This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're set for our first big Friday night of the new regular season after an exciting first three installments of the new campaign. We already have some notable names among the walking wounded, which, when combined with the high number of teams in action, makes for an interesting night of DFS lineup construction.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, 10/25 @12:00 p.m. ET:
Philadelphia 76ers (-5) at Toronto Raptors (O/U: 219.5)
Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic (-11.5) (O/U: 215.5)
Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks (-4.5) (O/U: 226.5)
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers (-10.5) (O/U: 227.5)
Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks (-5.5) (O/U: 227.0)
Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets (-3) (O/U: 224.0)
Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks (-9) (O/U: 234.5)
Golden State Warriors (-3.5) at Utah Jazz (O/U: 232.5)
Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers (-1.5) (O/U: 226.5)
New Orleans Pelicans (-6) at Portland Trail Blazers (O/U: 218.5)
As customary, the betting outlook for a slate of this size is a mixed one. We have spreads all across the board, with lines tilting more toward competitive matchups. However, there are a pair of double-digit projected advantages out there, although it's difficult to ascertain how accurate those may be considering they're based largely on a one-game sample.
Projected totals are leaning more toward solid than outstanding in terms of the game environments we want to ideally see for DFS purposes. Yet, with seven of 10 games at 224 total points or more, including two over 230, we have a bright outlook overall.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Stephen Curry, GSW (hip): QUESTIONABLE
If Curry were to sit, Brandin Podziemski could potentially enter the starting five at point guard if De'Anthony Melton (chest) is also sidelined.
Paul George, PHI (knee): OUT
In George's continued season-opening absence, Guerschon Yabusele and KJ Martin will likely continue splitting power forward duties.
Immanuel Quickley, TOR (pelvis): DOUBTFUL
With Quickley likely out, Davion Mitchell would enter the starting five.
Jaren Jackson, MEM (hamstring): DOUBTFUL
If Jackson can't go, Santi Aldama should handle the bulk of starting power forward duties.
RJ Barrett, TOR (shoulder): DOUBTFUL
In Barrett's absence, Gradey Dick is likely to continue starting at small forward.
Brandon Miller, CHA (hip): OUT
Without Miller, Tre Mann may enter the starting five at shooting guard.
Draymond Green, GSW (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Green were to sit, Kyle Anderson would be primed to start at power forward.
Other notable injuries:
Joel Embiid, PHI (knee): OUT
Khris Middleton, MIL (ankle): OUT
Bogdan Bogdanovic, ATL (hamstring): OUT
Kelly Olynyk, TOR (back): OUT
Mark Williams, CHA (foot): OUT
De'Anthony Melton, GSW (chest): QUESTIONABLE
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (knee): PROBABLE
Bradley Beal, PHO (shoulder): PROBABLE
Brook Lopez, MIL (quadriceps): PROBABLE
Caleb Martin, PHI (calf): PROBABLE
Grayson Allen, PHO (Achilles): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries on Friday's slate – Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,400), Anthony Davis ($11,000) and LaMelo Ball ($10,000).
Antetokounmpo is expected to play through his right patella tendinitis, as he did during the Bucks' season-opening win over the 76ers when he netted 52.3 FD points across 31 minutes.
Davis turned in a signature effort in the season-opening win over the Timberwolves, collecting 72.2 FD points across 38 minutes.
Ball looked fully healthy during the Hornets' season-opening victory against the Rockets, supplying 64.1 FD points on the strength of a 34-point, 11-assist double-double.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Trae Young, ATL ($9,900)
Young went off for 57 FD points across 37 minutes in the season-opening win over the Nets and should therefore be very popular at a sub-$10K salary.
LeBron James, LAL ($9,600)
LeBron ceded plenty of usage to Anthony Davis in the Lakers' season opener, but his name value and salary should naturally propel him into plenty of lineups Friday.
Tyrese Maxey, PHI ($9,400)
Maxey will once again operate without both Joel Embiid and Paul George, and he's coming off having scored 41.7 FD points in the first game of the season.
Ja Morant, MEM ($9,300)
Morant had a dynamic return to action in the Grizzlies' season-opening victory over Utah, posting 43 FD points via a 22-point, 10-assist double-double.
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,200)
Although the Rockets took a surprising loss to the Hornets in the season opener, Sengun validated his new extension by recording 66.1 FD points on the strength of a 25-point, 18-rebound double-double.
Key Values
Austin Reaves, LAL vs. PHO ($6,500)
Reaves is arguably carrying a lower salary than his upside would seem to demand, and fittingly, he was often slotting in over $7K at times last season. The emerging wing started the new season off on the right foot, posting a 34.8 FD points across 36 minutes against the Timberwolves while coming just a rebound short of a double-double. Reaves performed well in his matchup against the Suns last season as well, posting tallies of 25.8, 27.2 and 27.7 in three of his four games versus Phoenix.
Santi Aldama, MEM at HOU ($6,200)
Aldama should continue in the starting power forward role Friday night with Jaren Jackson still sidelined, and the former will be looking to build on his 34.0 FD-point effort in the opener against Utah that saw him record a team-high 27 points. Aldama even drained half of his 10 three-point attempts in that contest, and his floor-spacing ability should play well against a Rockets team that surrendered a 38.5 percent success rate from behind the arc to the Hornets in the opener and allowed a whopping 64 rebounds as well in the contest.
Rui Hachimura, LAL vs. PHO ($5,700)
Hachimura opened the season in a starting role and made good use of the opportunity, posting 34.5 FD points across 35 minutes versus the Timberwolves on Tuesday night. The veteran floor spacer has seen a salary bump as a result, but he still requires a very reasonable investment for a player of his upside. Like Reaves, Hachimura had some success against the Suns last season as well, recording 26.1 FD points in one of his games against Phoenix despite coming off the bench. The Suns also gave up 56 total rebounds in their first game against the Clippers, furthering Hachimura's appeal at his salary.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jabari Smith, HOU vs. MEM ($5,600); Tre Mann, CHA at ATL ($5,400); Trayce Jackson-Davis, GSW at UTA ($5,100)
