This is my final article of the week. It’s been an up-and-down week for yours truly, but we’re in the green! That’s all you can ask for in this racket because the competition is more challenging than ever. Battling with experts who play 150 lineups is no easy task, and it has me playing single-entry tournaments more than anything.

After a small slate on Thursday, we’re looking at nine games for this Friday card. That’s standard for a Friday, and it should make for a fun night of basketball. We have a ton of close matchups and a lot of important games, so let’s get started with the schedule and odds!

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

Schedule and Odds

• IND at DET (IND -4) O/U: 230.5
• CLE at PHI (PHI -7.5) O/U: 219.5
• ATL at WAS (ATL -3) O/U: 221.5
• MIL at CHI (MIL -3) O/U: 238
• ORL at TOR (TOR -8) O/U: 220
• UTA at NOP (UTA -3.5) O/U: 228
• MIN at OKC (MIN -7,5) O/U: 230
• HOU at DEN (DEN -13.5) O/U: 233.5
• NYK at PHX (PHX -6) O/U: 224

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

Injury Report

• Myles Turner (foot) OUT
• Collin Sexton (knee) OUT
• Caris LeVert (foot) OUT
• Trae Young (ankle) Questionable
• John Collins (foot) OUT
• Bradley Beal (wrist) OUT
• Kristaps Porzingis (foot) Questionable
• Alex Caruso (hand) OUT
• Lonzo Ball (knee) OUT
• Brook Lopez (back) OUT
• Fred VanVleet (knee) Questionable
• OG Anunoby (hand) Questionable
• Zion Williamson (foot) OUT
• Anthony Edwards (knee) Questionable
• Josh Giddey hip) OUT
• Luguentz Dort (shoulder) OUT
• Michael Porter Jr (back) OUT
• Jamal Murray (knee) OUT
• Derrick Rose (ankle) OUT
• Kemba Walker (NY dysfunction) OUT
• Chris Paul (hand) OUT
• Devin Booker (COVID) OUT

Core Plays

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (PG/SG – OKC): $10,300 DraftKings, $10,200 FanDuel
Giddey was an animal when filling in for SGA, but it’s Gilgeous-Alexander’s time to thrive now that Giddey is injured. Over his last 13 games played, SGA is averaging 28.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He’s scored at least 48 DraftKings points in nine of those, averaging 50 fantasy points per game in that span. That should be easy to duplicate here, with the T’Wolves ranked third in pace.

Malcolm Brogdon (PG – IND): $7,600 DraftKings, $7,200 FanDuel
Brogdon has had a hard time staying healthy, but this dude is a stud whenever he’s on the floor. If you take out the two games he got injured, Brogdon has at least 22 DK points in all of the other 29 games he’s played, posting a 38-point average in them. He’s also coming off a season-high 65 DK points in his most recent outing, and we can’t overlook that form against a 26th-ranked Detroit defense.

Cameron Johnson (SF/PF – PHX): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
Cam is having a breakout season, and he will be one of the focal points of this Phoenix offense, with CP3 and Booker both sidelined. He already scored at least 30 DK points in four of his previous five games, and that looks like his floor with the Suns two primary playmakers out of the lineup. We certainly don’t mind that he faces a 19th-ranked Knicks defense either.

Cash Game Considerations

Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,600 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
We repeat these stats in every article, but it’s easy to understand why. The Joker is the best cash game option on every slate, scoring at least 40 DraftKings points in all but one game this season. That floor is matched with an astounding average, leading the NBA with over 60 DK points per game. That makes him worthy against anyone, but Houston surrenders the most fantasy points to opposing centers as well.

Rudy Gobert (C – UTA): $8,200 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel
Gobert is leading the NBA with 15 rebounds per game, and that’s a testament to how good of a cash game player he can be. Rudy has at least 27 DK points in 44 of 47 games this season, generating a career-high 43 fantasy points per game. He’s crushed New Orleans over recent years, too, scoring at least 35 fantasy points in six of their last eight meetings.

