This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for a typically robust eight-game slate, one that's clouded by a number of confirmed/likely big-name absences due to either COVID-19 or conventional injuries. While not every contest lists a projected total on the board at FanDuel Sportsbook as of early Friday, three of the six that do notably sport figures over 220.
Slate Overview
Miami Heat (-4) at Orlando Magic (O/U: 209.0 points)
Denver Nuggets at Atlanta Hawks (-4) (O/U: 222.0 points)
Golden State Warriors (-2.5) at Boston Celtics (O/U: 213.5 points)
Milwaukee Bucks (-3) at New Orleans Pelicans (O/U: 218.5 points)
San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz (-11.5) (O/U: 224.0 points)
Los Angeles Lakers at Minnesota Timberwolves (-1) (O/U: 223.5 points)
Charlotte Hornets at Portland Trail Blazers (-1.5) (O/U: 223.5 points)
Memphis Grizzlies (-6.5) at Sacramento Kings – (O/U: 221.0 points)
The possibility of elevated offense just alluded to certainly is encouraging from a DFS perspective, as is the fact there's only one true projected blowout on the docket with the Spurs-Jazz. In a testament to the effect absences of key players are having on the slate, a Heat-Magic intrastate clash that would normally see Miami as a heavy favorite were both sides at full strength instead initially has the Heat as a narrow four-point favorite.
The same theme applies to the Bucks-Pelicans, a matchup that both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis will miss and for which Khris Middleton is questionable. And while the Lakers project to have two of their Big Three available, Russell Westbrook's absence has helped lead to road underdog status for L.A. despite a three-game win advantage in the standings over the Timberwolves.
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 (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
With Giannis headed for a second straight absence, Jordan Nwora should draw another start at power forward while the usage for Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton (knee) should be particularly elevated.
LeBron James, LAL (abdomen): PROBABLE
James is fully expected to suit up and continue playing through his abdomen issue, and he could have even more ball-handling duties than usual with Russell Westbrook out.
Anthony Davis, LAL (knee): PROBABLE
Davis should see action and receive even more elevated usage than usual with Westbrook sidelined.
LaMelo Ball, CHA (COVID-19 protocols): QUESTIONABLE
Even if Ball is able to go, he may have a minutes limit for conditioning purposes.
CJ McCollum, POR (chest): OUT
In McCollum's ongoing absence, Tony Snell, Ben McLemore and Anfernee Simons could all see extra opportunities to varying degrees.
Russell Westbrook, LAL (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
In Westbrook's absence, Malik Monk and Rajon Rondo should get plenty of minutes at point guard.
Jimmy Butler, MIA (back): OUT
With Butler out, Max Strus should log a lot plenty of minutes at small forward while the usage of the remaining members of the starting five should be elevated.
Khris Middleton, MIL (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Middleton plays, he'll be set for even more usage than usual due to the absences of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. Pat Connaughton should also receive plenty of minutes off the bench even if Middleton's available.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC (COVID-19 protocols): DOUBTFUL
In Fox's likely absence, Davion Mitchell and Buddy Hield could see extra opportunity while Harrison Barnes should get a significant bump in usage.
Other notable injuries:
Cole Anthony, ORL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Tyrese Haliburton, SAC (back): QUESTIONABLE
Tyler Herro, MIA (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Richaun Holmes, SAC (eye): DOUBTFUL
Mo Bamba, ORL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Ja Morant, MEM (knee): OUT
Zion Williamson, NOP (foot): OUT
Bam Adebayo, MIA (thumb): OUT
Bobby Portis, MIL (COVID-19 protocols): OUT
Elite Players
We have four players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to be active for Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($11,600), LeBron James ($11,000), Anthony Davis ($10,200) and Trae Young ($10,000).
Jokic has been in elite form most of the season while averaging 56.7 FD points per contest. He's also been over 70 in two of his last three and faces a Hawks squad he posted 60.8 FD against over 35 minutes back on Nov. 12.
As mentioned earlier, James and Davis should both be beneficiaries of Westbrook's absence, and LeBron could have the ball in his hands even more than usual. James also enters with three tallies of over 60 FD points in his last four while Davis notably dropped 50.6 FD across 30 minutes against the T-Wolves on Nov. 12, though James missed that game.
Young has produced over 53 FD points in three of his last four, and he hasn't been below 43.2 since Nov. 20. He also notched 47.5 in 32 minutes against Denver in their first meeting last month.
Expected Chalk
In addition to the players just mentioned in the previous section, other likely chalk plays include:
Stephen Curry, GSW ($9,900)
Curry carries an even higher profile than usual after setting the all-time mark for made threes during his most recent contest, but he's been under 35 FD points in three of his last four. However, he's facing a Celtics team he's shot 43.4 percent against from distance over 20 career contests.
Jayson Tatum, BOS ($9,600)
Tatum is coming off a 60-FD-point haul versus the Bucks and has produced 47 or more in five of his most recent six, which should lock in his popularity.
Karl-Anthony Towns, MIN ($9,400)
KAT just went off for 52.8 FD points against the Nuggets on Thursday and also posted 62.2 five games ago versus the Hawks, which should keep him in plenty of lineups tonight.
Brandon Ingram, NOP ($8,800)
Ingram has been especially impressive of late with over 50 FD points in two straight and four of the last six.
Damian Lillard, POR ($8,700)
Lillard will once again take the floor without McCollum and has dropped over 40 FD in two of his first three appearances back from his abdominal injury, both factors which should keep him popular.
Key Values
Kyle Lowry, MIA at ORL ($7,000)
Although I usually try to keep my value play suggestions under $6K, there are a couple of exceptions for tonight. The first is Lowry, who could be a bit less rostered than normal with so many absences for Miami after turning in an underwhelming 22.7 FD points over 38 minutes against the 76ers on Wednesday. However, Lowry is in a much easier matchup against the Magic, who have given up the third-highest offensive efficiency (26.7 percent) and second-most FD point per game (48.7) to point guards. Orlando has also conceded the second-most assists per home game (26.1), while Lowry is averaging 35.7 FD points per 36 minutes with Butler, Adebayo and Caleb Martin off the floor, and there's also the possibility Tyler Herro sits with a quad injury.
Jusuf Nurkic, POR vs. CHA ($6,500)
Nurkic is the second exception to my $6K rule, as he's in too good a scenario to pass up. He sports a 24.3 percent usage rate and averages 42.6 FD points per 36 minutes without McCollum on the floor, and he faces a Hornets team that's offered virtually no resistance to centers this season allowing the third-highest offensive efficiency to fives (35.5 percent) and 57.1 FD points per game to the position as well. What's more, Nurkic has already delivered over 5x return on his current salary in 15 of 29 outings, and checks in with at least 30.4 FD points in five of his last six.
Steven Adams, MEM at SAC ($5,500)
Adams is another big man in a very advantageous position Friday and is also coming off having recorded 35.8 FD points versus the Blazers on Wednesday. He's generated over 5x return on his current salary in 11 of 29 games and faces a Kings team that's allowing the second-highest offensive efficiency to centers (35.7 percent) along with the fourth-most FD points per game to the position (57.5). Adams is also averaging 37.2 FD per 36 minutes without Morant, and the Kings are giving up an NBA-high 52.8 points in the paint - an area where just under 75 percent of Adams' scoring originates.
ALSO CONSIDER: Dewayne Dedmon, MIA at ORL ($6,000); P.J. Tucker, MIA at ORL ($5,900)
