Welcome everyone to your Run Pure Sports DFS Daily Breakdown. Today we will be previewing Thursday’s nine game slate in the NBA. The idea of this article will be to give you a quick glance at the games each day and provide the overnight point spreads & game and team totals along with overnight injury news and potential DFS targets.
CELTICS (112.5) -8.5, 216.5 vs RAPTORS (104)
The Toronto Raptors (17-18) travel to Boston to take on the Celtics (18-17) a day after getting thumped by the lowly Detroit Pistons at home 129-105. The Raptors did play that game without three of its top five scorers, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games. The Celtics are riding a three game winning streak and are coming off a big 117-112 win over the Clippers on Tuesday. A key for the Celtics recently has been the resurgence of Kemba Walker who has scored at least 25 points in two of his last three games. Jaylen Brown returned to the lineup after missing a few games and added 18 points.
Injury News –
Toronto – Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Questionable (safety and health protocols)
DFS Targets –
Norman Powell, Kyle Lowry, Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker
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CLIPPERS (121.5) -5.5, 237.5 @ WIZARDS (116)
The Los Angeles Clippers (24-13) finish off their 5 game road trip tonight when they visit Washington to take on the Wizards (13-20). The Clippers are 1-3 on the their current trip and are coming off a 117-1112 loss to Boston. Paul George led the way in the loss with 32 points. Leading scorer Kawhi Leonard sat out the game (injury/rest). Reggie Jackson started in place of Leonard and finished with 25 points including 5-6 3-pointers. The Wizards come in losing back to back games after winning seven of eight contests. Russell Westbrook led the way with 23 points and 15 assists. The Clippers routed the Wizards back on Feb. 23 in Los Angeles 135-116.
Injury News –
LA Clippers – Kawhi Leonard, Questionable (back spasms), Marcus Morris, Doubtful (concussion), Patrick Patterson, Out (personal)
DFS Targets –
Bradley Beal, Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Reggie Jackson (if Leonard out)
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KNICKS (107.5) -5, 210 vs PISTONS (102.5)
The Detroit Pistons (10-25) can’t wait for the all star break to get here as they travel to New York to take on the Knicks (18-18). The Pistons did play last night and beat a depleted Raptors team 129-105. Wayne Ellington got the start and scored a team-high 25 points. Leading scorer Jerami Grant sat out last night’s game. The Knicks on the other hand have been one of the league’s biggest surprises. They are coming off a 119-93 loss to the Spurs but are 7-3 in their last 10. Julius Randle comes in averaging 23 ppg and 11 rpg. Derrick Rose, who had been starting in place of injured point guard Elfrid Payton, did not play against the Spurs due to safety and health protocols, however was cleared to fly back to New York with the team and should be able to play against his former team if he gets another negative test. If he sits again, that would elevate Immanuel Quickley as a great play if he gets the start.
Injury News –
NY Knicks – Elfrid Payton, Doubtful (hamstring), Taj Gibson, Doubtful (ankle), Derrick Rose, Questionable (health and safety protocols)
Detroit – Frank Jackson, Questionable (illness), Josh Jackson, Questionable (illness), Jerami Grant, Questionable (left quadriceps), Delon Wright, Out (groin)
DFS Targets –
Julius Randle, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley (if Rose out)
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NUGGETS (115) -4.5, 225.5 @ PACERS (110.5)
The Denver Nuggets (20-15) are 3-0 on their current 5 game road trip as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers (16-18). The Nuggets hammered the Bucks 128-97 on Tuesday as Nikola Jokic recorded his second triple double in his last 3 games finishing with 37/10/11 stat line. He also hit a milestone joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only two centers to record 50 career triple doubles. The Pacers have been sputtering heading into the all star break but did come back with a big 4th quarter to knock off the Cavs last night 114-111. Malcolm Brogdon led the way with 29 points against the Cavs, hitting 12 of 15 shots from the floor.
