We're set for a six-game main slate Friday, offering us what many consider an ideal-sized player pool. Big-name injuries continue to make an impact, however, so identifying viable mid-salary and value plays continues to be very important at this point of the season.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, March 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET:
- Golden State Warriors at Detroit Pistons (-5) (O/U: 217.5)
- New York Knicks (-17.5) at Brooklyn Nets (O/U: 214.5)
- Portland Trail Blazers at Minnesota Timberwolves (-2.5) (O/U: 231.5)
- Boston Celtics (-15) at Memphis Grizzlies (O/U: 228.5)
- Atlanta Hawks at Houston Rockets (-3.5) (O/U: 227.5)
- Toronto Raptors at Denver Nuggets (-7) (O/U: 238.5)
The two double-digit favorites aside, we otherwise have a solid set of betting metrics at play Friday. The Blazers-Timberwolves and Hawks-Rockets matchups might well prove to be the top DFS spots to focus on, although there is potential in the Warriors-Pistons clash as well, albeit with a low total.
NBA Injuries Today
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Cade Cunningham, DET (back): OUT
In Cunningham's ongoing absence, Daniss Jenkins is likely to draw a start at point guard, while the likes of Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren should be due for plenty of extra usage.
Anthony Edwards, MIN (knee): OUT
In Edwards' continued absence, Ayo Dosunum and Bones Hyland should continue seeing plenty of run at point guard, while Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert should benefit from usage increases.
Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK (personal): QUESTIONABLE
If Towns sits out, Mitchell Robinson will likely draw a spot start at center, while Jalen Brunson and the rest of the starting five will see big usage bumps.
Michael Porter, BKN (hamstring): OUT
In Porter's ongoing absence, Danny Wolf is likely to continue in the starting five.
Other notable injuries:
Stephen Curry, GSW (knee): OUT
Ja Morant, Grizzlies (elbow): OUT
Josh Hart, NYK (knee): OUT
Noah Clowney, BKN (wrist): OUT
Al Horford, GSW (calf): OUT
Moses Moody, GSW (wrist): OUT
Peyton Watson (hamstring): OUT
Jonathan Kuminga, ATL (knee): OUT
GG Jackson, MEM (knee): DOUBTFUL
Naz Reid, MIN (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Quinten Post, GSW (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($13,000) and Jalen Johnson ($11,000).
Jokic has eclipsed 61 FD points in five of the last six games, leading to a salary bump that's still justified by his recent body of work.
Johnson has scored over 45 FD points in six straight games, pushing his season average to just under 50.0 FD points.
Go to RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Jaylen Brown, BOS ($9,800)
Brown has been over 47 FD points in three of his last four games, and he draws a particularly appealing matchup against the Grizzlies.
Deni Avdija, POR ($9,600)
Avdija has been running hot since returning from injury, scoring 40.2 to 50.7 FD points in four of the last six contests.
Jalen Brunson, NYK ($9,400)
Brunson is off the injury report after missing Tuesday's game against the Pacers and has scored over 44 FD points in each of his last four games.
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,400)
Sengun came back from injury to record 47.8 FD points across 37 minutes against the Lakers on Wednesday, and he draws a solid matchup, particularly for rebounds, against the Hawks.
Jamal Murray, DEN ($9,200)
Murray bounced back from a pair of lackluster efforts with 45.6 FD points against the Grizzlies last time out, which should help make him very popular at his salary.
Key Values
Jaden McDaniels, MIN vs. POR ($5,800)
McDaniels will continue operating without Anthony Edwards (knee) on Friday, and the former is averaging 33.5 FD points per 36 minutes with his teammate off the floor. McDaniels has averaged 35.6 FD points over the first two games of Edwards' current absence as well, shooting a crisp 48.1 percent, including 40.0 percent from behind the arc. With a competitive game expected and the Blazers allowing the third-most FD points per game to small forwards on the season (47.8), McDaniels is in play at his sub-$6K salary.
Tobias Harris, DET vs. GSW ($5,500)
Harris is another veteran forward poised to benefit from an absence Friday, as Cade Cunningham remains out indefinitely for Detroit. Harris provided 27.7 FD points Thursday against the Wizards despite playing only 22 minutes, and he should be in for a nice bump in playing time Friday in what projects as a more competitive matchup. The Warriors have allowed a robust 45.8 FD points per contest over the last 15 to power forwards, and Harris also checks in averaging a solid 27.1 FD points in his last 16 games, a stretch that dates back to the final game before the All-Star break.
Tari Eason, HOU vs. ATL ($5,300)
Eason continues to hold down the starting shooting guard role for Houston, and even though his production is subjec to occasional fluctuation, he's still contributed over 22 FD points in nine of his last 14 games. Eason's shooting struggles can cap his numbers, but he's in a good spot on paper for one of his better performances Friday. Atlanta is allowing the fifth-most points to SGs in the last 15 games (24.6), along with the 10th-highest two-point shooting percentage on the road (56.5). Additionally, Eason is a solid rebounder on both ends of the floor, and the Hawks also come in surrendering the fifth-highest defensive rebounding rate on the road (77.4 percent).
ALSO CONSIDER: Neemias Queta, BOS at MEM ($5,800)
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