Cameron Payne (PG – PHX): $4,800 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
Payne was limited in his first game back on Wednesday, but he still had 25 DK points across 20 minutes of play. There’s no telling how much he would have played if that weren’t a 30-point blowout, but we do know that he’s going to be the primary ball-handler in the absence of Paul. He was a stud in that role last season, averaging 41 DK points per game in his three starts.

GPP Targets

Clint Capela (C – ATL): $6,200 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel
As long as Capela gets minutes, he needs to be $1,000 more on each site. He’s averaging 1.2 DK points per game for the season and has seen his workload creep closer to 30 minutes with Collins sidelined. If you look at the 26 games Cap has played more than 28 minutes, he’s averaging 38 fantasy points per game! The best part of this is the matchup, though, with Washington surrendering the third-most fantasy points to opposing centers. In their most recent meeting, Clint collected a cool 40 fantasy points!

Will Barton (SG – DEN): $5,800 DraftKings, $5,700 FanDuel
As a Denver fan, it’s frustrating to watch this guy play. In any case, he always seems to do well in good matchups, and this is the best one possible. Not only do the Rockets play the fastest pace in the NBA, but they also rank dead-last in points allowed and defensive efficiency. We love that with Barton’s upside, scoring at least 32 DraftKings points in their two matchups this season.

Patrick Beverley (PG/SG – MIN): $5,000 DraftKings, $4,700 FanDuel
Pat-Bev doesn’t have much upside, but this pricing is silly. Beverley has at least 23 DraftKings points in 24 of his last 26 games, flirting with a 30-point average in that span. That’s ridiculous from a $5K player, and it makes no sense why he remains so affordable. Getting to face the Thunder is the icing on the cake, though, with OKC owning a 22nd OPRK against opposing guards.

Value Plays

Jalen Smith (PF/C – IND): $5,200 DraftKings, $5,800 FanDuel
With Turner out for the Pacers, this frontcourt is up for grabs. Indiana decided to acquire Smith at the trade deadline, and it looks like he’s going to be the key guy going forward. He’s scored at least 24 DK points in six of his last seven games, providing a 28-point average across 25 minutes a night in that span. He’s coming off a career-high 37 minutes in his most recent outing, and if he comes anywhere close to that, Jalen should be a $7K player. We already talked about how great of a matchup Detroit is, too, surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing centers.

Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
It looks like Gafford will continue to start at center in Washington. That alone makes him a good value, with Gaff playing at a $6K level in this role earlier this season. If you look at the 37 starts he’s played 15 minutes-plus minutes, DG is averaging 27 DK points per game across 24 minutes a night. That’s a ravishing rate and an unbelievable average from such an affordable player. Not to mention, Atlanta ranks 26th in defensive efficiency ratings.

Mitchell Robinson (C – NYK): $4,900 DraftKings, $5,000 FanDuel
This is just too cheap for a starting center with this sort of ability. Mitch-Rob has been asked to do more in the absence of Nerlens Noel, averaging 24 DK points per game across 25 minutes a night. He’s been even better since Noel went down, scoring at least 45 DK points in three of his last 10 games. That sort of upside is impossible to overlook from a $5K player, and they’re going to need big minutes out of him to oppose Deandre Ayton.

Advantageous Pricing

• Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): $12,600 DraftKings, $11,000 FanDuel
• Daniel Gafford (C – WAS): $4,100 DraftKings, $5,200 FanDuel
• Trae Young (PG – ATL): $10,200 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel
• Tyrese Maxey (PG/SG – PHI): $6,600 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel
• Tre Mann (PG/SG – OKC): $5,500 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel
• Malachi Flynn (PG – TOR): $3,900 DraftKings, $6,200 FanDuel
• Isaiah Roby (PF/C – OKC): $4,600 DraftKings, $6,500 FanDuel
• Deni Avdija (SF/PF – WAS): $4,700 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel
• Precious Achiwua (PF/C – TOR): $4,200 DraftKings, $5,400 FanDuel

Get a $5 bonus when you make your first deposit at FanDuel

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts