This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
CHI vs. CHA (3.5), O/U: OTB
HOU vs. DET (3.5), O/U: OTB
ORL vs. IND (2.5), O/U: OTB
BKN (-9.5) vs. CLE, O/U: 227
BOS vs. PHI (-4.5), O/U: OTB
MIA vs. TOR (-2.5), O/U: OTB
ATL (-4.5) vs. MIN, O/U: OTB
DAL (-3) vs. SA, O/U: 222.5
DEN vs. PHX (-1.5), O/U: 219
NY vs. SAC (-4), O/U: 218.5
OKC vs. LAC (-13), O/U: 220
Friday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes 11 games. The most significant news is the injury to Christian Wood. He's out tonight and DeMarcus Cousins is in line to start against Detroit. Cousins is likely to be massive chalk, but keep in mind he's only played over 20 minutes once this season. That's not enough to scare me away, but there's a path to failure if you prefer someone like Daniel Gafford who - for $1,300 less - will be starting in place of the injured Wendell Carter against Charlotte. The value at center could result in people choosing a stars-and-scrubs style build but on a massive 11-game slate, there are also plenty of mid-range options to fit a balanced setup.
The CHI-CHA and HOU-DET matchups are possible targets as they likely feature the slate's most popular players in Cousins and Gafford, and both are fine as one-offs. ATL-MIN seems like a reasonable target as both clubs are missing multiple players and it should be fast-paced and competitive. It's rarely a bad idea to target the late games and the DEN-PHX and NY-SAC matchups feature appealing options on both sides. As far as games to fade, the Nets and Clippers are big favorites coming in and I'd rather avoid the blowout risk altogether with so many other players to choose from.
Injuries to Monitor
Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19): OUT
Towns is still without a timetable to return after testing positive last Friday. Naz Reid ($5,200) and Jarred Vanderbilt ($5,000) will continue to see increased run.
Jayson Tatum (COVID-19): OUT
Tatum will miss tonight's game but has a decent chance to play Sunday. Grant Williams ($3,200) will likely start in his place.
Christian Wood (ankle): OUT
Wood rolled his ankle and won't make the trip to Detroit tonight. DeMarcus Cousins ($4,400) should start at center.
Pascal Siakam (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Siakam has been nursing a groin injury, but has yet to miss any time. If he were to sit, Chris Boucher ($7,300) would likely see an increase in minutes.
Jimmy Butler (COVID-19): OUT
Butler will miss his sixth straight game. Kendrick Nunn ($5,400) will continue to see extra run.
John Wall (knee): OUT
Wall will miss his fourth consecutive game tonight. Eric Gordon ($5,700) will likely start again.
Tyler Herro (neck): QUESTIONABLE
Herro has missed the past three games, but could return tonight. If he sits, Goran Dragic ($6,000) should start again.
Myles Turner (hand): QUESTIONABLE
Turner has missed the past two games after suffering an avulsion fracture in his right hand. If he sits again, Doug McDermott ($5,000) would be in line for increased run.
Michael Porter (COVID-19): QUESTIONABLE
Coach Michael Malone said he hopes to have Porter available for tonight's game. Will Barton ($5,500) has been starting in his place.
Darius Garland (shoulder): QUESTIONABLE
Garland hasn't played since Jan. 2, but is expected to return tonight. If he can't go, Damyean Dotson ($4,600) would likely start again.
De'Andre Hunter (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Hunter missed Wednesday's game with knee soreness, but could return tonight. Kevin Huerter ($5,900) would like garner another start if Hunter is forced to miss.
Wendell Carter (thigh): DOUBTFUL
Carter left Wednesday's practice with a bruised thigh and isn't expected to play tonight. Daniel Gafford ($3,100) should start in his place.
Al Horford (personal): OUT
Horford is set to miss his fourth straight game after the birth of his child. Isaiah Roby ($5,000) has been starting at center.
