This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a typically expansive nine-game main slate Friday night, one that features more than enough teams to offset the many noteworthy injuries across the league. Some of the more defensively vulnerable clubs are also in action, setting the stage for a potentially rewarding DFS night.
Slate Overview
For the latest spreads and over-unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Thursday, 2/1 @11:30 p.m. ET:
Miami Heat (-8) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 232.5)
Los Angeles Clippers (-11.5) at Detroit Pistons (O/U: 236.0)
Phoenix Suns (-3.5) at Atlanta Hawks (O/U: 248.0)
Sacramento Kings (-2.5) at *Indiana Pacers (O/U: 245.5)
Golden State Warriors (-6) at *Memphis Grizzlies (O/U: 223.0)
Toronto Raptors at Houston Rockets (-4.5) (O/U: 228.0)
Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves (-7) (O/U: 212.5)
Charlotte Hornets at Oklahoma City Thunder (-16.5) (O/U: 229.0)
New Orleans Pelicans (-7) at San Antonio Spurs (O/U: 236.5)
*denotes team on second night of back-to-back set
There's plenty of good news stemming from the betting-related numbers attached to Friday's slate, beginning with the fact only two of the 20 teams are on the back end of a back-to-back set, and both those clubs are at home. Additionally, there's only one double-digit spread, while seven games have projected totals of 228 or more, including two over 245 points.
That gives us no shortage of what projected favorable game environments to target in the lineup-building process, and with four of the fastest-paced teams in the league in the Wizards, Hawks, Spurs and Pacers in action, there should be plenty of standout individual efforts.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
LaMelo Ball, CHA (ankle): DOUBTFUL
In Ball's likely absence, Ish Smith and Nick Smith could handle the majority of point guard minutes, while Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges should be among the primary beneficiaries in terms of extra usage.
Alperen Sengun, HOU (illness): QUESTIONABLE
If Sengun can't suit up, Jeff Green and Jock Landale could be in line to handle the bulk of center minutes, while Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith would likely be due for appreciable bumps in usage.
Zion Williamson, NOP (foot): QUESTIONABLE
If Williamson sits out, Dyson Daniels and Trey Murphy could remain on the first unit, while Jonas Valanciunas would likely see plenty of extra rebounding opportunities.
Jalen Williams, OKC (ankle): OUT
In Williams' absence, Aaron Wiggins and Kenrich Williams should handle the majority of power forward minutes.
RJ Barrett, TOR (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Barrett misses another game, Bruce Brown would be set for a start at small forward.
Other notable injuries:
Mark Williams, CHA (back): OUT
Gordon Hayward, CHA (calf): OUT
Isaiah Stewart, DET (ankle): OUT
Luke Kennard, MEM (knee): OUT
Jakob Poeltl, TOR (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Immanuel Quickley, TOR (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Keldon Johnson, SAN (elbow): QUESTIONABLE
Draymond Green, GSW (knee): PROBABLE
Cade Cunningham, DET (injury management): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have four players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,300), Victor Wembanyama ($10,500), Domantas Sabonis ($10,200) and Tyrese Haliburton ($10,000).
SGA has scored over 56 FD points in four of the last six games, and he'll face a Hornets team likely to be without LaMelo Ball in the backcourt.
Wembanyama hasn't scored any less than 48.4 and as many as 56.4 FD points in seven straight games, and he'll face a Pelicans squad that could be without Zion Williamson in the frontcourt.
Sabonis continues to be a double-double and triple-double machine, which has led to five tallies of between 50.2 and 63.9 FD points in the last eight games. He also draws a favorable positional matchup against his old Pacers squad Friday.
Haliburton's salary isn't commensurate with his current role, as the Pacers have limited him to 22 and 21 minutes in his first two games following an extended absence due to a hamstring injury. While he may be due for a slight bump Friday, it may not be enough for him to have a chance to truly justify his five-figure salary.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Trae Young, ATL ($9,900)
Young will be an integral part of the game with the highest projected total of the night and comes in having scored 45.9 to 54.7 FD points in three straight games.
Devin Booker, PHO ($9,800)
Booker has tallies of 58.3, 62.9 and 79 FD points within the last five games, which should make him extremely popular at his salary.
Kevin Durant, PHO ($9,700)
KD has scored between 41.4 and 70.2 FD points in six of the last seven games, which should help keep him in plenty of lineups Friday.
Kawhi Leonard, LAC ($9,500)
Kawhi has over 60 FD points in two of his last five games, and 47.4 and 49.1 FD points in two other contests in that span.
Paolo Banchero, ORL ($8,800)
Banchero has put up 48 to 60.3 FD points in three of the last four games, which should make him very popular at his salary despite the tough matchup versus the Timberwolves.
Key Values
Keegan Murray, SAC at IND ($6,700)
Murray just scored 51 FD points against the Heat on Wednesday, his fourth tally of over 45 FD points since Jan. 3. Murray's ability to deliver such spike performances is what makes him so appealing at his very reasonable salary Friday, and the matchup against the Pacers is a bonus. Indiana's ultra-fast pace is certainly conducive to strong fantasy performances for opponents, and Indiana also checks in allowing an NBA-high 32.2 offensive efficiency rating to power forwards, along with an NBA-high 53.1 FD points per contest to the position in the last 30 games.
P.J. Washington CHA at OKC ($6,400)
Washington has been a beneficiary of LaMelo Ball's current three-game absence due to an ankle injury, one that's expected to extend into Friday. Washington sports a 24.8 percent usage rate and averages 37.1 FD points per 36 minutes with Ball and the recently traded Terry Rozier off the floor, and he has tallies of 53.9 and 37.1 FD points in two of the three games Ball has most recently missed. The Thunder holds a No. 18 ranking in offensive efficiency rating allowed to second-unit players (42.1) and Washington is seeing minutes in the high 20s at minimum at the moment, which should give him ample opportunity to offer another strong return on investment.
Thaddeus Young, TOR at HOU ($5,700)
Young has been delivering strong returns on reasonable salaries of late, having scored 31.2 FD points or more in four of the last 11 games, including three of the last four contests. Young also put up between 20.6 and 21.3 FD points in three other games during that sample, and the Rockets could be without Alperen Sengun down low Friday. Houston has already been particularly vulnerable to centers of late with its star big man available, allowing 58.5 FD points per contest to the position in the last seven games. The Rockets are also tied for the fifth-most rebounds allowed per game (54.0) adding to Young's appeal in a game Toronto could play without RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.
ALSO CONSIDER: Grayson Allen, PHO at ATL ($5,600); Jaime Jaquez, MIA at WAS ($5,600); Jalen Smith, IND vs. SAC ($5,400)
