This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
It's Friday night in the Association, which typically equates to a busy ledger across the league. That's certainly the case this week with 10 games on the slate, including some particularly star-packed showdowns with the Hawks-Pelicans and Bucks-Trail Blazers. As is typical with this many teams, there are some key injuries to monitor and potential blowout scenarios to be mindful of with double-digit spreads as of early Friday morning.
Slate Overview
Here's a closer look at the three games with the highest projected totals on FanDuel Sportsbook:
Milwaukee Bucks at Portland Trail Blazers (Projected total: 237.0 points)
The Blazers are allowing the fourth-most points per game (115.2) and gave up 134 to the Bucks the first time they met this season. Milwaukee is giving up a healthy 114.8 points per road game and both squads rank in the top-10 in scoring (Bucks- 118.9 PPG/ Blazers- 115.0 PPG). Each team's big stars are also healthy, setting up what should be a more competitive contest than the initial encounter when the Bucks won by 28.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies (Projected total: 230.0 points)
The Timberwolves have shown some life in the second half of the season and are actually a more effective team offensively on the road with 111.5 points per game compared to the 106.6 they put up at Target Center. The Grizzlies flash reverse splits in that regard with 109.0 per home game and 114.8 when traveling, but could certainly benefit from the fact Minnesota gives up an NBA-high 119.3 points per road contest. The teams combined for 225 points the first time they met, so this total certainly seems within reach.
Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors (Projected total: 224.5 points)
The Warriors are playing on the second night of a back-to-back and already check in allowing 115.6 points per road game while the Raptors are yielding 110.1 per home contest. Neither side has been anything special on offense in the home/road splits that apply tonight with the Raps producing 111.5 points per home game and the Dubs averaging a full five points fewer per contest (110.2 compared to 115.2 at home) when traveling. Toronto and Golden State combined for just 211 points in their first battle and the Raptors are also down Kyle Lowry (foot), so this number is likely reasonable.
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 (ankle)/ Status: OUT
James' ongoing absence should continue affording the likes of Dennis Schroder, Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris a boost in usage.
Zion Williamson, NOP (thumb)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Williamson is out again Friday, James Johnson could draw another start while the remaining members of the Pelicans' starting five would all get usage boosts to varying degrees.
Domantas Sabonis, IND (quadriceps)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Sabonis is out, except Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert and Myles Turner to especially see big boosts in usage.
Donovan Mitchell, UTA (personal)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Another Mitchell absence would lead to significantly more responsibility on the offensive end for Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic and Rudy Gobert.
John Wall, HOU (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Wall is unable to go, Kevin Porter could benefit as the primary ball handler while Sterling Brown, Jae'Sean Tate and Christian Wood would also stand to see more usage.
Brandon Ingram, NOP (toe)/ Status: GTD
If Ingram misses another contest, Josh Hart - who was excellent in his stead Thursday - would likely draw another start.
John Collins, ATL (ankle)/ Status: OUT
Collins' ongoing absence should lead to continued boosts in usage for the likes of Trae Young, Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic.
RJ Barrett, NYK (ankle)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Barrett were to sit out, Alec Burks could stand to be the biggest beneficiary while the remaining members of the starting five could also see slight usage bumps.
Zach LaVine, CHI (ankle)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Another LaVine absence would lead to even more responsibility than usual for the likes of Nikola Vucevic, Thaddeus Young and Lauri Markkanen.
Other notable injuries:
Malik Monk, CHA (foot)/ Status: GTD
Lonzo Ball, NOP (hip)/ Status: GTD
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC (foot)/ Status: OUT
D'Angelo Russell, MIN (knee)/ Status: OUT
Kyle Lowry, TOR (foot)/ Status: OUT
Derrick Rose, NYK (ankle)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Joe Ingles, UTA (lower leg)/ Status: PROBABLE
Luguentz Dort, OKC (concussion)/ Status: OUT
De'Andre Hunter, ATL (knee)/ Status: OUT
Andre Drummond, LAL (toe)/ Status: OUT
Darius Bazley, OKC (shoulder)/ Status: OUT
Marvin Bagley, SAC (hand)/ Status: OUT
Cam Reddish, ATL (Achilles)/ Status: OUT
Grayson Allen, MEM (hip)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Coby White, CHI (neck)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Bobby Portis, MIL (COVID-19 protocol)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Eric Gordon, HOU (groin)/ Status: OUT
Elite Players
Despite the number of games on the slate, there are only three players with five-figure salaries: Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,000), Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,800) and Luka Doncic ($10,500).
