It was so lovely to see basketball on Thursday! I’ve been craving NBA basketball for a week now, and it was nice to get a taste. It’s also a bizarre schedule in that we only have 20-25 games remaining for each team. That means it’s a sprint to the finish line, and that should make things exciting for us NBA fans!

After a small slate on Thursday, we’re looking at a full Friday card. We have nine games in total and many close matchups. There’s a lot to discuss, though, so let’s go ahead and get into the schedule and odds!

View the best player prop bets for tonight’s slate with our NBA Prop Bet Cheat Sheet

• OKC at IND (IND -7.5) O/U: 216
• HOU at ORL (ORL -4.5) O/U: 228.5
• SAS at WAS (SAS -1) O/U: 226
• TOR at CHA (TOR -1.5) O/U: 225.5
• MIA at NYK (MIA -4.5) O/U: 213
• PHI at MIN (PHI -1.5) O/U: 229
• NOP at PHX (PHX -8) O/U: 226.5
• DAL at UTA (UTA -6.5) O/U: 216.5
• LAC at LAL (LAL -1.5) O/U: 224.5

Check out our consensus game odds as well as the odds from each sportsbook at BettingPros

Injury Report

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) Questionable
• Luguentz Dort (shoulder) Questionable
• Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles) Questionable
• Chris Duarte (toe) Questionable
• Myles Turner (foot) OUT
• Bradley Beal (wrist) OUT
• Gordon Hayward (ankle) OUT
• Kemba Walker (rest) OUT
• R.J. Barrett (ankle) Probable
• Derrick Rose (ankle) Questionable
• James Harden (hamstring) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (foot) OUT
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Kristaps Porzingis (foot) OUT
• Paul George (elbow) OUT
• Kawhi Leonard (knee) OUT
• Norman Powell (foot) OUT
• Anthony Davis (ankle) OUT

Core Plays

Pascal Siakam (PF – TOR): $9,300 DraftKings, $9,400 FanDuel
Sia was creeping closer to $10K before the break, and it’s hard to understand why he’s back near $9,000. In any case, this guy has been a monster, scoring at least 36 DraftKings points in 33 of his last 34 games. He’s also flirting with a 50-point average in that span, playing nearly 40 minutes a night. That makes him tough to fade against a Charlotte team that sits second in pace and 28th in total defense. In their two meetings this season, Sia is averaging 54 DK points per game!

Devin Booker (SG – PHX): $9,200 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel
Book is averaging nearly 25 shots a game over the last month, and it’s hard to believe he’s going to see even more usage here. With Chris Paul injured, Booker’s usage, minutes, and shot attempts should rise exponentially. That’s scary since he’s averaging 47 DK points per game across his last 19 outings. We’re certainly not worried about him facing a 22nd-ranked New Orleans defense, either.

Jimmy Butler (SG/SF – MIA): $8,900 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel
It’s so strange to see JB below $9K. He’s scored at least 33 DK points in all but five games this season en route to a 43-point average. That alone makes him a good value, and he could be asked to do even more with Tyler Herro possibly out again. A blowout prevented Jimmy from blowing up against the Knicks in their one matchup earlier this season, but 39 DK points across 29 minutes show how scary he could be if he plays the 35-40 minutes we’ve become accustomed to.

Cash Game Considerations

Luka Doncic (PG – DAL): $11,800 DraftKings, $11,200 FanDuel
Luka led the NBA with a 36 percent usage rate before the Porzingis trade, but it’s even higher now. He’s flirting with 40 percent now, doing everything for this Dallas offense. It’s really evident in his fantasy production, averaging 32.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 9.5 assists, and 1.2 assists over his last 16 games played. Just don’t fade that sort of production!

