This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
After an abbreviated four-game ledger Thursday, we're in for a signature Friday night slate with 10 games on tap. However, the injury report is on the unforgiving side, as there are plenty of big names already ruled out or in danger of sitting out. Therefore, it will be an important day to both monitor the news leading up to lineup lock and identify multiple viable mid-salary/value plays.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, 3/14 @1:15 a.m. EDT:
Indiana Pacers (-11) at Philadelphia 76ers (O/U: 233.5)
Boston Celtics (-8) at Miami Heat (O/U: 216.0)
Los Angeles Clippers (-3.5) at Atlanta Hawks (O/U: 232.0)
Charlotte Hornets at San Antonio Spurs (-3) (O/U: 229.5)
Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets (-11.5) (O/U: 223.5)
Cleveland Cavaliers (-1.5) at Memphis Grizzlies (O/U: 245.0)
Orlando Magic at Minnesota Timberwolves (-10.5) (O/U: 208.5)
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (-14.5) (O/U: 231.0)
Toronto Raptors at Utah Jazz (-2) (O/U: 231.5)
Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns (-2.5) (O/U: 233.5)
As most busy NBA nights do, Friday's slate offers a bit of everything from a betting standpoint. The quartet of double-digit favorites is offset by the rarity of five games with spreads of 3.5 points or less, which gives us plenty of avenues to explore in terms of what should be favorable DFS environments. Additionally, the line attached to the Celtics-Heat game would also be in line to shrink if Jayson Tatum is ruled out with his knee issue.
It also has to be considered a favorable night in terms of projected totals, considering all but three games have figures of 229.5 points or higher. What's more, five of those contests also have favorites with projected advantages of 3.5 points or less, making them especially appealing from a DFS perspective.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Jayson Tatum, BOS (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Tatum sits out Friday, Al Horford or Sam Hauser is likely to fill in at power forward while Jaylen Brown stands to be the biggest beneficiary in terms of increased usage.
LeBron James, LAL (groin): OUT
In James' continued absence, Jarred Vanderbilt or Dorian Finney-Smith could draw a start at power forward, while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are top candidates for a bump in opportunity.
Domantas Sabonis, SAC (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
If Sabonis sits out again, Jonas Valanciunas will continue operating as the starting center.
De'Aaron Fox, SAN (hand): OUT
In Fox's absence, which will last the rest of the season, Stephon Castle could take over starting shooting guard duties.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE (groin): OUT
In Mitchell's absence, Max Strus is likely to start at two-guard once again while Isaac Okoro projects to remain in the starting five. Meanwhile, Darius Garland should once again set the pace in usage.
Scottie Barnes, TOR (hand): QUESTIONABLE
If Barnes sits out, Colin Castleton could run with the first unit again at power forward, while RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley should see the biggest usage bumps.
Other notable injuries:
Anthony Davis, DAL (thigh): OUT
Tyrese Maxey, PHI (back): OUT
Amen Thompson, HOU (ankle): OUT
Paul George, PHI (groin/knee): OUT
John Collins, UTA (ankle): OUT
Jakob Poeltl, TOR (rest): OUT
Norman Powell, LAC (hamstring): OUT
Derrick White, BOS (shin): QUESTIONABLE
P.J. Washington, DAL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Jaylen Brown, BOS (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Jaren Jackson, MEM (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Kristaps Porzingis, BOS (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Trae Young, ATL (Achilles): PROBABLE
Nikola Jokic, DEN (elbow/ankle): PROBABLE
Jamal Murray, DEN (knee): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries on Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($12,800), Luka Doncic ($11,900) and Jayson Tatum ($10,500).
Jokic is fully expected to play through his probable tag and has scored 63.1 to 73.6 FD points in three of the past four games. However, it's worth noting he was limited to an atypically low 39.6 FD points in 35 minutes in his most recent matchup against the Lakers.
Doncic put up 65.7 FD points against the Bucks on Thursday with LeBron James sidelined, and he'll play under the same conditions again Friday. He's eclipsed 63 FD points in three of the past five games overall and hasn't scored less than 46.1 in March.
Tatum's availability will bear monitoring since he's listed as questionable with a knee injury, but if he's available, he'll look to extend a streak of tallies of over 50 FD points to four games.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
James Harden, LAC ($9,700)
Harden has scored over 53 FD points in three straight and has been over that mark in five of the last six overall, which should make him extremely popular at his salary Friday.
LaMelo Ball, CHA ($9,600)
Ball is coming off having scored 46.9 FD points in 30 minutes against the Hawks on Wednesday and offers the upside of a five-figure salary player, which should help him be highly rostered Friday.
Trae Young, ATL ($9,500)
Young went off for 59.4 FD points in 35 minutes against the Hornets on Wednesday, and he's been over 45 FD points in four straight contests overall.
Anthony Edwards, MIN ($9,200)
Edwards has a pair of tallies of over 50 FD points in his last six games and has scored at least 25 actual points in three of the last four, numbers that should help him find his way into plenty of lineups Friday.
Darius Garland, CLE ($7,500)
Garland will be set for big usage once again with Mitchell sidelined and scored 55.8 FD points against the Nets on Wednesday in his teammate's absence, so he should be highly popular at his salary.
Key Values
Tari Eason, HOU vs. DAL ($6,600)
Eason is projected to continue in a starting role with Amen Thompson (ankle) still sidelined and is averaging a solid 29.1 FD points over his most recent four turns with the first unit. That sample includes two games with more than 37 FD points and consists of a well-balanced line of 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks across 28.5 minutes. Eason already has one 25.8 FD-point effort across a modest 19 minutes against the Mavericks this season, and a short-handed Dallas squad has struggled against small forwards lately to the tune of 44.8 FD points per contest allowed to the position in the last 15 games.
Collin Sexton, UTA vs. TOR ($6,300)
Sexton has been very productive over the last two games, scoring 33.1 and 38.1 FD points on the strength of 19.0 points, 10.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds across 31.5 minutes. The veteran guard has shot 37.5 percent from behind the arc during that span as well, and Friday, he'll have a matchup that is ripe for an extension of that production. The Raptors are ranked No. 22 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to shooting guards, and Sexton is averaging a team-high 28.0 percent usage rate while averaging 36.8 FD points per 36 minutes with John Collins (ankle) off the floor this season.
Jared Butler, PHI vs. IND ($4,900)
Butler should be in line for another start Friday with Tyrese Maxey (back) still sidelined. The fourth-year pro is averaging 28.8 FD points across his last three games, a sample during which he's averaged 29.3 minutes per contest while shooting a blistering 44.4 percent from three-point range. Butler has started the last two games and averaged 27.4 FD points in that pair of contests, so his sub-$5K salary keeps him very much in play, as does the fact he's averaging 38 FD points per 36 minutes with all of Tyrese Maxey (back), Paul George (groin) and Joel Embiid (knee) off the floor.
ALSO CONSIDER: Orlando Robinson, TOR at UTA ($5,400); Jrue Holiday, BOS at MIA ($5,200)
