This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
BKN (-5.5) vs. DET, O/U: 223.5
BOS vs. MIL (-6), O/U: 233
PHX (-4.5) vs. TOR, O/U: 223.5
DEN (-2) vs. NO, O/U: 231
HOU vs. MIN (-3.5), O/U: 225.5
MIA (-2.5) vs. CHA, O/U: 216.5
POR (-11.5) vs. ORL, O/U: 219.5
IND vs. DAL (-4.5), O/U: 227
MEM vs. UTA (-10), O/U: 226
ATL (-5.5) vs. GS, O/U: 220
CLE vs. LAL (-5.5), O/U: 213.5
Friday's DraftKings NBA slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EDT and includes 11 games. James Harden (neck) is listed as questionable after missing Wednesday's game. Kyrie Irving (personal) and Stephen Curry (tailbone) remain out while Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green are listed as questionable after sitting last night through illness. Last night's trade deadline brought chaos and today's schedule will be affected by the aftermath as the Magic only have nine available players for a matchup against the Blazers.
The POR-ORL matchup will get a lot of attention tonight as the Magic will be significantly shorthanded after Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier were traded. Thankfully, DraftKings bumped up the salaries of the remaining Magic players so it won't be a case of jamming them all in. The salary of Terrence Ross ($7,500) seems a bit high as he's likely to be on some type of minutes restriction after missing the past five, but Michael Carter-Williams ($6,600) should see plenty of run and usage to make value. Chuma Okeke ($5,300), Mo Bamba ($4,800) and Khem Birch ($4,400) are all very affordable for the amount of minutes they're likely to see and I'd expect whoever starts to garner substantial popularity.
Injuries to Monitor
James Harden (neck): QUESTIONABLE
Harden missed Wednesday's game with a sore neck and is listed as questionable. Tyler Johnson ($3,800) started at point guard while Chris Chiozza ($4,300) saw extended run off the bench.
Kyrie Irving (personal): OUT
Irving will miss a third consecutive matchup as he deals with a personal matter. Bruce Brown ($5,800) has been starting at shooting guard in his absence.
Stephen Curry (tailbone): OUT
Curry will miss another week due to a bruised tailbone. Jordan Poole ($6,500) has been starting at point guard.
Jimmy Butler (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Butler missed yesterday's game due to a stomach illness and his status for tonight is uncertain. Gabe Vincent ($3,400) started at shooting guard in his place.
Draymond Green (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Green sat out yesterday with an illness and his status for tonight is uncertain. Juan Toscano-Anderson ($3,800) received the start at power forward.
Terrence Ross (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Ross has missed five consecutive games dealing with a knee injury and is listed as questionable. Keep an eye out for news as the Magic will be significantly shorthanded regardless if Ross plays or not.
Collin Sexton (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Sexton missed Wednesday's game due to a sore hamstring and is listed as questionable. Cedi Osman ($4,600) started in his place while Damyean Dotson ($3,200) saw extra run off the bench.
Lonzo Ball (hip): QUESTIONABLE
Ball has missed consecutive games with a hip injury and is listed as questionable. Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,300) has been starting at point guard in his absence.
Kevin Porter (quad): QUESTIONABLE
Porter has missed the past two games due to a quad injury and is listed as questionable. Sterling Brown ($4,800) got the start at shooting guard last time out.
Goran Dragic (back): OUT
Dragic will miss a third consecutive game tonight due to back spasms. Tyler Herro ($5,600) and Kendrick Nunn ($4,900) should continue to see increased run in his absence.
Elite Players
Guard:
Luka Doncic ($10,900) is coming off a dud last time out but he's topped 60 DK points in four of his last eight games. He could be somewhat overlooked after such a disappointing outing on Wednesday, especially if James Harden ($10,800) plays. Harden is listed as questionable after missing last game with a neck injury, but the Nets are playing in the earliest tip-off so we will have the news before lock. He would be my preferred spend-up at guard as his salary is just too low for the role he plays without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant on the floor. Harden has notched five triple-doubles in his last nine and would see all of the usage in a favorable matchup against the Pistons.
Center:
Nikola Jokic ($10,600) is coming off a subpar outing in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Raptors, but he's still produced at least 60 DK points in six of his last 10 games and has been incredibly consistent all season. The Nuggets offer a favorable matchup against the Pelicans in what should be a bit of a pace-up spot. It's difficult comparing spend-up options at different positions, but I slightly prefer Jokic over Doncic and Giannis based on matchup, consistency and likelihood to hit a ceiling.
Forward:
Similar to Doncic and Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,700) is also coming off a dud last time out. That and the fact there are multiple appealing spend-up options tonight could see him lower rostered for a matchup against the Celtics that features the highest total on the slate. Giannis has topped 60 DK points in five of his last 10 and always offers the upside to be the night's top scorer.
Expected Chalk
Tyler Herro ($5,600) and Kendrick Nunn ($4,900)
Herro put up 49.5 DK points last night while Nunn scored 39.25 as the Heat were shorthanded. Goran Dragic has already been ruled out and Jimmy Butler is questionable after missing yesterday's game with an illness. Herro and Nunn are decent options if Butler plays. But if he were to miss again, they would be two of the most popular plays on the slate and rightfully so.
Orlando Magic
The Magic only have nine players available tonight after Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier were traded. All the remaining players are viable, but the starting lineup will dictate popularity. DraftKings did bump up the salaries making it so that no one is an absolute smash play. I'd expect Michael Carter-Williams to be popular along with whoever starts in the frontcourt between Chuma Okeke ($5,300), Mo Bamba ($4,800) and Khem Birch ($4,400)
Value Picks
John Wall ($8,300)
It's Wall's team after Victor Oladipo was traded yesterday. He put up 57.25 DK points on Monday and the Rockets have a favorable matchup against the Timberwolves.
Bam Adebayo ($8,200)
With Kelly Olynyk traded and Jimmy Butler out sick, Adebayo posted a massive 59.25 DK points as the Heat played shorthanded. Adebayo should be decent value even if Butler plays. But if not, he becomes a smash play again.
Anthony Edwards ($7,900)
Edwards has seen a steady increase in salary, but it's been warranted as he's been taking more than 20 shots per game on a consistent basis. He's topped 40 DK points in four of his last eight and the Timberwolves face a depleted Rockets' lineup.
Dennis Schroder ($7,100)
Schroder is coming off 44.75 DK points last night as he dished out 11 assists. He will continue to see a lot more of the ball in the absence of LeBron James and I'd expect his salary to keep rising as a result.
Andrew Wiggins ($6,900)
Wiggins continues to see increased usage as the Warriors have been without Stephen Curry. He managed 46 DK points last night and should take plenty of shots again tonight against the Hawks.
Robert Williams ($6,400)
Williams should have the center position all to himself after Daniel Theis was traded. He's averaging well over a fantasy point per minute for the season and should see plenty of run to make value tonight.