Antetokounmpo is in a solid matchup against a Trail Blazers' team that's struggled defensively whether at home or on the road and against which he put up 33.8 FD points in only 26 minutes in earlier this season. He also has somewhat disappointed – by his lofty standards – over the last four games, which perhaps could lead to him being rostered a little lower than usual with so many options.
Meanwhile, Towns is part of the game with the second-highest total of the night and checks in having counted at least 50.4 FD points in five of the last six games and 51.3 in his one prior matchup against the Grizzlies. Finally, Doncic does draw a very tough assignment against the Knicks, who continue to allow the fewest points per game (104.5). Doncic has naturally proven matchup-proof before, but could have a difficult time offering 5x return on such a lofty salary in what could be a very slow-paced matchup.
There are also several players with salaries in the high four-figures who have the ability to deliver elite scores, including Zion Williamson ($9,700), De'Aaron Fox ($9,500), Damian Lillard ($9,200), Domantas Sabonis ($9,200), Jayson Tatum ($9,200) and Stephen Curry ($9,000).
From that group, Williamson is dealing with a thumb injury that cost him Thursday night's game, so his status will naturally have to be monitored closely. The same goes for Sabonis due to his quadriceps issue, although he'd be in a premium matchup versus the Hornets if able to suit up. It's also worth noting there's a distinct contrast between the matchups Fox and Lillard draw compared to those of Tatum and Curry, which could make the lower-salaried duo the more appealing. Fox and Lillard will take on the Lakers and Bucks, respectively, with both teams a tough draw on the defensive end. Tatum faces a Rockets' lineup that's experienced difficulty finding any sort of cohesion, while Curry tangles with a Raptors' squad that will be without Kyle Lowry.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the names detailed in the Elite Players section, other likely chalk plays include: any healthy members of the Pelicans' starting five if Williamson and/or Ingram miss another game; the likes of Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert and Myles Turner if Sabonis sits out; Trae Young, Clint Capela and Bogdan Bogdanovic with Collins still out; the likes of Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert if Mitchell sits another contest; and Nikola Vucevic, Thaddeus Young and Lauri Markkanen if LaVine is out.
Key Values
Mike Conley, UTA vs. CHI ($6,400)
As just alluded to, Donovan Mitchell could miss a second straight game due to a personal issue, a development that would potentially make Conley a bargain at this salary. The veteran racked up 49.3 FD points without Mitchell available against the Grizzlies on Wednesday and the Bulls enter allowing the fourth-highest offensive efficiency to point guards for the season (29.0 percent) and the most FD points per game to the position over the last 15 (55.5). Conley has also been markedly more productive across the board at home and has delivered at least 5x on his current salary in 15 games - with 10 of those on his home floor. Considering he also averages 39.1 FD points per 36 minutes without Mitchell on the floor, he's especially worthy of consideration if the same happens tonight.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL at NOP ($5,500)
Bogdanovic has destroyed his current salary the last two games with 46.8 and 50.5 FD points against the Suns and Spurs. The 28-year-old is shooting a blistering 54.0 percent over his last eight, including 46.9 percent from three-point range. He'll once again take the court without John Collins (ankle), relevant considering he's averaging 33.4 FD points per 36 minutes without his teammate. Bogdanovic has also regained his starting job and he'll face an injury-riddled Pelicans' squad giving up 49.2 FD points per game to two-guards over the last five contests and the second-highest three-point shooting percentage overall (38.7).
Jae Crowder, PHO vs. OKC ($5,000)
Crowder isn't likely to be rostered very highly on such a large slate, yet he comes in having scored over 30 FD points in his last two contests and delivering over 5x his current salary in 17 games including 12 of those at home. He draws a premium positional matchup versus the Thunder that he already touched up for 34.4 FD points over 33 minutes back on Jan. 27 and that's also allowing the third-highest offensive efficiency to power forwards (27.2 percent). OKC is also yielding the fourth-most FD points per game to PFs in the last 10 games (53.7) and fourth-highest offensive efficiency in the paint (59.7 percent).
