This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate features 10 games and begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time. With no shortage of big names and exploitable matchups in this slate, expect to see plenty of stars-and-scrubs style lineups in addition to those constructed with more balanced rosters.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Wizards (-6) vs. Hornets O/U: 233.5
This game has the highest over/under in this slate, as Charlotte gives up 112.8 points per game and Washington surrenders 121.1. There aren't many big names outside of Bradley Beal, but there are certainly players worth targeting on both sides.
Clippers (-4.5) vs. Rockets O/U: 226.5
This matchup has star power galore, as well as cheaper options primed to provide strong bang for the buck. Houston's 117.9 points per game rank third in the league, but the Rockets also give up 113.1 and the Clippers aren't slouches offensively, ranking 11th at 112.4 points per game.
Games to Fade
Nuggets (-4) vs. Celtics O/U: 206.5
Don't expect many easy baskets in this clash of top-seven defensive teams. Their players won't come cheap, and they'll likely be outclassed by options from faster-paced contests.
Heat (-4.5) at Bulls O/U: 214.5
While Jimmy Butler's return to Chicago is an intriguing storyline, he costs more than at any point this season at $8,300, and his dependence on the hustle stats makes him a risky choice. There's not much star power here otherwise, and both teams can get stops with Miami ranking sixth defensively and Chicago 15th.
Positional Breakdown
Even with a couple of notable injuries, point guard is teeming with talent across the price spectrum. With many of those point guards also eligible at shooting guard, that position is the second-deepest. No position is hard to fill in a slate of this size, but the depth runs out fastest at power forward.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Anthony Davis (shoulder) is listed as probable against the Thunder. He looked completely fine with 34 points in 37 minutes while playing through the probable tag Tuesday, so deploy him as you normally would.
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) has missed Brooklyn's last three games and still isn't practicing.
Bogdan Bogdanovic suffered a hamstring cramp Tuesday, leaving him questionable for the Kings.
Draymond Green sat out Wednesday due to right heel soreness, though the injury isn't believed to be serious. His return would be a much-needed boost for the depleted Warriors, though they'll be heavy underdogs in Utah either way especially since D'Angelo Russell (thumb) still doesn't have a return timetable.
Elite Players
Luka Doncic ($11,400) has looked like the most valuable fantasy asset in basketball with at least 74.5 fantasy points in three of his past four games. He can singlehandedly carry lineups, so clear up the cap space for him against the Cavaliers if you can.
Of the four superstars in the Rockets-Clippers matchup, the two cheaper ones — Paul George ($8,100) and Russell Westbrook ($8,400) — could well provide better value than James Harden ($11,700) and Kawhi Leonard ($9,500). George's price should continue to climb considering he's averaging 28.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 4.8 APG, while Westbrook has found a nice groove offensively of late with a 28-point triple double followed by a 25-point performance.
Bradley Beal ($9,600) is averaging 38.8 PPG and 7.0 APG over his last four games. He'll represent by far the best player on the floor for either team against the Hornets.
Both Lakers' stars thrived against the Thunder on Tuesday, as LeBron James ($11,300) scored 59.8 fantasy points thanks to a 25-point triple-double while Davis ($10,100) added 61.3 fantasy points. Both are worth considering in GPP formats for this rematch, though it's important not to underestimate the impact that saving $1,200 with Davis can have on the rest of your lineup.
Expected Chalk
Spencer Dinwiddie ($7,600) has stepped up as the Nets' primary backcourt scorer in the past three games with Irving out by delivering 24.0 PPG and 6.7 APG over that stretch. And with Irving expected to sit out again, Brooklyn's offense will keep running through Dinwiddie against the Kings.
The Warriors had no answer for Rudy Gobert ($8,200) inside when the Jazz came to Chase Center on Nov. 11, as the towering Frenchman finished with a season-high 25 points and 14 rebounds. That game is part of an active streak of nine consecutive games with at least 14 rebounds for Gobert, and he's primed for another nice effort on both ends in this home rematch with a Warriors' team giving up 118.9 points per game.
Ben McLemore ($3,900) is set to enter Houston's starting lineup with Danuel House doubtful due to a shoulder injury. McLemore started three games with House out earlier this month and scored at least 20 points in two of those three. With so many enticing stars in this slate, grabbing cheap players like McLemore to fill out the lineup is key to finding success.
Richaun Holmes ($6,300) should appeal to owners in 50/50s for his high floor. The Nets rank among the top-10 teams in both points for and against, so they'll push the pace and create plenty of opportunities for Holmes to score and vacuum up rebounds. He's been proficient in the traditional big man categories of late, averaging 12.8 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 1.5 blocks per game in his past 10.
Key Values
Devonte' Graham ($6,900) is averaging 20.8 PPG over his past nine games, and he's added a trio of double-digit assist efforts over that span. The 24-year-old guard should continue to build on his breakout sophomore season against a Wizards' team allowing a league-high 121.1 points per game.
Davis Bertans ($5,200) has quietly seen his role increase, as the sharpshooting big man has played two of his three largest minute totals with the Wizards in the past two games. He's made the most of that playing time with 18.0 PPG and 6.5 RPG in that span, including 9-for-18 shooting from 3-point range.
Lou Williams ($6,600) excels against teams that lack a deep bench, and the top-heavy Rockets fall under that category. He delivered 34.3 fantasy points when these teams met Nov. 13, and the superb sixth man has scored at least 34.0 fantasy points in seven of his past eight games - twice cracking 50.0.
