This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
CHI (-2) vs. ORL, O/U: 222
NO vs. IND (-2.5), O/U: 227
MIL (-10.5) vs. CLE, O/U: 227.5
TOR vs. BKN (-4.5), O/U: 242
MIN (-2.5) vs. OKC, O/U: 219.5
UTA (-7.5) vs. CHA, O/U: 222.5
WAS vs. MIA (-6.5), O/U: 228
DET vs. PHX (-8), O/U: 214.5
BOS vs. LAC (-5.5), O/U: 221.5
Friday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes nine games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is out again and the Thunder will be popular value plays. Jaylen Brown, Collin Sexton and D'Angelo Russell are listed as questionable. The Hornets will be without PJ Washington again, but expect to have Terry Rozier back. The BKN-TOR matchup has a 242 total, 14 points higher than the next closest game.
The aforementioned Nets-Raptors battle will be a popular target tonight. It's difficult to project which of the Nets' stars will pop on any given night, but Kevin Durant has seen a significant decrease in salary. The Thunder are shorthanded and will be facing a poor Minnesota defense, making the OKC-MIN matchup another appealing target. The Wolves are also dealing with injuries and the affordable salaries for both teams make it a solid option to game-stack. The MIL-CLE matchup seems like a reasonable game to fade. The Bucks are double-digit favorites and there are plenty of other ways to spend salary than paying for Giannis in a probable blowout spot.
Injuries to Monitor
Karl-Anthony Towns (COVID-19): OUT
Towns will be out again tonight. Naz Reid ($5,400) and Ed Davis ($3,600) will see the bulk of the minutes at center.
Jaylen Brown (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Brown hasn't missed a game this season, but his status for tonight is uncertain. If he were to sit, Javonte Green ($3,000) could get a start.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (knee): OUT
SGA will miss his second consecutive game tonight. Theo Maledon ($5,000) and Hamidou Diallo ($5,200) will likely start again.
Collin Sexton (neck): QUESTIONABLE
Sexton is listed as questionable for tonight with a neck strain. If he's unable to go, Dylan Windler ($3,200) and Damyean Dotson ($3,000) could see increased run.
D'Angelo Russell (quad): QUESTIONABLE
Russell has been playing through a quad injury. If he were to miss tonight, Ricky Rubio ($4,600) would get the start at point guard.
Larry Nance (wrist): OUT
Nance will miss a third consecutive game tonight. Taurean Prince ($4,500) has been starting in his place.
Terry Rozier (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Rozier is expected to return tonight after a two game absence. LaMelo Ball ($7,100) will likely drop back to the bench.
PJ Washington (foot): OUT
Washington will miss a second consecutive game tonight. Miles Bridges ($5,400) will probably start again at power forward.
Elite Players
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,800) and James Harden ($10,600) are the two players with five-figure salaries on tonight's slate. Giannis is coming off a triple-double that saw him score 62 fantasy points in 31 minutes. The Bucks are double-digit favorites against the Cavs and the likelihood of a blowout puts a cap on his ceiling. Harden is also fresh off a triple-double, his second straight. He's produced three consecutive games of at least 61 DK points after a stretch of rather passive basketball to begin his Nets' career. I don't expect him or Giannis to be overly popular in tournaments tonight and either one offers the upside to be the slate's highest scorer. I prefer Harden as the matchup with Toronto lists a 242 total and should be competitive.
Bradley Beal ($9,500), Kyrie Irving ($9,100) and Russell Westbrook ($9,000) are the elite guards in the 9K range. The Wizards will get Westbrook back for a rematch with the Heat. Beal was a popular spend-up option in his absence, but I'll be looking elsewhere with both active for tonight's matchup against a tough Miami defense. Kyrie is coming off 56.75 DK points and the Nets' offense has been playing historically well. I'll be looking to target one of Brooklyn's big three in most lineups tonight and Irving's cheaper salary makes him appealing.
Kevin Durant ($9,600), Jayson Tatum ($8,900) and Kawhi Leonard ($8,800) are the spend-up options at forward. Durant has seen a significant decrease in salary as his $9,600 tag marks the first time in nine games he's under 10K making him a popular spend-up. I'd have interest in Tatum if Jaylen Brown were to miss (he's listed as questionable with a knee injury). The BOS-LAC matchup is the lone 10:00 p.m. EST game and either Tatum or Leonard could make for a less popular late-game hammer. Of the three, I prefer a discounted Durant in a favorable matchup against the Raptors.
Expected Chalk
Kenrich Williams ($3,500) and Justin Jackson ($3,200)
One of Williams or Jackson should start for the injured Luguentz Dort. The Thunder are already shorthanded, as they will again be without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and George Hill. I'd expect whoever starts between Williams and Jackson to be one of the most popular plays on the slate. And whoever comes off the bench is also in play.
Hamidou Diallo ($5,200)
Diallo will get another start at shooting guard tonight in place of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and George Hill after posting 31.75 DK points in 33 minutes last time out. And while DraftKings raised his salary, that won't prevent him from being one of the most popular plays again. Diallo has averaged better than a fantasy point per minute this season and will see significant minutes tonight.
Value Picks
Domantas Sabonis ($8,600)
Sabonis carried a salary of $10,100 as recently as Jan. 24 and had been valued in the mid-to-upper 9K range for most of the season. He's coming off back-to-back games of 60.75 and 59 DK points and can be rostered for a discount.
Nikola Vucevic ($8,500)
Vucevic has also seen his salary drop recently. The Magic are without Aaron Gordon and have a favorable matchup against the Bulls.
Naz Reid ($5,400)
Reid played a season-high 32 minutes last time out and appears to have shaken off a wrist injury. He's put up at least 30 DK points in five of the past six games and will start again at center for the injured Karl-Anthony Towns.
Miles Bridges ($5,400)
Bridges will make his second consecutive start at power forward for the injured PJ Washington. He's coming off 32.75 DK points in 32 minutes and should see similar run again.
Theo Maledon ($5,000)
Maledon will likely go somewhat overlooked in favor of more appealing Thunder value, but he played 36 minutes and took 12 shots last outing. He will see significant minutes and usage again tonight as the only active OKC point guard.
