We have another three-game Game 3 slate Friday night, and there are some notable injuries to monitor as the day unfolds. All three series that are playing out their latest installments Friday have all already had some surprising results, so we should be in store for an exciting night of DFS play.
Slate Overview
For the latest spreads and over-unders, visit RotoWire's NBA Odds page. There, you can also find player props, futures, picks articles and sportsbook bonus codes.
Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, April 24 at 1:45 a.m. EDT:
- Boston Celtics (-7.5) at Philadelphia 76ers (O/U: 215.5)
- Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets (-9.5) (O/U: 206.5)
- San Antonio Spurs (-2) at Portland Trail Blazers (O/U: 220.5)
The betting metrics suggest all three games will be competitive to varying degree, and if Durant is sidelined, the largest spread of the night will narrow. Additionally, if Wembanyama is ruled out for the Spurs, that line could actually flip to favor the hosts.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Victor Wembanyama, SAN (concussion): QUESTIONABLE
If Wembanyama, who was cleared to travel with the Spurs to Portland, is sidelined, the likes of De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle will be in line for significant usage bumps, while Luke Kornet and Mason Plumlee will likely handle the majority of center minutes.
Kevin Durant, HOU (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Durant, who also missed Game 1 with a knee injury, is out, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard could soak up most of the minutes at small forward, while Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith and Alperen Sengun will enjoy significant usage increases.
Austin Reaves, LAL (oblique): QUESTIONABLE
If Reaves remains sidelined, Marcus Smart should continue to handle a starting shooting guard role.
Other notable injuries:
Luka Doncic, LAL (hamstring): OUT
Joel Embiid, PHI (abdomen): DOUBTFUL
Elite Players
We have three players with a five-figure salaries that have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Victor Wembanyama ($12,200), LeBron James ($10,500) and Jayson Tatum ($10,200).
If Wembanayama is active and set to play without restrictions, he'll be looking to build on the tally of 44.5 FD points he posted in Game 1 before his 11-minute stint on the floor in Game 2 prior to his injury.
LeBron has scored 55.1 and 48.1 FD points in the first two games of the series, but if Reaves is able to play, the former will see at least a slight usage hit.
Tatum delivered 53.7 and 49.3 FD points in the first two games of the series while coming just four total assists short of consecutive triple-doubles.
Go to RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Deni Avdija, POR ($9,600)
Avdija scored only 22.3 FD points in Game 2, but he'd erupted for 53.5 in the opener and should be very popular as the series shifts to his home floor.
Tyrese Maxey, PHI ($9,400)
Maxey tallied 52.3 FD points in Game 2, and with Joel Embiid expected to remain sidelined, the former should be highly rostered.
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,200)
Sengun has averaged 49.2 FD points over the first two games of the series and will be even more popular if Durant is sidelined.
Jaylen Brown, BOS ($9,000)
Brown has totaled 39.3 and 53.4 FD points in the first two games of the series, numbers that should make him very popular at his salary.
Amen Thompson, HOU ($8,700)
Thompson is averaging 40.7 FD points in his first two games against the Lakers and has played over 40 minutes in each, which should lock in a high roster rate Friday.
Key Values
Jrue Holiday, POR vs. SAN ($6,400)
Holiday has performed well over the first two games of the series despite the tough matchup presented by the Spurs, averaging 35.9 FD points on the strength of 12.5 points, 10.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest. The veteran guard has struggled with his shot – he's connected on just 10 of 32 field-goal attempts – but he's been an excellent distributor and is likely to start seeing the ball find the net more consistently. In fact, Holiday was a much better shooter at home (47.8 percent, including 40.0 percent from distance) than on the road during the regular season, furthering his case at a still very reasonable salary.
Jabari Smith, HOU vs. LAL ($6,300)
Smith has thrived with and without Durant on the floor in the first two games of the series, posting 35.4 and 28.7 FD points in those contests. The versatile forward is shooting 37.5 percent from distance in that span as well, and he's pushed his average against the Lakers since the start of the regular season to 32.2 FD points per contest (five total games). If Durant is sidelined for the second time in three games Friday, Smith's outlook will naturally only brighten.
Luke Kennard, LAL at HOU ($6,000)
Kennard had averaged 37.9 FD points over the last four starts of the regular season in which he logged a conventional number of minutes – he played just 11 minutes in the finale against the Jazz – and he followed up that strong stretch by providing 33.3 and 40.2 FD points in the first two games. Kennard's efficiency has been off the charts, as he's shot 65.4 percent, including 72.7 percent from beyond the arc. If Austin Reaves does return Friday in at least a limited role, Kennard will see a usage hit, but his very affordable salary and upside still make him worthy of consideration.
ALSO CONSIDER: Payton Pritchard, BOS at PHI ($5,500); Tari Eason, HOU vs. LAL ($5,400)
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