Jakob Poeltl (C – SAS): $7,300 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel
Jakob has been a breakout player for the Spurs, and he’s become one of the most reliable options in fantasy. He’s scored at least 28 DK points in 23 of his last 24 games, generating a 39-point average in that span. That’s a spectacular total from a $7K player, and it should be easy to duplicate with Washington surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Deandre Ayton (C – PHX): $6,800 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
With CP3 out for the foreseeable future, Ayton should be asked to do a lot more. That’s massive for a guy that’s already been productive, averaging 35 DK points per game for the season. He’s also scored at least 32 DK points in four straight outings, and that looks like his floor with Paul sitting on the sidelines. Not to mention, New Orleans owns a 25th OPRK against opposing centers.

GPP Targets

Cole Anthony (PG – ORL): $7,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
Cole has been all over the map in terms of consistency, but he’s got way too much upside in a matchup like this. Not only does Houston play at the fastest pace in the NBA, but they also rank dead-last in defensive efficiency and points allowed. That’s great news for Orlando’s best playmaker, with CA averaging 36 DraftKings points per game. In their one meeting earlier this season, Cole collected 26 points and seven assists.

Kevin Porter Jr (PG/SF – HOU): $6,700 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel
Something tells me these two guards will trade buckets and assists all night long. These are two of the worst defenses in the NBA, with Orlando ranked 23rd in points allowed and 24th in defensive efficiency. That’s fantastic news with KPJ’s recent form, scoring at least 26 DK points in 12 of his last 13 games en route to a 35-point average.

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
With Nerlens Noel sidelined, this is Robinson’s job right now. The big man has had some major duds, but he’s also scored at least 46 DK points in three of his last seven games. That’s a ridiculous upside from such a cheap player, and it makes him one of the best GPP options on the board. Facing Miami is challenging, but it also means that Mitch-Rob needs to play big minutes to oppose Bam Adebayo.

Value Plays

Terance Mann (SG/SF – LAC): $5,400 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
Mann is amid the best stretch of his career right now. He’s scored at least 26 DraftKings points in six of his last seven games, scoring at least 33 fantasy points in four of those. That’s absurd from a $5,500 player, especially since he has one of the best matchups in basketball. In fact, the Lakers rank fifth in pace and 26th in points allowed.

Mason Plumlee (C – CHA): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel
Plumlee was putrid in his final game before the break, but it snapped one of the best stretches of his career. Plumdog had at least 24 DK points in each of his previous 13 games, averaging 31 DK points per game in that span. That’s tough to find from a $5K player, and he’ll have to play big minutes to oppose this huge Toronto frontcourt. In their two meetings this season, Mason has maintained a 27-point average across 29 minutes a night.

Aleksej Pokusevski (PF – OKC): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
This guy has been a disaster in his first two seasons, but we’re finally seeing some flashes. The skinny seven-footer is averaging 26 DraftKings points per game across 25 minutes a night in his last seven outings. The injuries are a major reason why, with OKC expected to be without Luguentz Dort, Kenrich Williams, Ty Jerome, James Robinson-Earl, and Mike Muscala. That’s all you can ask for from such an affordable player, and it should continue against a 26th-ranked Indiana defense.

Advantageous Pricing

• Cole Anthony (PG – ORL): $7,000 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Tyrese Maxey (PG – PHI): $6,400 DraftKings, $7,400 FanDuel
• Russell Westbrook (PG – LAL): $8,500 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel
• Tre Mann (PG/SG – OKC): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
• James Harden (PG/SG – PHI): $10,900 DraftKings, $9,600 FanDuel
• Malcolm Brogdon (PG – IND): $7,100 DraftKings, $6,100 FanDuel
• Kyle Kuzma (SF/PF – WAS): $8,900 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel
• Oshae Brissett (SF/PF – IND): $5,700 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
• Lance Stephenson (SG/SF – IND): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,500 FanDuel
• Montrezl Harrell (C – CHA): $5,600 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel
• Isaiah Roby (PF/C – OKC): $4,300 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel
• Isaiah Hartenstein (PF/C – LAC): $4,400 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
• Ivica Zubac (C – LAC): $5,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel

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