This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
After a Thursday night slate sized more like a Friday night, we have a relatively modest ledger with just seven games. Of course, that's considered an ideal amount of contests for many DFS players, as it keeps the player pool robust enough to make differentiation easy in tournaments without presenting an overwhelming amount of options. The night also marks the second-half debuts of three of the Western Conference's most prominent squads in the Jazz, Lakers and Nuggets.
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the three games with the highest projected totals on Friday's slate as of early this morning:
Philadelphia 76ers at Washington Wizards (Projected total: 235.0 points)
There are some key injury question marks here that should clear up as the day goes on, so keep an eye on the total as it gets closer to tip-off. Joel Embiid could reportedly be cleared from COVID-19 protocols if he has one more negative test, while Bradley Beal carries a questionable tag for Washington due to knee soreness. Independent of those potential absences, the total here makes sense considering the Wizards allow an Eastern Conference-high 119.4 points per game and average an NBA-high 107.6 possessions per contest. And also consider these squads combined for a jaw-dropping 277 points in a regulation game the last time they met.
Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans (Projected total: 228.5 points)
The Pelicans are allowing the fourth-most points per game (116.4) while the Cavaliers aren't that much better with 112.7 surrendered per road contest. New Orleans also ranks in the top half of the league with 116.9 points scored per home game. None of their starters played more than Zion Williamson's 31 minutes Thursday night in a shocking blowout loss to the Timberwolves, although they will be on the second night of a back-to-back set while the Cavs will be making their second-half debut.
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies (Projected total: 227.0 points)
This is a somewhat surprising total when considering both clubs rank in the top-10 in points per game allowed – the Nuggets are No. 7 with 110.6 points while Memphis checks in directly behind them with 110.8. However, Memphis does play at a top-10 pace (104.0 possessions per game) and Denver averages the fourth-most points per game (115.9), including the fourth most on the road (116.2). The Grizzlies are averaging a solid 112.1 per contest in their own right and have put up 121.0 per contest over the last three.
Injury Situations to Monitor
NOTE: Injury reporting is especially fluid in the NBA, where the status of multiple players can change during the course of a day. Therefore, although the following serves as a foundation for the latest injury report as of the time the article is written, check back throughout the course of the day with RotoWire for the latest news regarding the status of all players on that night's slate.
LeBron James, LAL (ankle)/ Status: PROBABLE
As was the case in the first half of the season, James is fully expected to continue playing through his perpetual probable designation and should enjoy elevated usage once again with Anthony Davis (Achilles) still out.
Joel Embiid, PHI (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: GTD
Embiid reportedly will be cleared to play if he can produce another negative COVID-19 test Friday. If he's unable to suit up, Tony Bradley and Dwight Howard should once again see elevated roles.
DeMar DeRozan, SAN (personal)/ Status: OUT
With DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge out, Devin Vassell could see a start at small forward while the usage of the remaining members of the starting five should see a notable boost.
Ben Simmons, PHI (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Simmons' second straight absence will likely lead to another start for Matisse Thybulle, with Shake Milton also likely realizing a benefit.
Bradley Beal, WAS (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Beal were to sit out Friday, Russell Westbrook would see a significant bump in usage while Raul Neto would potentially enter the starting five.
Bam Adebayo, MIA (knee)/ Status: OUT
Kelly Olynyk should continue enjoying an expanded role in Adebayo's absence and the usage of other key members of the starting five such as Jimmy Butler should remain high.
John Wall, HOU (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Wall missed Thursday's game with a left knee bruise. If he were to sit out again Friday, Sterling Brown would likely enter the starting five once again while the likes of Eric Gordon, Jae'Sean Tate and Victor Oladipo would enjoy increased roles.
Darius Garland, CLE (groin)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Garland sits out, Collin Sexton could shift to point guard while Dylan Windler potentially enters the starting five at two-guard.
Evan Fournier, ORL (groin)/ Status: GTD
If Fournier sits out another game Friday and Terrence Ross (knee) does too, Dwayne Bacon would be in line for another start.
Paul Millsap, DEN (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Millsap remains out Friday, JaMychal Green (shoulder) would be in line to draw a start if he can suit up. However if both players sit out, Zeke Nnaji could be poised for a spot start.
Larry Nance, CLE (finger)/ Status: PROBABLE
Nance is expected to return after a 12-game absence, although whether he'll slide right back into the first unit ahead of Dean Wade remains to be seen.
