We're set for an eight-game main slate on the penultimate Friday of the regular season with a number of postseason contenders in action. As is often the case for a late-season ledger, there are plenty of injuries including big names who've already been ruled out.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, April 3 at 2:45 a.m. EDT:
- Indiana Pacers at Charlotte Hornets (-15.5) (O/U: 234.5)
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers (-2) (O/U: 233.5)
- Atlanta Hawks (-16) at Brooklyn Nets (O/U: 226.5)
- Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks (-16.5) (O/U: 237.5)
- Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets (-17.5) (O/U: 232.5)
- Boston Celtics (-17) at Milwaukee Bucks (O/U: 217.5)
- Toronto Raptors (-13) at Memphis Grizzlies (O/U: 232.5)
- Orlando Magic (-7) at Dallas Mavericks (O/U: 236.5)
There's a prevailing theme in Friday's betting metrics, and it's not favorable for DFS. We have more massive favorites than any other slate this season. And while some of those matchups won't play out as lopsided as predicted, some blowouts appear likely. Timberwolves-76ers and Magic-Mavs could garner a lot of attention from DFS players due to the tighter spreads and solid totals, but it will be impossible to avoid some of the others when building lineups.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Josh Giddey, CHI (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
If Giddey can't suit up, Rob Dillingham and Collin Sexton could see plenty of run at point guard while the rest of the starting five will enjoy a usage increase.
Joel Embiid, PHI (illness): DOUBTFUL
In Embiid's likely absence, Adem Bona may start - though Andre Drummond should log plenty of minutes off the bench.
Anthony Edwards, MIN (knee/illness): QUESTIONABLE
If Edwards doesn't return on Friday, Mike Conley would remain in the starting five while Julius Randle should receive more usage.
Other notable injuries:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (knee): OUT
Kevin Porter, MIL (knee): OUT
Immanuel Quickley, TOR (foot): OUT
Bobby Portis, MIL (wrist): OUT
Andrew Nembhard, IND (back): OUT
Michael Porter, BKN (hamstring): OUT
Ty Jerome, MEM (ankle): OUT
Keyonte George, UTA (hamstring): OUT
Isaiah Collier, UTA (hamstring): OUT
Lauri Markkanen, UTA (hip): OUT
Jaden McDaniels, MIN (knee): OUT
Jarace Walker, IND (back): OUT
Cam Spencer, MEM (back): OUT
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, MEM (back): DOUBTFUL
P.J. Washington, DAL (illness): DOUBTFUL
Tre Jones, CHI (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Ryan Rollins, MIL (hip): PROBABLE
Pascal Siakam, IND (knee): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have five players with five-figure salaries on Friday's slate – Jalen Johnson ($10,600), Jaylen Brown ($10,500), Tyrese Maxey ($10,300), Scottie Barnes ($10,100) and Jayson Tatum ($10,000).
Johnson has recorded at least 46 FD points in four of the last five games while drawing a highly favorable Friday matchup against the Nets.
Brown has exceeded 51 FD during three straight outings and hasn't gone under 40 since Mar. 14.
Maxey is likely to take the floor without Joel Embiid (illness) on Friday and has scored over 44 FD in the last three appearances to raise his already elevated expectations in a marquee matchup against the Timberwolves.
Barnes is averaging 44.5 FD across his last and will continue working Friday without Immanuel Quickley.
Tatum erupted for 67.1 FD against the Heat on Wednesday thanks to a 25-point, 18-rebound, 11-assist triple-double and has now topped 50 FD during the last three while looking to be at full-strength.
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, lineups, roster changes and more, head to RotoWire's NBA News or follow @RotoWireNBA on X.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,900)
Sengun has posted between 42.1 and 80.1 FD from four of his last five games to flash a level of upside that should ensure his popularity on Friday at a four-figure salary.
Cooper Flagg, DAL ($9,900)
Flagg bounced back from a dud by tallying 44.5 FD over 31 minutes against the Bucks on Tuesday.
Paolo Banchero, ORL $9,800)
Banchero produced 25.1 FD during only 26 minutes against the Hawks on Wednesday that when combined with a 41.4 average from the previous 14 should lead to a high roster rate.
Kevin Durant, HOU ($9,100)
KD is on a signature heater that's seen him rack up 44.2 FD across his last eight appearances on 52.5 percent shooting, including 44.6 from behind the arc.
Paul George, PHI ($8,700)
George has averaged 51.1 FD in his first four games back from suspension and coming off a season-high 39-point performance against the Wizards on Wednesday. That should lock him in as a highly popular play on Friday, especially considering Joel Embiid's expected absence.
Key Values
Jabari Smith, HOU vs. UTA ($6,600)
Smith has been a consistent complementary contributor for the Rockets all season while proving capable of capitalizing on favorable matchups like the one he'll draw on Friday. The versatile forward has already thrived to varying degree against the Jazz on multiple occasions with his most recent matchup the most successful yet (55.8 FD across 33 minutes). Utah's been a sieve against power forwards coming into Friday allowing the fourth-most FD per contest to the position during the last 30 games (50.6). They're also surrendering 49.2 percent shooting overall and an NBA-high 15.3 made threes per road matchup to provide Smith plenty of paths to offensive success.
Jakob Poeltl, TOR at MEM ($6,000)
Poeltl's numbers are down in multiple categories, though the veteran big man is still capable of delivering a double-double and multiple blocks any time he takes the floor. He's averaged an impressive 30.2 FD over 26.7 minutes from his last 13 outings while shooting 71.0 percent and contributing averages of 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds. Poeltl now heads into one of the best matchups for centers as the Grizzlies are allowing the fourth-most points (26.7) and fourth-most rebounds (15.8) to centers during the last 15 along with the third-most FD points over that span (61.7). Memphis is allowing the eighth-most points in the paint per game (52.7), including the fourth most over the last three (62.7) while Poeltl is scoring 82.2 percent of his points in that part of the floor.
Wendell Carter, ORL at DAL ($5,200)
Value bigs are certainly a theme on Friday, and Carter is yet another frontcourt asset in a favorable position. He comes into the interconference battle already averaging 27.6 FD in his last 12 games while draining 56.6 percent of his attempts. The Mavs may well coax another productive performance out of Carter as they're surrendering the fifth-most FD points per game to centers (59.0) over the last 15. They already gave up 30.9 FD to him across 24 minutes during their first meeting on Mar. 5 while also conceding the fifth-most rebounds (55.0) and the most points in the paint (55.9). Meanwhile, Carter is scoring just under half his points there and converting 50.2 percent of his 15.0 rebound chances per outing.
ALSO CONSIDER: Sandro Mamukelashvili, TOR at MEM ($5,200)
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