This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are 12 games in the NBA on Friday night, incorporating the usual mix of storylines and value plays on an extra large scale. We get LeBron James and the Cavaliers desperately trying to break a losing streak against the Wizards. We've got the new-look Celtics facing the new-look Thunder on the road. We've got a clash of elite centers in Denver, and a battle between suddenly hot Suns and a maybe-not-so-bad Knicks squad. And we've got a lot more, so let's take a look for some value.
GUARDS
Russell Westbrook, OKC vs BOS ($10,600): Westbrook's price has finally dropped from the absurdity of last year's rates down into a more competitive realm. Though he's coming off a relatively pedestrian 12-point/10-rebound/9-assist near-triple-double in his last outing, in the four games before that he had averaged almost 55 fantasy points and on Friday he faces Kyrie Irving, long in the conversation for worst defensive guard in the NBA.
Tim Hardaway Jr., NY vs PHO ($6,000): Hardaway was awful for the first two weeks of the season, but has gone nuts this week to start to earn his expected-to-be huge new role for the Knicks. In his last three games, he has averaged 23.3 points, 5.0 boards, 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. This new firepower will be needed on Friday, against a Suns team that is scoring a lot of points and that has won four of their last five games.
T.J. McConnell, PHI vs IND ($5,700): McConnell has been rock solid over the last four games when he has returned to starter minutes, averaging 11 points, 7.3 assists, 4.5 boards and 2.8 combined steals/blocks with consistently strong performances.
FORWARDS
LeBron James, CLE at WAS ($10,600): There are a lot of mega-elite forwards going on Friday, but James has the lowest price of this group in addition to the most pressure to perform to help the Cavaliers stop their losing streak. James is coming off a 33-point, 11-assist, six-rebound effort with three combined steals/blocks Wednesday against Indiana.
Domantas Sabonis, IND at PHI ($5,600): Shout out to T.J. Warren ($6,2000), who has been balling of late and may have gotten this slot if not for Sabonis. Myles Turner is nearing a return, but is doubtful for Friday, which gives Sabonis at least one more chance to build on his three straight games (and five of six games overall) of between 32.7 and 44.4 fantasy points.
Julius Randle, LAL vs BKN ($4,700): Randle was in this spot last week as the speculative pick, and improved his play over the last week as he seemed to find his comfort zone. With Larry Nance Jr. out with a broken thumb, the way is clear for Randle to pick up more minutes and have a chance to produce at the level that he teased us with last season.
CENTERS
DeMarcus Cousins, NOP at DAL, ($12,000): Cousins has earned his max price tag, with six games of at least 60 fantasy points in his eight games on the season. He is coming off a 35 point, nine board, six assist, six steal, three block effort against Karl-Anthony Towns in his last outing, and that wasn't even his best performance of the week (79.6 fantasy points against the Kings a week before). He's just in the zone right now.
Joel Embiid, PHI vs IND ($9,300): Embiid is also high-priced, but he's also ramping up into a zone this week. He produced a then-season high 46.3 fantasy points on Tuesday, then topped that with 21 points, 12 boards, six assists, three blocks and three steals for 60.4 fantasy points in 30 minutes of his last outing. He's been the best per-minute center in the league, so if his minutes start routinely creeping into the 30+ range he could be scary.
Marcin Gortat, WAS vs CLE ($5,900): Gortat has scored over 30 fantasy points in three of his last four games, and on Friday he faces a Cavaliers defense that has been an absolute donut this season and is completely empty in the middle.
