of 30)
Pace of Play: 101.6 (5 of 30)

Elite Plays – Joel Embiid

Secondary Plays – J.J. Redick (DK)

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are playing in the second half of a back-to-back after getting blown out by the Knicks on Tuesday night. While the Sixers are ranked fourth in defensive efficiency and first in rebounding differential this season, they play at such a fast pace that they are still an average matchup for fantasy production. The Nets come into the game with an implied total of 102.3 points, which is the third lowest on the board and three points below their season average.

Spencer Dinwiddie only played 25 minutes last night, but sat for most of the fourth quarter due to the blowout. With D’Angelo Russell possibly resting tonight and Caris LeVert listed as questionable, Dinwiddie could easily push for 30+ minutes against the Sixers. Allen Crabbe and Joe Harris would also see a boost in playing time if Russell and LeVert are ruled out, although they are far from core plays in an eight game slate.

DeMarre Carroll has played well over his last five games, averaging 26 fantasy points per contest. His salary remains palatable on FanDuel ($5,500) and he should continue to see a boost in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s absence. The rest of the Nets’ frontcourt can be avoided tonight. Quincy Acy hasn’t made an impact on either end of the floor recently. Jarrett Allen drew the start at center last night, but couldn’t take advantage of it. And finally, Jahlil Okafor isn’t playing enough minutes off the bench to warrant consideration.

Notable Injuries

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (Out)
D’Angelo Russell (Possible Rest)
Caris LeVert (Questionable)

Brooklyn Nets Offense

Points Per Game: 105.0 (18 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 102.3 (14 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: -2.8 (15 of 16)

Matchup vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Points Allowed Per Game: 106.7 (20 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 103.1 (4 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 5.2 (1 of 30)
Pace of Play: 102.1 (4 of 30)

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Spencer Dinwiddie, DeMarre Carroll

Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 PM ET

Charlotte Hornets							Atlanta Hawks
			Vegas Total		211.0					Vegas Total		211.0
			Vegas Spread		-3.0					Vegas Spread		3.0
			Implied Team Total		107.0					Implied Team Total		104.0
			Pace Projection +/-		0.3					Pace Projection +/-		1.2
Projected Starters	Kemba Walker	Nicolas Batum	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	Frank Kaminsky	Dwight Howard		Projected Starters	Dennis Schroder	Kent Bazemore	Taurean Prince	Ersan Ilyasova	Miles Plumlee
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	21	18	30	21	29		DvP	15	4	27	17	10
DRPM Rat.	30	2	15	23	9		DRPM Rat.	10	7	8	30	4

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets have won five of their last ten games and are creeping back into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. They draw one of my favorite matchups tonight, as they square off against the Hawks in a game that features a spread of only three points. On the season, Atlanta is ranked 23rd or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Hornets have not played well on the road this season, yet they have the seventh highest implied total (107 points) on the board tonight.

As strange as it sounds, Kemba Walker is my fourth or fifth favorite Hornets’ player in this game. We’ve been streaming point guards against the Hawks with success for years. I’m a fan of the matchup and of Walker’s upside, there are just better point-per-dollar targets in this lineup. With Marvin Williams out, Frank Kaminsky is going to draw the start at power forward. He should play 28-30 minutes in a great matchup against the Hawks. Kamsinky should easily pay off his salary and is one of the top values on the board.

The absence of Williams should also create a few more minutes for the likes of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Nicolas Batum, and Jeremy Lamb. Kidd-Gilchrist is an elite play on DraftKings, Batum makes an excellent tournament play on both sites, and Lamb grades out as one of the top shooting guard targets of the slate. Lamb averages nearly a fantasy point per minute and should, in theory, play 25+ minutes tonight. Dwight Howard said that he wanted to “kill the Hawks” before their previous meeting and he didn’t disappoint, scoring 61 fantasy points in 35 minutes. Something tells me that the Hawks aren’t going to be the team that puts an end to Howard’s insane run over the last few weeks.

Notable Injuries

Cody Zeller (Out)
Marvin Williams (Out)

Charlotte Hornets Offense

Points Per Game: 105.4 (14 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 107.0 (7 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: 1.6 (7 of 16)

Matchup vs. Atlanta Hawks

Points Allowed Per Game: 108.0 (23 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 108.1 (26 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -2.5 (26 of 30)
Pace of Play: 99.7 (14 of 30)

Elite Plays – Frank Kaminsky, Dwight Howard, Jeremy Lamb, Nicolas Batum (GPP), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (DK)

Secondary Plays – Nicolas Batum (Cash), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (FD), Kemba Walker

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks are always a great matchup for the opposing team, but they haven’t been very consistent themselves. They are constantly on the losing end of blowouts, which has led to an inconsistent rotation. As a DFS player, we want to be able to predict playing time and that’s been a tough task with the Hawks. Their matchup against the Hornets looks tough on paper, but Charlotte is a much different team defensively when they are away from home. The Hawks have an implied total of 104 points, which is slightly above their season average.

Kemba Walker is a mediocre defender and as a whole, the Hornets are ranked 18th in efficiency against point guards. This is a spot where Dennis Schroder could play well at low ownership, but he feels a bit overpriced on both FanDuel and DraftKings. Kent “I’ll give you 5 or 40 fantasy points” Bazemore is typically on my radar in tournaments, but he’s priced up across the industry and will have to deal with two elite wing defenders in Nicolas Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

My take on Taurean Prince was way off the other night. He can be avoided until further notice. Ersan Ilyasova has some potential in this matchup, as Frank Kaminsky is one of the worst defenders in basketball. As a whole, the Hornets are ranked 27th in efficiency against power forwards. Ilyasova’s minutes have been all over the map, but he could play 26-28 tonight if the game stays close. The matchup also sets up well for John Collins, but the Hawks refuse to play him more than 20-24 minutes.

