This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Friday night will be a busy one in the NBA with 10 games on the schedule. There are some really exciting matchups, including the Nuggets hosting the Celtics and the Rockets taking on the Clippers. We also have another opportunity to win some cash on Yahoo, so here are some players to target, as well as a few to avoid, as you work your way through the options.
GUARDS
Spencer Dinwiddie, BKN vs. SAC ($29): The Nets will once again be shorthanded in their backcourt with Kyrie Irving (shoulder) set to miss his fourth straight game. Dinwiddie has taken over as a starter in his place, scoring at least 36.2 Yahoo points in each contest. The key is that he logged 33 minutes a night during that stretch compared to 26 minutes a game before Irving went down. His price is climbing, but it's still low enough to warrant considering him for your entry.
Shaquille Harrison, CHI vs. MIA ($12): The Bulls are running out of small forwards. They had hoped Otto Porter Jr. (foot) would finally provide them with some stability at the position, but he's missed six straight games and isn't coming back anytime soon. To make matters worse, Chandler Hutchison (leg) was unable to play Wednesday against the Pistons. Harrison took his place in the starting five and couldn't have played any better, posting 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block across 26 minutes. Hutchison is listed as doubtful for this contest, which could result in Harrison providing excellent value.
Guard to Avoid
Kemba Walker, BOS at DEN ($34): Walker hasn't exactly been at his best lately, scoring 30.7 Yahoo points or fewer in three straight games. Part of the reason for his struggles is that he shot just 37.5 percent from the field during that stretch. This figures to be a defensive battle against a Nuggets' team that has played at the slowest pace in the league, so this isn't an ideal situation for Walker to break out of his slump.
FORWARDS
Jimmy Butler, MIA at CHI ($39): Butler hasn't exactly been efficient through his first 10 games, shooting 42 percent from the field. However, he basically lives at the free-throw line, so he's still been able to average 18.7 points per game. On top of that, Butler has done a great job helping to facilitate the Heat's offense, which was resulted in him averaging seven assists a game. That leaves him with a high floor entering this contest against his former team.
Nemanja Bjelica, SAC at BKN ($18): With the news Marvin Bagley (thumb) will miss the Kings' four-game road trip, Bjelica is still locked into plenty of minutes. On top of Bagley's absence, Trevor Ariza (groin) will also miss this game against the Nets. After having scored at least 30.6 Yahoo points in three of his last four contests, Bjelica is once again in a prime spot to provide value.
Forward to Avoid
Eric Paschall, GS at UTA ($22): Paschall has been a diamond in the rough for the Warriors, often taking on the role of one of their primary scorers due to all of their injuries. The problem is, most of his fantasy production comes from his scoring output. That could be a recipe for disaster against a Jazz team that allows the fewest points per game in the league. The last time he faced them, he finished with only eight points and six rebounds across 30 minutes.
CENTERS
Clint Capela, HOU at LAC ($34): Capela has been a force on the glass of late, grabbing at least 20 rebounds in five straight games. That included a matchup against these Clippers in which he scored 41 Yahoo points. He's going to get plenty of opportunities to keep this up with all of the small lineups that the Rockets use, making him a safe option who also won't destroy your budget.
Nerlens Noel, OKC vs. LAL ($12): Steven Adams is off to a slow start this season and has only averaged 26 minutes a night, which is partly because of his battle with a knee injury. That's opened up added opportunities for Noel, who has scored at least 30.6 Yahoo points in three of his last five games. He can put up defensive stats in a hurry even with limited playing time, so he could be worth a look at such a cheap price.
Center to Avoid
Willie Cauley-Stein, GS at UTA ($16): Cauley-Stein's price is on the rise, and rightfully so. He's performed well for the Warriors, scoring at least 26.5 Yahoo points in five of his last six games. Now that he's not as cheap, deploying him in a matchup against Rudy Gobert is awfully risky. We aren't short on options during such a busy slate, so it might be best to look elsewhere if you don't want to pay up at center.
