This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate begins at 7:00 PM Eastern time and features seven games. Of the 14 teams in action, only the Raptors and Nuggets are finishing up back-to-back sets. The first NBA matchup between the first two draft picks from 2019 will rightfully have the spotlight, but there are other opportunities for value to be found as a result of some prominent injuries.
Slate Overview
Games to Target
Pelicans (-5.5) vs. Grizzlies O/U: 239.5
NBA over/unders pushing 240 were unheard of until recently and are still a rare occurrence, but this matchup should feature plenty of offense and little defense. New Orleans (114.7) and Memphis (113.5) both rank in the top-10 in points per game, and they also represent two of the five most generous teams defensively with the Pelicans allowing 117.2 points per game and the Grizzlies giving up 115.2.
Rockets (-8.5) vs. Mavericks O/U: 239.5
This slate features not one but two games with an over/under of 239.5. While the Rockets are heavy favorites in this one, some of the best value plays can be found on the Mavericks, as other players will be forced to step up with the team's star sidelined by injury against a Rockets' team that scores the second-most points per game at 118.5 and allows the seventh-most at 114.6.
Games to Fade
Nets (-5) vs. Bulls O/U: 220.5
This contest actually offers the lowest over/under in what's expected to be an all-around high-scoring slate. There's some value to be gleaned out of this one, but not as much as you'll find in the other matchups.
Raptors (-4) at Pistons O/U: 223
The Pistons rank 20th offensively with 109.3 points per game, while the Raptors are right around league average when it comes to road offense at 109.6. Given the available alternatives, you shouldn't be settling for average.
Positional Breakdown
The point guard position is rich in top-end talent, featuring six healthy players priced at $9,000 or more. Every other position has only 1-2 such players, while center could have as many as three. The two forward spots will be the hardest to fill in this slate, while the multitude of enticing point guard options available across the price spectrum suggests most lineups will feature a point guard in the UTIL spot.
Injury Situations to Monitor
While injuries aren't especially prevalent in this slate, the two most expensive players are both dealing with them.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is questionable after missing Tuesday's game due to shoulder soreness, but there's optimism that he'll make his return at home against Denver.
Luka Doncic will be unavailable Friday in Houston and likely beyond for the Mavericks after rolling his ankle in Thursday's practice. Teammate Tim Hardaway Jr. (back) is questionable, potentially leaving extended opportunities for the team's other backcourt options.
Anthony Davis (gluteus maximus contusion) is questionable for the Lakers, but he carried the same tag going into Saturday's game and still played 39 minutes.
Carmelo Anthony is away from the Trail Blazers for personal reasons, so expect him to sit out against the Lakers unless word of his return to the team surfaces prior to tip-off.
Jaren Jackson is suspended for Friday's game due to his role in Wednesday's on-court fracas with the Knicks.
Elite Players
James Harden ($10,600) and Russell Westbrook ($10,500) have drawn nearly even in price thanks to a slump by the former and a surge by the latter. While The Beard is averaging just 41.7 fantasy points in six appearances since Jan. 15, Westbrook has contributed a whopping 65.3 fantasy points per contest in seven games played since that point. Given their recent disparity in form, Westbrook should be the go-to Rockets player in what's expected to be a high-scoring affair against Dallas.
Speaking of hot streaks, Damian Lillard ($9,900) is on one that puts Westbrook's recent output to shame. Portland's point guard is averaging a ridiculous 48.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 9.8 APG over his past four, exceeding 70 fantasy points in each of those contests.
LeBron James ($10,300) is rarely a bad choice, and the Lakers' star would be especially appealing against Lillard's Trail Blazers if Davis sits.
Expected Chalk
Khris Middleton ($8,000) logged a career game with Antetokounmpo out Tuesday against the Wizards, accompanying a career-best 51 points with 10 rebounds and six assists. It's hard not to go right back to Middleton at home against a tired Denver team, especially if Giannis remains sidelined.
Jalen Brunson ($3,800) stepped up when Doncic got hurt earlier this season, averaging 36.4 fantasy points over a five-game stretch during which Doncic played a total of two minutes. He figures to be the primary beneficiary of Doncic's absence this time around and draws a favorable matchup against a Rockets' team that's allowing the second-most fantasy points to point guards. Mavericks' teammate Seth Curry ($4,800) will also be worth heavy consideration if Hardaway ends up joining Doncic on the sidelines.
If you throw out Ja Morant's ($6,900) Jan. 22 clunker in Boston, the rookie second overall pick is averaging 18.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 9.3 APG over his past 10 games. Morant's been a major driver in Memphis's recent climb in the standings and should have no problem absorbing some extra offensive responsibilities while Jackson serves his one-game suspension. He'll also be extra motivated to perform against the man picked ahead of him in the 2019 Draft and has a great opportunity to deliver a strong outing against the league's third-worst defensive team.
Zion Williamson ($7,000) has seen his minutes rise from 18 to 21 to 27 to 30 in his first four games, compiling an average of 31.7 fantasy points in 24 minutes per game. Whether his playing time keeps climbing or plateaus from here, there's a good chance the first overall pick's production will continue to climb as he gets more comfortable at the NBA level. Memphis's bottom-five defense will have a hard time slowing Zion down.
Key Values
Kristaps Porzingis ($6,800) is another guy who stands to benefit from Doncic's absence, as The Unicorn will take over as the focal point of Dallas' offense. The ability to stretch the floor (2.2 3-pointers made per game) should allow him to thrive against a Houston team that often gives more traditional big men trouble, so Porzingis has a good chance of exceeding his season averages of 16.8 PPG and 8.9 RPG.
Ricky Rubio ($5,900) has struggled recently while playing through an ankle injury, but those issues have created a nice buy-low opportunity on the Suns' point guard with his price dipping below $6,000. He's still playing his normal allotment of minutes, and an improvement in Rubio's health would set him up to provide tremendous bang for the buck against a Thunder team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to point guards.
Despite playing in the game with this slate's lowest over/under, Nets' center Jarrett Allen ($6,100) should thrive against a Bulls' team that's struggled to defend centers all season and is extremely beat up in the frontcourt. With season averages of 11.4 PPG, 9.7 RPG and 1.5 blocks per game, Allen's poised to deliver a double-double along with some hustle stats if things break right.