Injury News –
Denver – JaMychal Green, Out (shoulder), Paul Millsay, Out (knee), Gary Harris, Out (thigh), Facundo Campazzo and RJ Hampton, Out (safety and health protocols)
DFS Targets –
Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis
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BUCKS (120) -6, 234 @ GRIZZLIES (114)
The Milwaukee Bucks (21-14) travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies (16-15). The Bucks had their 5 game winning streak abruptly come to a halt when the Nuggets blew them out at home 128-97. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a team high 27 points in the loss on 10-15 shooting. The Grizzlies are coming off back to back wins over Houston and Washington and have won three of their last last four games. Ja Morant posted 35 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists against the Wizards. De’Anthony Melton came off the bench to add 20 points in 26 minutes of action.
Injury News –
Memphis – Grayson Allen, Out (concussion protocol)
Milwaukee – Jordan Nwora, Out (ankle)
DFS Targets –
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, Jonas Valenciunas
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PELICANS (114) -4, 224 vs HEAT (110)
The Miami Heat (17-18) travel to New Orleans to take on the Pelicans (15-20). The Heat had their 6 game winning streak snapped on Tuesday when they lost to the Hawks 94-80. They had been on quite a roll with wins over the Lakers, Raptors and Jazz during the 6 game winning streak. Jimmy Butler missed the last two games against the Hawks with a sprained right ankle. The Pelicans dropped a home game last night to the Chicago Bulls 128-124. Zion Williamson led the way with 28 points. JJ Reddick came off the bench and added 22.
Injury News –
Miami – Jimmy Butler, Questionable (knee), Bam Adebayo, Questionable (knee), Gabe Vincent, Probable (knee)
DFS Targets –
Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic, Tyler Herro, Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball
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SPURS (112) -6, 218 vs THUNDER (106)
The Oklahoma City Thunder (14-21) welcome in the San Antonio Spurs (18-13) to the AT&T Center. The Thunder are coming off their lowest scoring output of the year when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks 87-78. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been on a tear scoring over 30 fantasy points in 14 of his last 15 games and over 50 fantasy points in 5 of those games during that stretch. The Spurs bring plenty momentum into this game coming off a 119-93 win over the Knicks. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games. Trey Lyles got the start last game and led the team with a season-high 8 points. DeMar DeRozan returned from injury 3 games ago and has had 11 assists in each game.
Injury News –
San Antonio – Derrick White, Rudy Gay and Devin Vassell, Out (health and safety protocol), LaMarcus Aldridge, Questionable (stomach)
Oklahoma City – Al Horford, Doubtful (back to back – rest), Josh Hall, Questionable (knee)
DFS Targets –
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, DeMar DeRozan, Lonnie Walker
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SUNS (115) -6, 224 vs WARRIORS (109)
The Phoenix Suns (23-11) play host to the Golden State Warriors (19-17). The Warriors come into this game off a tough 108-106 loss last night to Portland. They are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Steph Curry is coming off a 35 point performance. The Suns meanwhile come in as one of the hottest teams in the league and are coming off a 12-3 February. Devin Booker had a 43-point effort against Minnesota a few days ago and has been tremendous so far this year. Kelly Oubre Jr is questionable and may sit in this one.
Injury News –
Golden St – Kelly Oubre Jr, Questionable (wrist)
DFS Targets –
Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Steph Curry, Draymond Green
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TRAIL BLAZERS (121.5) -5, 238 vs KINGS (116.5)
The Portland Trail Blazers (20-14) look to beat Sacramento for the third time this year when they host the Kings (14-21). The Kings come in fresh off a 123-120 win over the Lakers last night. Buddy Hield has been hot of late scoring a season-high 30 points in Sunday’s 127-126 loss to the Hornets and followed that up with a 29 point effort against the Lakers. De’Aaron Fox has had a great first half of the season leading the team in scoring with 22.8 ppg. The Trail Blazers knocked off the Warriors 108-106 last night. Damian Lillard knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer with 13 seconds left and then drew a charge on Draymond Green with under 4 seconds left to preserve the win.
Injury News –
Sacramento – Jabari Parker and Hassan Whiteside, Questionable (health and safety protocols), Tyrese Haliburton, Out (calf)
Portland – Harry Giles, Doubtful (left calf)
DFS Targets –
Damian Lillard, Gary Trent, Carmelo Anthony, De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Richaun Holmes
