This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
SA (-1.5) vs. CLE, O/U: 217.5
SAC vs. BOS (-7), O/U: 234.5
BKN (-8.5) vs. ORL, O/U: 224.5
DET vs. HOU (-2.5), O/U: 217.5
GS vs. MEM (-9.5), O/U: 223.5
IND vs. MIA (-4.5), O/U: 215.5
UTA (-5.5) vs. TOR, O/U: 229.5
CHI vs. DEN (-7), O/U: 227.5
DAL (-3) vs. POR, O/U: 234
MIN vs. PHX (-11), O/U: 231
Friday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:30 p.m. EDT and includes 10 games. DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love remain out while John Wall, Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams are listed as questionable. The news will be the status of Stephen Curry and Kelly Oubre as both are considered doubtful and not expected to play against Memphis. There is likely to be plenty of cheap value options and that should lead to stars-and-scrubs style builds being the popular construction.
The DAL-POR matchup is an appealing game to target. It tips off last at 10:00 p.m. with a 234 total that should be competitive. Luka Doncic and Damian Lillard are elite spend-up options while the Mavericks are still without Dorian Finney-Smith, making Tim Hardaway and Maxi Kleber viable value options. The GS-MEM matchup will be a popular destination as Golden State is expected to be without Stephen Curry and Kelly Oubre. I'd expect the majority of lineups to have at least one Warrior in them, but that doesn't make it necessary to target the Memphis side with 20 teams to choose from.
Injuries to Monitor
Stephen Curry (tailbone): DOUBTFUL
Curry missed practice after injuring his tailbone on Wednesday and isn't likely to play tonight. Nico Mannion ($3,200) will likely start at point guard.
DeMar DeRozan (personal): OUT
DeRozan is still away from the team following the death of his father. Lonnie Walker ($4,100) has been starting in his absence.
John Wall (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Wall has missed five consecutive games with a bruised knee and is listed as questionable. Kevin Porter ($7,200) and Sterling Brown ($4,500) have seen expanded roles in his absence.
Terrence Ross (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Ross missed yesterday's game with knee soreness and is listed as questionable. Aaron Gordon ($6,500) and Evan Fournier ($6,200) saw extra run in absence last night.
Kelly Oubre (foot): DOUBTFUL
Oubre is expected to miss tonight's game after injuring his foot on Wednesday. Juan Toscano-Anderson ($3,200) and Kent Bazemore ($3,400) will likely see expanded roles.
Michael Carter-Williams (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Carter-Williams missed yesterday's game due to a non COVID-19-related illness and is listed as questionable. Chasson Randle ($3,400) started at point guard in his absence.
Kevin Love (calf): OUT
Love will miss a third consecutive game after aggravating his previous calf injury. Larry Nance ($5,200) should get another start at power forward.
Elite Players
Guard:
Luka Doncic ($10,700) has managed two triple-doubles over his last four games and is coming off 74 DK points last time out. The matchup against Portland offers a 234 total and should be a pace-up spot for the Mavericks. Doncic scored 66.25 DK points against the Blazers when the teams last met on Feb. 14.
James Harden ($11,000) and Damian Lillard ($10,900) represent the slate's other elite guards. Harden has posted three consecutive triple-doubles and just produced 83.5 DK points on Wednesday. Kyrie Irving missed that game, but he's expected back for tonight's matchup with the Magic. Lillard's salary seems a bit high for a player that has only topped 55 DK points twice in the past 10 games, not to mention CJ McCollum is back to take away a bit of usage. Doncic and Harden are my preferred spend-up options on the slate.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,600) is coming off a triple-double while playing just 29 minutes in Wednesday's blowout win over Charlotte. He's scored at least 60 DK points in five of his last 10 contests and the Nuggets face a favorable matchup agains the Bulls.
Nikola Vucevic ($9,900) continues to see all the usage he can handle for the shorthanded Magic. He's topped 60 DK points in three of his last 10 and tonight's matchup against the Nets is a bit of a pace-up spot. Vucevic also makes for a solid pivot off of Jokic.
Forward:
Jayson Tatum ($8,900) has scored at least 42 DK points in five consecutive games and the Celtics have a prime matchup against the Kings. Jimmy Butler ($9,500) comes in as the most expensive small forward on the slate, but seems too expensive now that Bam Adebayo is back and sapping some usage.
Expected Chalk
Andrew Wiggins ($6,000)
The Warriors are likely to be without Stephen Curry (tailbone) and Kelly Oubre (foot) for the matchup versus Memphis. This should mean a significant usage bump for Wiggins and I'd expect him to be one of most popular plays on the slate, especially considering the elite spend-up options are at point guard and center.
Larry Nance ($5,200)
Nance will receive another start at power forward in place of the injured Kevin Love. He's put up at least 34 DK points in consecutive games while playing at least 37 minutes. At this salary, he seems like one the safest plays on the slate and I'd expect him to be among the most popular plays.
Value Picks
Devin Booker ($7,800)
Booker produced 50 DK points against Minnesota yesterday and the same teams will run it back tonight. His salary has actually fallen to its lowest point in the last 10 games despite the favorable matchup.
Kevin Porter ($7,200)
Porter has scored at least 42 DK points in four of five contests since being called up from the G League. Assuming John Wall (knee) sits and Porter gets another start, he should be good value again tonight in a favorable matchup against the Pistons.
Tyrese Haliburton ($5,700)
Haliburton started at shooting guard and played 33 minutes last time out despite still being on a minutes limit. He's seen a drop in salary and should benefit from entering the starting lineup in place of the injured Marvin Bagley.
Kent Bazemore ($3,400) and Juan Toscano-Anderson ($3,200)
Kelly Oubre is listed as doubtful for tonight and assuming he misses, either Bazemore or Toscano-Anderson should start in his place. Both represent decent options regardless, but I'd expect whoever gets the start to be a popular value play.
Nico Mannion ($3,200)
Stephen Curry is unlikely to play tonight and Mannion is expected to start at point guard. He played 31 minutes and scored 24 DK points the last time Curry and Oubre sat out on Mar. 4. Mannion is likely to be relatively popular assuming he starts.