Notable Injuries

DeAndre’ Bembry (Out)

Atlanta Hawks Offense

Points Per Game: 103.5 (21 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 104.0 (11 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: 0.5 (9 of 16)

Matchup vs. Charlotte Hornets

Points Allowed Per Game: 105.5 (14 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.5 (9 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 2.8 (4 of 30)
Pace of Play: 100.6 (10 of 30)

Elite Plays – None

Secondary Plays – Dennis Schroder (GPP), Ersan Ilyasova, John Collins

Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:30 PM ET

Miami Heat							Cleveland Cavaliers
			Vegas Total		215.5					Vegas Total		215.5
			Vegas Spread		2.0					Vegas Spread		-2.0
			Implied Team Total		106.8					Implied Team Total		108.8
			Pace Projection +/-		0.4					Pace Projection +/-		-2.7
Projected Starters	Goran Dragic	Tyler Johnson	Josh Richardson	James Johnson	Hassan Whiteside		Projected Starters	Isaiah Thomas	J.R. Smith	LeBron James	Jae Crowder	Tristan Thompson
Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C		Opponent Rank	PG	SG	SF	PF	C
DvP	27	23	29	20	25		DvP	3	12	6	4	7
DRPM Rat.	27	25	24	28	30		DRPM Rat.	22	20	7	6	1

Miami Heat

The Heat have won six of their last ten games and without looking at the standing, you probably wouldn’t know that they have the fourth best record in the Eastern Conference. They draw a terrific matchup tonight against the Cavaliers, who lost to the Triple-A Pistons last night in Detroit. Cleveland is now ranked 25th or worse in points allowed per game, defensive efficiency, and rebounding differential. The Heat come into this game with an implied total of 106.8 points, which is the eighth highest on the board and six points above their season average.

Goran Dragic and Tyler Johnson have been cutting into each other’s playing time and fantasy production recently. While the matchup is too good to ignore, I will be getting my Heat exposure elsewhere. Wayne Ellington has played at least 34 minutes in four of his last five games. With the Cavaliers having a lack of frontcourt depth at the moment, we could see both teams play small. This would lead to more minutes for the likes of Ellington and Josh Richardson. From a cash game standpoint, Richardson is by far the safest play from Miami. He continues to play around 35 minutes a game and is averaging 32 fantasy points in his last five outings.

James Johnson will likely draw the defensive assignment of LeBron James. Johnson is typically at his best when he is engaged defensively, as it leads to easy buckets in transition. There are better point-per-dollar plays at his position, but Johnson is an excellent tournament play in this matchup. Hassan “box of chocolates” Whiteside is also on my short list of potential tournament targets tonight. He has 50+ fantasy point upside, but forgets to show up at times. Seeing as how the Cavaliers can’t rebound or defend the paint, this is certainly a game where Whiteside could be a GPP-winning type of difference maker.

Notable Injuries

None

Miami Heat Offense

Points Per Game: 100.4 (28 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 106.8 (8 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: 6.3 (1 of 16)

Matchup vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Points Allowed Per Game: 109.8 (26 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 109.8 (29 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: -2.3 (25 of 30)
Pace of Play: 99.8 (13 of 30)

Elite Plays – Josh Richardson, James Johnson (GPP), Hassan Whiteside (GPP)

Secondary Plays – James Johnson (Cash), Hassan Whiteside (Cash), Tyler Johnson (GPP), Wayne Ellington

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have lost seven of their last ten games and are now going to be without Kevin Love for the next six to eight weeks. To add insult to injury, they will get passed by the Heat in the Eastern Conference standings if they lose tonight. This is not a great matchup for fantasy production, as Miami is ranked 28th in pace of play, third in points allowed per game, and seventh in defensive efficiency. The Cavaliers have an implied total of 108.8 points, which is a point lower than their season average.

Isaiah Thomas has yet to play in the second half of a back-to-back this season. The Cavaliers haven’t said anything about his status for tonight’s game, but it’s something to keep in mind when building lineups. If active, Thomas makes an excellent tournament play with Love out of the lineup. If Thomas is ruled out, Dwyane Wade would become one of the top point-per-dollar targets at shooting guard tonight. Wade is averaging 1.06 fantasy points per minute this season and is only $4,100 on FanDuel.

Love’s absence opens up around 28 minutes in the rotation and a ton of usage in the offense. With this team in shambles, LeBron James has no choice but to step up and put this team on his back. James is expensive for a matchup against the Heat, but there are enough values available tonight that it’s easy to fit James into cash game or tournament lineups. Jae Crowder, Tristan Thompson, and Jeff Green should all see boosts in minutes and/or usage with Love out, at least in the short-term. In terms of their fantasy appeal tonight, I would rank them Thompson, Green, and then Crowder.

Notable Injuries

Kevin Love (Out)

Cleveland Cavaliers Offense

Points Per Game: 110.0 (5 of 30)
Implied Implied Team Total: 108.8 (4 of 16)
Projected Point Differential: -1.3 (11 of 16)

Matchup vs. Miami Heat

Points Allowed Per Game: 101.1 (3 of 30)
Defensive Efficiency: 104.2 (7 of 30)
Rebounding Differential: + 0.3 (13 of 30)
Pace of Play: 96.7 (28 of 30)

Elite Plays – LeBron James, Tristan Thompson, Isaiah Thomas (GPP – if active), Dwyane Wade (if Thomas is out)

Secondary Plays – Dwyane Wade (if Thomas is active), J.R. Smith (if Thomas is out), Jeff Green

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