This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Slate Overview
PHX (-6.5) vs. DET, O/U: 218
CHA vs. NO (-6), O/U: 217
OKC vs. NY (-3), O/U: 209
WAS vs. BOS (-5.5), O/U: 234.5
BKN (-2.5) vs. MEM, O/U: 218
ORL vs HOU (-6), O/U: 226
UTA vs. MIL (-6), O/U: 231
CHI vs. LAL (-8.5), O/U: OTB
LAC (-6) vs. GS, O/U: 232.5
TOR (-5.5) vs. SAC, O/U: 225
Friday's slate tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and includes 10 games. If there has been one factor that has contributed to NBA DFS success the most this season, it has been late-swapping. Just about every night, significant late news has broken to dramatically alter the slate. Yesterday, Kyrie Irving decided he didn't feel like playing and Collin Sexton was a late scratch after being deemed "expected to play". There's a slew of injury news to monitor tonight, so it will be advantageous to keep lineup spots open for flexibility purposes. Specifically, keep an eye on the status of Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Christian Wood and De'Aaron Fox as all four are likely to be game-time decisions.
I'm going to target the later games to keep my options open, but the BOS-WAS game could be very interesting for DFS purposes. It currently has the highest total on the slate with Russell Westbrook and four Celtics carrying questionable tags. We could see some significant value open up while the studs for each team get usage bumps. These type of spots are always good to target. The Kings and Warriors also have star guards facing game-time decisions. And should either of them miss action, it will help to have lineup spots open in order to late-swap.
Injuries to Monitor
Russell Westbrook (finger): QUESTIONABLE
Westbrook dislocated his finger in the closing stages of Wednesday's game and his status for tonight is unclear.
Stephen Curry (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Curry was downgraded to questionable, which is never a great sign. If he were to not play, every Warriors' starter becomes a solid tournament option as none carry a salary above $6,600. Brad Wanamaker ($3,300) would see increased run at point guard.
Kyrie Irving (personal): OUT
Irving will not travel with the team tonight. Caris LeVert will start at point guard and could be the slate's chalkiest player.
Kevin Durant (quarantine): OUT
Durant will miss out again but could return on Sunday if he continues to test negative. Jeff Green ($3,800) and Taurean Prince ($3,700) should keep receiving more minutes.
De'Aaron Fox (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
Fox only played five minutes on Wednesday before leaving the game with a tight hamstring. If he sits tonight, Tyrese Haliburton ($5,400) and Cory Joseph ($3,900) would likely have expanded roles.
Christian Wood (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Wood is questionable with knee soreness after missing his first game of the season on Wednesday. If he sits again, DeMarcus Cousins would start and likely be chalky.
Richaun Holmes (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Holmes tweaked his ankle on Wednesday and missed practice yesterday. Hassan Whiteside ($3,200) didn't see the floor last game and hasn't been a big part of the rotation this season. Marvin Bagley ($5,900) is coming off of his first big game of the season and could see a few more minutes.
Evan Fournier (back): QUESTIONABLE
Fournier has been listed as questionable and a game-time decision for the past three games, but has missed them all. Dwayne Bacon ($3,900) should continue to start if Fournier sits again.
Markelle Fultz (knee): OUT
Fultz suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Wednesday. Cole Anthony ($5,000) will start at point guard and be a popular play tonight.
Michael Carter-Williams (foot): OUT
Carter-Williams will stay on the sidelines with a foot injury and that should make Cole Anthony's minutes even more secure while Jordan Bone ($3,100) should see increased run as the backup point guard.
Tristan Thompson, Jeff Teague, Robert Williams, Grant Williams: QUESTIONABLE
Keep an eye on the Celtics' injury news as they could deploy a tighter rotation if a few sit tonight.
Elite Players
James Harden ($11,000) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($10,900) come in with the highest salaries on the slate. Based on recent evidence, I still believe they're valued too closely. Harden continues to struggle and it seems like Giannis's salary is based on Milwaukee's propensity to blow teams out and the starters not playing big minutes. I'll continue to lean with Giannis.
LeBron James ($10,300) and Anthony Davis ($10,100) don't have questionable tags for once, but that could always change. The Lakers enter as big favorites over Chicago. And on a 10-game slate, I think you can save some salary and look elsewhere.
Russell Westbrook ($10,400) and Stephen Curry ($10,000) are both listed as questionable and are likely game-time decisions. If Westbrook misses, Bradley Beal ($9,700) is coming off of a career-high 60-point game on Wednesday and would get a nice usage bump.
Julius Randle ($9,800) continues to put up big performances. He's averaging the most minutes in the league under Tom Thibodeau while his assist rate has been surprisingly high. That's led to Randle averaging over 50 DK points per night through the first eight games.
Kawhi Leonard ($9,300), Jayson Tatum ($9,200) and Paul George ($9,100) could all be in play tonight. It's always possible one of Leonard or George will sit for maintenance reasons and the Celtics are dealing with multiple injuries that could result in more minutes and usage for Tatum.
Expected Chalk
Caris LeVert ($7,400)
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are out again tonight. Without them on the floor this season, LeVert boasts a staggering 38.5 percent usage rate and 55.9 percent assist rate. He shot poorly last night and still scored 50.75 DK points. I would expect LeVert to be very chalky in cash games and tournaments even on such a big slate.
Cole Anthony ($5,000)
Markelle Fultz is out for the season and Michael Carter-Williams is still injured. Anthony is likely to get the start at point guard. And for 5K, he's almost a no-brainer. Anthony is averaging around a fantasy point per minute for the season, but I would expect that number and his usage to increase slightly without Fultz or Carter-Williams. Regardless, he will be popular in most formats tonight.
DeMarcus Cousins ($5,100)
This is contingent on the status of Christian Wood. Cousins was rostered on around 50 percent of lineups in most contests when Wood sat out on Wednesday. Cousins' salary went up by $800, but he scored 40 DK points on a bad shooting night. He would likely be very chalky if Wood were to sit again.
Value Picks
Tyrese Haliburton ($5,400)
De'Aaron Fox is questionable after leaving Wednesday's game early. Haliburton has been impressive off the bench this season. And if he steps into a starting role tonight, he's great value and would likely be popular.
Terrence Ross ($6,100)
Ross isn't normally the type of player I target, but someone has to score for Orlando with Markelle Fultz and Michael Carter-Williams out and Evan Fournier questionable. Ross could even get the start and regardless, he should be shooting a lot.
Joe Harris ($5,500)
Harris took 19 shots and drained six threes last night in the absence of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. He should take plenty of shots again tonight and would provide decent leverage if you're going to fade Caris LeVert.
Draymond Green ($5,100)
Green played over 30 minutes for the first time this season on Wednesday as he continues to work his way back from injury. His salary is still very affordable for the player he is when healthy. Also keep an eye on Stephen Curry's injury status as his potential absence would open up a lot of value for other Warriors.
Otto Porter Jr ($6,200) and Wendell Carter ($5,900)
Chicago is still missing key players due to the league's health and safety protocols. We've seen both guys produce big games this past week and they should see significant run tonight trying to deal with the Lakers' big frontcourt.
