This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
CLE vs. NO (-7.5), O/U: 228.5
DEN (-3.5) vs. MEM, O/U: 227.5
PHI (-4.5) vs. WAS, O/U: 233.5
MIA (-2.5) vs. CHI, O/U: 221.5
ORL vs. SA (-7.5), O/U: 220.5
HOU vs. UTA (-15.5), O/U: 226.5
IND vs. LAL (-4.5), O/U: 217.5
Friday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes seven games. Ben Simmons, Bam Adebayo and DeMar DeRozan are out. Joel Embiid, Bradley Beal and John Wall are listed as questionable. The Rockets will be significantly shorthanded for the second game of a back-to-back as Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker have also been ruled out. There will be plenty of cheap value options tonight and that should lead to a lot of stars-and-scrubs style builds.
It would make sense to target the later games as we will likely be waiting on news in multiple spots. Specifically, the Rockets game tips off at 10:00 p.m. EST and they are expected to be the source of some chalky value plays depending on who's active. The SA-ORL matchup features both teams missing key players with the absence of DeMar DeRozan likely to make the Spurs a popular option. The LAL-IND matchup is appealing even though it comes in with the lowest total on the slate. The Lakers are still without Anthony Davis while Marc Gasol will miss his third consecutive game, making LeBron and the remaining frontcourt players attractive options.
Injuries to Monitor
Joel Embiid (COVID-19 protocols): QUESTIONABLE
Embiid should be available to return tonight assuming he continues to test negative. Tony Bradley ($3,400) got the start in his absence last night while Dwight Howard ($6,000) saw extra run off the bench.
Ben Simmons (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Simmons will be required to quarantine until Saturday. Matisse Thybulle ($3,100) started in his place last night.
Bradley Beal (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Beal has only missed two games this season, but is listed as questionable due to knee soreness for tonight. If he were to miss, Raul Neto ($4,300) would likely have an expanded role.
John Wall (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Wall missed his first game since Feb. 8 last night due to a bruised knee and is listed as questionable for tonight. Sterling Brown ($4,500) received the start in his absence.
Bam Adebayo (knee): OUT
Adebayo will miss a third consecutive game tonight. Kelly Olynyk ($5,700) has been starting in his place at center.
DeMar DeRozan (personal): OUT
DeRozan will miss tonight's game in order to attend his father's funeral. Rudy Gay ($5,200), Keldon Johnson ($4,800) and Derrick White ($4,900) could see expanded roles.
Terrence Ross (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Ross missed yesterday's game due to knee soreness. Dwayne Bacon ($4,200) started at shooting guard while Chasson Randle ($3,100) saw 30 minutes off the bench.
Kevin Love (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Love hasn't played since since Dec. 27, but is listed as questionable for tonight. Dean Wade ($4,600) has been starting at power forward in his absence.
Darius Garland (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Garland is listed as questionable tonight due to a strained groin. If he misses, Dylan Windler ($4,200) and Damyean Dotson ($3,100) could see expanded roles.
Evan Fournier (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Fournier is listed as questionable, but isn't expected to play tonight. Dwayne Bacon ($4,200) started at shooting guard last night.
Eric Gordon (groin): OUT
Gordon has been ruled out tonight after suffering a groin injury during yesterday's contest. Sterling Brown ($4,500) and Kevin Porter ($3,200) will likely see expanded roles in his absence.
Elite Players
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,900) and Joel Embiid ($10,700)
Jokic enters as the most expensive player on the slate tonight. He has scored north of 70 DK points in two of his last three games and the Nuggets have a favorable matchup against the Grizzlies. Joel Embiid (COVID-19 protocols) has also put up at least 70 DK points in two of his last three. He's listed as questionable due to the league's health and safety protocols, but could return tonight. The PHI-WAS matchup features the highest total on the slate and I'd have a lot of interest in Embiid should he be cleared to play with Ben Simmons (COVID-19 protocols) already ruled out.
Guard:
Russell Westbrook ($10,200)
The Wizards should do well against the shorthanded Sixers. Bradley Beal (knee) is listed as questionable. If he sits, Westbrook will get a chance to run the show against a defense that will be without Ben Simmons. Westbrook has topped 60 DK points in four of the last 10 games as he seems to be fully healthy after struggling with various injuries throughout the first half of the season.
Forward:
LeBron James ($10,400)
LeBron has produced at least 59 DK points in three of his last five games as he continues to try and carry the Lakers in the absence of Anthony Davis. When comparing the elite players from each position, I prefer spending up for the centers as opposed to James as they seem to be hitting ceilings more frequently.
Jimmy Butler ($9,200) is also worth mentioning here. He's coming off 62.5 DK points last night and has scored at least 50 in four consecutive appearances. The Heat will be without Bam Adebayo again and Butler has actually seen his salary drop for tonight's favorable matchup against the Bulls.
Expected Chalk
Kevin Porter ($3,200)
Porter scored 42.25 DK points while seeing 29 minutes in his debut last night. He did a little bit of everything to fill up the stat sheet. The Rockets are still significantly shorthanded and have already ruled out Eric Gordon for the second game of a back-to-back tonight. Porter was tearing up the G League prior to the All-Star break and should once again be in line for significant minutes.
Value Picks
Dejounte Murray ($7,500)
DeMar DeRozan (personal) has been ruled out and his absence should lead to Murray getting a significant usage bump. His salary has come back down to an affordable level for a favorable matchup against the Magic.
Montrezl Harrell ($6,000) and Kyle Kuzma ($5,900)
Anthony Davis remains out and Marc Gasol will miss a third consecutive game. Kuzma started at power forward last time out and put up 49.75 DK points while seeing 34 minutes. Harrell played 33 minutes off the bench and scored 45 DK points. They should both see plenty of minutes again tonight trying to contain the Pacers' frontcourt.
Kelly Olynyk ($5,700)
Olynyk has produced big games in consecutive starts at center in place of the injured Bam Adebayo with at least 35 minutes in each to go with 38.75 and 45 DK points. The Heat also face a favorable matchup against the Bulls tonight.
Derrick White ($4,900), Keldon Johnson ($4,800) and Rudy Gay ($5,200)
DeMar DeRozan (personal) is out tonight and that should free up minutes and usage for multiple Spurs. They rely on DeRozan for playmaking, so guys like White, Johnson and Gay will have more opportunities to shine.
Kenyon Martin ($3,000)
The Rockets will be shorthanded again, especially in the frontcourt as P.J. Tucker is likely to sit out until he finds a new team. Martin played 32 minutes off the bench last night and put up 29.75 DK points. The Rockets also come in as 15.5 point underdogs against the Jazz.
