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February 5, 2025, 4:20 pm
Gabriel Perez is typically on the Wednesday Layup Line and he kicked us off, but he has been ruled out due to feeling under the weather (we wish him the best).
This will be co-authored by Keston Paul, but I (Keston) will have to keep things quick and brief to get this to you in a timely fashion as I attempt to do some other things around the site and to also compensate for my wrists not being in a cooperative mood sometimes.
No lines or spreads today, sorry. And the storylines will have to be one-line summaries.
Injury Report
Note that teams have until 1 p.m. local time on the day of a game to submit their report for the second leg of a back-to-back, so look out for updates throughout the day as appropriate.
Teams that have a Tuesday-Wednesday B2B:
Nets, Bulls, Cavs, Heat, Sixers, Raptors
Milwaukee Bucks @ Charlotte Hornets
Game Time: 07:00 pm ET
DraftKings Lines
MIL -13 (-850), CHA +13 (+575)
Game Total:Key Storylines
Bucks Acquire Kuzma: The Bucks acquired Kyle Kuzma from the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, shipping Khris Middleton to the capital. Kuzma could start for the Bucks and provide a much needed offensive punch alongside Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Regardless of if Kuzma starts or not, he is worth holding onto in standard formats to see how his role develops on the Bucks, as Kuzma should have considerable usage go his way.Should Return Sooner Than Later: The Hornets provided a vague update regarding LaMelo Ball’s return to the court earlier this week. While the phrase “without timetable to return” can be interpreted as concerning, the fact Ball is already doing some work on the court is a good sign and should result in Ball being back sooner than later.
Stream of the Game
With LaMelo Ball sidelined, Vasilije Micic (questionable) is a strong streaming option for assists if he plays.
Alternatives: Nick Smith, Josh Green and Gary Trent Jr. Taurean Prince and Moussa Diabate (deeper formats).
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Detroit Pistons
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
DraftKings Lines
CLE -1 (-), DET +1 (+)
Game Total:Key Storylines
Cavs: Will they make a move at the deadline for a starting-lineup upgrade like Cam Johnson, or rely on continuity and depth?
Pistons: The Pistons have the most cap space and just took on KJ Martin’s contract for draft compensation. It is a tried and true strategy the Thunder and Spurs have used, but will they make a real addition as well?
Stream of the Game
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