Other notable injuries:
Anthony Davis, LAL (Achilles/calf)/ Status: OUT
Kyle Kuzma, LAL (heel)/ Status: PROBABLE
Christian Wood, HOU (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Terrence Ross, ORL (knee)/ Status: GTD
Jaren Jackson, MEM (knee)/ Status: OUT
David Nwaba, HOU (wrist)/ Status: OUT
Marc Gasol, LAL (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Andre Drummond, CLE (team decision)/ Status: OUT
LaMarcus Aldridge, SAN (team decision)/ Status: OUT
Danuel House, HOU (knee)/ Status: GTD
JaMychal Green, DEN (shoulder)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
James Ennis, ORL (calf)/ Status: OUT
Elite Players
There's a quintet of five-figure salary players on Tuesday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($11,700), LeBron James ($10,900), Joel Embiid ($10,700), Bradley Beal ($10,300) and Russell Westbrook ($10,100).
Jokic sports an elevated salary but is arguably worth it considering he'll come into the contest very well rested and having played just 19 minutes in the All-Star Game while otherwise having last logged serious minutes Mar. 4. James will also still be playing without Anthony Davis and finally got some rest for his sore ankle, so he too could have extra spring in his step. Embiid's status will naturally have to be monitored carefully, while Beal is now sporting a questionable tag, making Westbrook potentially even more valuable than usual.
There are also several players with salaries in the high four-figures who offer the ability to deliver elite scores, including Nikola Vucevic ($9,900), Jimmy Butler ($9,600), Zach LaVine ($9,400) and Zion Williamson ($9,000).
From that group, Vucevic, Butler and Williamson will all be on the second night of back-to-back sets. However, having just come off the extended layoff, that should play a lesser role than usual. Williamson is also in a particularly favorable positional matchup against the Cavaliers' frontcourt, as is LaVine against the Heat's questionable defense versus shooting guards.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the names just detailed in the Elite Players sections, other likely chalk plays include Shake Milton and Matisse Thybulle due to Simmons' absence, as well as the other healthy members of the Spurs' starting five with both DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge out of action.
Key Values
Mike Conley, UTA vs. HOU ($6,000)
Conley enters with a very reasonable salary for a player who scored 30.6 to 38.6 FD points in four of the last five games before the All-Star break and who's averaging 30.8 FD points for the season. The veteran point guard went into the pause in play shooting a blistering 47.2 percent from deep over the last six first-half contests, while the opposing Rockets come in allowing the seventh-most FD points per game to point guards (48.7) for the season, along with the ninth-highest three-point percentage on the road (38.3).
Rudy Gay, SA vs. ORL ($5,000)
Gay got his second half started spectacularly at the expense of the Mavericks on Wednesday by scoring 34.3 FD points across 27 minutes. The veteran could be due for an even bigger night at a highly appealing salary considering the absence of both DeRozan and Aldridge. Gay is averaging 35.8 FD points per 36 minutes and sports a 24.6 percent usage rate with both his teammates off the floor this season. The opposing Magic are also allowing the seventh-highest offensive efficiency to second-unit players (43.7 percent) along with the second highest to power forwards (28.3 percent).
Markieff Morris, LAL vs. IND ($4,000)
Morris should continue in the starting five Friday in place of Anthony Davis (Achilles/calf) after finishing the first half of the season scoring 21.5 to 28.6 FD points in four of the five starts he drew heading into the All-Star break. He proved a solid complementary offensive option during that span, draining 47.6 percent of his 8.4 shot attempts per contest, including 36.8 percent of 3.8 tries from behind the arc. The opposing Pacers also make for good targets, as they've allowed 45.9 FD points per game to PFs over the last 10, as well as the seventh-highest offensive efficiency to the position (26.8 percent) on the season.
Other value plays to consider: Shake Milton, PHI at WAS ($5,800); Dennis Schroder, LAL vs. IND ($5,700); Jordan Clarkson, UTA vs. HOU ($5,500); Derrick White, SAN vs. ORL ($5,400); Goran Dragic, MIA at CHI ($5,300); Michael Carter-Williams, ORL at SA ($4,900); Kelly Olynyk, MIA at CHI ($4,500); Matisse Thybulle, PHI at WAS ($3,500)
