This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have a very small slate, particularly by Friday standards, with only three games on the ledger before a massive 14-game Saturday. There is a relatively modest injury report, which is always welcome when the player pool is already so compact.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, 1/24 @ 1:00 a.m. EST:
Portland Trail Blazers at Charlotte Hornets (-5) (O/U: 219.5)
Cleveland Cavaliers (-10) at Philadelphia 76ers (O/U: 228.0)
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies (-12) (O/U: 242.5)
The betting lines don't paint the rosiest picture for DFS purposes, considering the pair of double-digit spreads. However, the two elevated projected totals do offer reason for optimism, even as they're attached to the two games projected to be the most lopsided of the night.
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 (wrist): QUESTIONABLE
If Ball sits out, Vasilije Micic will likelyd draw a spot start at point guard while Mark Williams and Miles Bridges would stand to be the biggest beneficiaries in terms of increased usage.
Zion Williamson, NOP (conditioning): OUT
In Williamson's absence, Javonte Green could draw a spot start at power forward while CJ McCollum and Dejounte Murray will likely see the biggest usage increases.
Evan Mobley, CLE (calf): OUT
In Mobley's ongoing absence, Max Strus will likely draw another spot start at power forward and both Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell will likely see the biggest increases in opportunity.
Other notable injuries:
Joel Embiid, PHI (knee): OUT
Brandon Ingram, NOP (ankle): OUT
Brandon Miller, CHA (wrist): OUT
Andre Drummond, PHI (toe): OUT
Caleb Martin, PHI (hip): OUT
Deandre Ayton, POR (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Miles Bridges, CHA (back): QUESTIONABLE
Santi Aldama, MEM (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Caris LeVert, CLE (wrist): QUESTIONABLE
Dejounte Murray, NOP (elbow): PROBABLE
Yves Missi, NOP (illness): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have one player with a five-figure salary on Friday's slate – LaMelo Ball ($10,500).
Assuming Ball is able to play through his questionable tag, he'll look to improve on the average of 51.3 FD points he's generated across his last six games while facing a Blazers team that's allowed the ninth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (27.6).
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Tyrese Maxey, PHI ($9,600)
Maxey has scored over 49 FD points in three of the past four games and will once again take the floor without Joel Embiid on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($8,800)
Mitchell has scored over 49 FD points in three of the past five games and will one again play without Evan Mobley on Friday, a scenario where he sports a team-high 32.4 percent usage rate.
Ja Morant, MEM ($8,700)
Morant has scored over 43 FD points in three of the past four games and should be very popular at his salary on the small slate.
Mark Williams, CHA ($8,500)
Williams has played some of his best basketball over the last five games, averaging 52.4 FD points on the strength of 25.0 points, 14.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 blocks and 1.0 steals over 32.2 minutes per contest in the last five games.
Trey Murphy, NOP ($8,100)
Murphy is averaging 44.6 FD points in his last 10 games, a stretch where he's exceeded 45 FD points on five occasions.
Key Values
Guerschon Yabusele, PHI vs. CLE ($5,800)
Yabusele is in line for another start Friday with all of Joel Embiid, Andre Drummond and Caleb Martin all remaining out. The veteran big provided 30.1 FD points against the Nuggets on Tuesday in his return from a two-game absence due to a knee injury, and he'd averaged 25 FD points across the seven games prior to his time away while shooting 50.9 percent, including 40.0 percent from distance. The Cavaliers rank only No. 22 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to power forwards as well (27.0) and have allowed an NBA-high 62.1 FD points per game to the position in the last seven games, three which Evan Mobley, who'll sit out again Friday, has missed.
Jerami Grant, POR at CHA ($5,400)
Grant put together a second straight solid performance Thursday against the Magic, posting 33.8 FD points after tallying 27.9 versus the Heat on Tuesday. The veteran forward has traditionally carried a salary north of $7K for the majority of the last several seasons, so securing him at this modest of an investment is an opportunity to seriously consider. The matchup against the Hornets could be favorable as well, as Charlotte is ranked No. 23 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to power forwards (27.1) and has allowed 47.5 FD points per contest to the position.
Jordan Hawkins, NOP at MEM ($4,400)
Hawkins is best deployed in tournaments due to the volatility in his production, but the second-year wing has flashed a very appealing ceiling for his salary on multiple occasions this season. Hawkins has nine games (out of 28) with more than 25 FD points, and only four of those have come in starts. The 2023 first-round pick has posted three of those performances in the last six games alone, including 32.4 versus the 76ers. Hawkins also provided 19.4 FD points in only 15 minutes during his one prior meeting with the Grizzlies this season, and Memphis checks in with a No. 23 ranking in offensive efficiency surrendered to second-unit players (44.0) while also allowing the second-most FD points to two-guards (47.0) in the last 15 games.
ALSO CONSIDER: Luke Kennard, MEM vs. NOP ($4,800); Ty Jerome, CLE at PHI ($4,800)