Elite Players
Nikola Jokic ($11,000), Joel Embiid ($10,100), Domantas Sabonis ($9,700) and Julius Randle ($9,100) are the elite centers on tonight's slate. Jokic is still averaging north of 60 DK points per night after he put up 56 in just 28 minutes on Wednesday. Embiid has scored at least 65 DK points in two of the last three. Randle has been incredibly consistent, failing to top 45 DK points only once in the last 10 contests. Sabonis also offers a safe floor as he's scored at least 44 DK points in nine out of the past 10. Of the four, I think Sabonis is a bit too expensive in relation to his ceiling. It would make more sense to find the $400 and get to Embiid or save $600 and just play Randle. If you can afford Jokic, he's in a favorable spot tonight in what should be a competitive matchup against the Suns.
At point guard, Luka Doncic ($10,900) and James Harden ($10,800) have similar salaries while Trae Young ($9,600) and Kyrie Irving ($9,000) can be rostered for a bit less. Doncic is coming off back-to-back subpar fantasy performances even though he notched a triple-double last time out. Harden played 51 minutes and scored 59 DK points in Wednesday's double-overtime loss to the Cavs. It's difficult for me to trust Harden at that salary as the Nets have two other big mouths to feed in Durant and Kyrie. The trio is playing just their second game together and usage will be tough to predict. Young enjoyed his best game of the season by playing 44 minutes and putting up 66 DK points in Wednesday's OT win. He's in a great spot tonight against Minnesota. Irving returned after a seven-game absence and played 48 minutes while taking 28 shots in Wednesday's double-overtime loss to the Cavs. Of the bunch, I have the most interest in Trae Young tonight. And if I had to pick a Net, it'd be Kyrie based on salary alone.
Zach LaVine ($9,500) and Paul George ($9,300) come in as the most expensive shooting guards on tonight's slate. LaVine has been on a tear by scoring at least 54 DK points in four of the past five games. He drained 13 threes in the same matchup against Charlotte last season if you care about those types of things. George has been playing well too, but I don't love the Clippers as 13-point favorites tonight. It's hard not to choose LaVine here.
Kevin Durant ($10,700) and Kawhi Leonard ($9,700) represent the spend-up options at forward. As it stands, I don't have much interest in either as there are plenty of other options with 22 teams to choose from tonight. The unpredictability of the Nets' big three and the Clippers playing in a potential blowout spot will lead me to look elsewhere for elite options.
Expected Chalk
DeMarcus Cousins ($4,400)
Cousins is in line to start for the injured Christian Wood tonight. In his only other start this season, Boogie put up 40 DK points in 23 minutes. I'd expect him to be popular in most contests tonight.
Daniel Gafford ($3,100)
Gafford is likely to start for the injured Wendell Carter tonight. He's averaged just under a fantasy point per minute this season and should see significant run tonight. He will be popular in cash games and is a solid option for tournaments in a stars-and-scrubs style build.
Value Picks
Lauri Markkanen ($6,600)
Markkanen is another player who should benefit from the absence of Wendell Carter. He's played at least 33 minutes in three consecutive games and the Bulls face a favorable matchup against Charlotte.
Eric Gordon ($5,700)
Gordon was already good value with the Rockets being so thin at guard, but the injury to Christian Wood could open up even more usage. The Rockets are in a good spot against Detroit tonight and Gordon's reasonable salary makes him appealing for tournaments.
Marvin Bagley ($5,500)
Keep an eye on the status of Hassan Whiteside. Bagley has seen a significant uptick in minutes as Whiteside has missed the past three games dealing with a hip injury. If he sits again tonight, I like Bagley in a plus matchup against the Knicks.
Cameron Johnson ($4,400)
Johnson has started the last two games at power forward and Dario Saric will miss his third consecutive game due to COVID-19 protocols. Johnson's $4,400 salary is appealing if you're looking for some value in a stars-and-scrubs style build.
Cody Zeller ($3,500)
Zeller is listed as probable after breaking his hand in the opening game of the season. He isn't expected to have any minutes restriction and it's possible he slides right back into the starting lineup. He could provide good leverage if a chalky Daniel Gafford were to fail.
