This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for an expansive 11-game slate, one with an abundance of big names sporting injury designations - though a fair amount of those players are considered probable. And some of the confirmed absences are opening up excellent value options that could overdeliver on their modest salaries and help lead to some big DFS scores.
Slate Overview
New York Knicks (-2) at Charlotte Hornets (O/U: 223.0 points)
Milwaukee Bucks (-2) at Boston Celtics (O/U: 213.5 points)
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers (-5.5) (O/U: 203.5 points)
Brooklyn Nets (-8) at New Orleans Pelicans (O/U: 211.5 points)
Sacramento Kings (-4.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder (O/U: 218 points)
Phoenix Suns at Memphis Grizzlies (-1) (O/U: 221.5 points)
Portland Trail Blazers (-6.5) at Houston Rockets (O/U: 222.5 points)
Dallas Mavericks (-2.5) at San Antonio Spurs (O/U: 217.5 points)
Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets (-4.5) (O/U: 215.5 points)
Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors (-5.5) (O/U: 221.5 points)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers (-3.5) (O/U: 224.5 points)
We could almost refer to this slate as high-scoring by this season's standards with five matchups projected to go over 220 points. That's encouraging from a DFS perspective, as is the fact there are no true projected blowouts when evaluating point spreads. The largest figure of the night - the Nets' -8 projected advantage - isn't excessively large while the remaining contests all shape up as competitive.
Even the Warriors and Lakers are what have to be considered modest home favorites, with the Bulls' talent and play so far making them a tough out for any squad aand the Lakers' struggles to pull away from teams and LeBron James' ongoing absence giving the talented - albeit, inconsistent - Timberwolves a fighting chance for an upset. It's also worth noting the defending conference champs aren't getting much deference tonight with Milwaukee's struggles and the Celtics' improved defensive play combining to make Milwaukee a small road favorite and the Suns actually checking in as one-point underdogs in Memphis.
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 is 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.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (ankle)/ Status: PROBABLE
Giannis is fully expected to take the floor and continue to try and build on a strong stretch of play that's seen him eclipse 50 FD points in three straight, including 60 in two outings.
Anthony Davis, LAL (thumb)/ Status: PROBABLE
Davis is fully expected to continue playing through his thumb injury and has notably logged 43 and 44 minutes over his last two games. He should continue to enjoy significant usage levels with LeBron James (abdomen) still out.
LeBron James, LAL (abdomen)/ Status: OUT
In James' ongoing absence, the likes of Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis should particularly benefit while Carmelo Anthony should continue to see plenty of run at power forward.
Jaylen Brown, BOS (hamstring)/ Status: OUT
In Brown's ongoing absence, Marcus Smart should continue to draw the start at shooting guard while Josh Richardson sees extra run off the bench.
Brandon Ingram, NOP (hip)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Ingram sits another contest, Josh Hart should continue to receive plenty of opportunities at small forward.
Deandre Ayton, PHO (lower leg)/ Status: DOUBTFUL
In Ayton's expected absence, Frank Kaminsky and JaVale McGee should continue to hold down the fort at center for the Suns.
Khris Middleton, MIL (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
With Middleton gone, Pat Connaughton should continue drawing the start at small forward.
Draymond Green, GSW (thigh)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
If Green were to sit out, Otto Porter and Juan Toscano-Anderson would likely be charged with power forward duties while the usage of the rest of the starting five would elevate.
Other notable injuries:
Kyrie Irving, BRO (personal)/ Status: OUT
Zion Williamson, NOP (foot)/ Status: OUT
Brook Lopez, MIL (back)/ Status: OUT
Nikola Vucevic, CHI (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Jakob Poeltl, SAN (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Tyrese Haliburton, SAC (back)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Norman Powell, POR (quadriceps)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (knee)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
De'Andre Hunter, ATL (wrist)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Kevin Porter, CLE (thigh)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
Collin Sexton, CLE (knee)/ Status: OUT
Michael Porter, DEN (back)/ Status: OUT
Lauri Markkanen, CLE (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Kevin Love, CLE (COVID-19 protocols)/ Status: OUT
Steven Adams, MEM (ankle)/ Status: QUESTIONABLE
P.J. Washington, CHA (elbow)/ Status: OUT
Kelly Olynyk, DET (knee)/ Status: OUT
Dillon Brooks, MEM (hand)/ Status: OUT
Elite Players
We have six players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to suit up on Friday's slate – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,600), Nikola Jokic ($11,400), Anthony Davis ($10,800), Kevin Durant ($10,300), Luka Doncic ($10,200) and Stephen Curry ($10,100).
Giannis will once again be taking the floor without Khris Middleton, and he'll come in with the aforementioned streak of three straight 50-plus FD tallies. However, he'll face a Celtics squad that's allowed 88 points or fewer in three of its last four and ranks in the top-10 in offensive efficiency allowed to frontcourt players.
Jokic has served his one-game suspension and will start with the benefit of some extra rest against a Hawks side ranked in the top-half in offensive efficiency allowed to centers.
As stated earlier, Davis will continue playing through his thumb injury. And despite having logged an outsized workload the last two games, he's had a day of rest in between each. Davis also faces a very favorable positional matchup against the T-Wolves, who rank in the bottom-10 in offensive efficiency allowed to centers.
Durant "slumped" to 33 FD points in his last outing against the Magic, but that total was achieved over just 29 minutes and featured a 30-point haul. He'd been between 43.9 and 55.2 FD across the previous four while logging 35 minutes in each.
Doncic posted 49.9 FD points the last time he faced the Spurs and enters having just posted his third 50-plus effort of the season against the Bulls on Wednesday.
Curry generated a jaw-dropping 86.4 FD points against the Hawks two games ago. And although he "only" produced 40 in 34 minutes against the T-Wolves, he's naturally a highly viable option against the Bulls in what should be a wire-to-wire matchup.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players mentioned in the previous section, other likely chalk plays include:
Russell Westbrook, LAL ($9,900)
Westbrook should continue sporting highly elevated usage without James in the lineup and has scored 54.4 and 61.4 FD points in his last two, which arguably makes him a bargain at his salary.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN ($9,700)
Towns is in a high-profile matchup against the Lakers and comes in with a ceiling north of 60 FD points, which should mean he's once again in plenty of lineups.
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($9,600)
Tatum is sporting a 33.6 percent usage rate without Brown on the floor and has scored 53.2 and 46.7 FD points in his last two.
James Harden, BRO ($9,600)
Harden's production and usage is still fluctuating, but he's displayed improved shooting of late and should continue to be heavily rostered while sporting a four-figure salary which can prove to be very rewarding with a player of his upside.
Dejounte Murray, SAN ($9,500)
Murray has been delivering handsomely all season and has posted 48 and 51.8 FD points in his first two meetings against the Mavs along with an average of 45.9 FD for the season.
Key Values
Jae'Sean Tate, HOU vs. POR ($5,600)
Tate has dropped 26 to 35 FD points in his last five games, a stretch where he's shot 58.0 percent - including 41.7 percent from three-point range. He's also averaging a solid 10.0 shot attempts during that span and is facing the Blazers who rank last in the NBA in offensive efficiency allowed to small forwards (29.6 percent) and giving up 43.0 percent shooting to the position from distance.
Thaddeus Young, SAN vs. DAL ($5,600)
Young has been excellent during Jakob Poeltl's time away due to COVID-19 protocols having scored 28.1 to 38.8 FD points in five of his last six outings, during which he's shot 66.7 percent. He's doing most of his work close to the basket and faces a decent matchup in the Mavericks. Young produced 29.7 FD points over 22 minutes against Dallas in his one encounter with the Mavs this season, and Jason Kidd's squad also comes in allowing the fifth-highest offensive efficiency to centers (35.9 percent) along with robust averages of 24.8 points and 16.3 rebounds to the position.
Frank Kaminsky, PHO at MEM ($5,200)
Kaminsky is another big man benefitting from an absence in his team's frontcourt, as the floor-stretching veteran has taken advantage of Deandre Ayton's lower-leg injury to put up tallies of 21, 31.2, 39.1 and 45.9 FD points in four of his last five. The last three make him an excellent bargain at his current salary, so he should get a similar degree of opportunity tonight to replicate his recent numbers with Ayton doubtful. The Grizzlies could also be missing Steven Adams (ankle) down low again and already come in allowing the eighth-highest offensive efficiency (34.0 percent) to centers along with 41.7 percent three-point shooting to the position. Kaminsky is shooting 35.7 percent from behind the arc and could certainly leverage the fact Memphis is allowing the most points per game (28.6) to fives.
ALSO CONSIDER: Daniel Theis, HOU vs. POR ($4,200)
