This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We're in for a nine-game slate this Friday evening, as we get things started with the Lakers at the Heat, the Rockets at the Magic and the Pelicans at the 76ers at 7:00 PM Eastern time. The night will conclude with the Knicks visiting the Kings, with tipoff scheduled for 10:00 PM Eastern.
Although we're well into the season, here's another quick reminder that FanDuel has gone back to their old format, counting all nine of your player's scores within your lineup. With each selection counting towards your score, it'll be important to make each choice count.
Without further delay, let's dive into Friday's slate!
Slate Overview
Here are a few matchups to either target or avoid on this slate, based on FanDuel Sportsbook's projected scoring total. It can be beneficial to add players to your lineup who are expected to play in favorable scoring environments, especially if you're having a difficult time choosing between two value plays.
Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves (Projected Total: 230.0)
Both the Clippers and Timberwolves rank in the league's top-10 in team scoring average, with LA averaging 115 points and Minnesota putting up 114.6 points per game. On the flip side of this, the Timberwolves certainly don't have one of the better defenses in the league allowing 117.8 PPG, setting the stage for a high-scoring affair. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will be expected to carry the offensive load for the Clippers, averaging 24.9 and 23.2 points respectively. For the T-Wolves, it'll be Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns tasked with keeping their team in this one.
New York Knicks at Sacramento Kings (Projected Total: 207.0)
With eight other games on the docket for Friday night, this contest should be on your radar as one to avoid. These two teams have combined for a total of 16 wins on the season and could very well turn this into a stinker. The Knicks rank last in the league when it comes to scoring, putting up 101 points per contest on the season. The Kings aren't far behind, averaging 105.2 points as a team. It wouldn't be shocking if this matchup turned into an offensive struggle.
Positional Breakdown
We have a nine-game slate in front of us to kick off the weekend, so it shouldn't be too difficult to differentiate your lineups. I'll take you through each position, highlighting the depth of each position and a few value plays to keep an eye out for.
PG: Russell Westbrook checks in as the priciest option at guard, and he's followed by Trae Young ($9,600) and Ben Simmons ($8,800). We also have plenty of starting talent for cheap, such as Kendrick Nunn ($5,500) and Lonzo Ball ($6,000). There's plenty to ponder here.
SG: James Harden is unsurprisingly the top choice at shooting guard, as he'll carry one of the highest price tags of the night at $12,200. Jimmy Butler and Donovan Mitchell are also two names to consider if you're looking to deploy an elite player here. Lou Williams (32.14 FanDuel points) and Josh Richardson (27.36 FD points) represent a pair of value plays in my eyes at this position.
SF: One of the biggest question marks of the night is Giannis Antetokounmpo (quadriceps). He was held out of Wednesday's matchup and carries a questionable tag into Friday's clash, making him a risky play considering his $12,000 price tag. LeBron James and Paul George are safer plays when looking for a star at small forward. Joe Ingles ($5,500) could be a sneaky play here, putting up 30-plus points in three straight contests.
PF: Anthony Davis (shoulder) sits atop the board at power forward, and his probable tag shouldn't be a big concern considering he's played in 14 straight games with the same shoulder issue. Kawhi Leonard is the other big name available at power forward for just under $10K. P.J. Tucker and P.J. Washington are valued below $6K and could be worth pairing with a superstar such as Davis or Leonard.
C: Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid are the two players priced above $10K at center, though Clint Capela and Rudy Gobert are also capable of putting up big scoring performances -- they're available for $8,800 and $8,700, respectively. Jaxon Hayes and Brook Lopez will be worth a look if you've elected to pay up elsewhere.
Injury Situations to Monitor
Anthony Davis, LAL
Davis is once again listed as probable due to a lingering shoulder injury. The expectation is that he'll play and take on his usual workload.
Avery Bradley, LAL
Bradley is probable with a leg injury. He returned from a 13-game absence Wednesday and is likely back on the injury report as a precaution.
Kyle Kuzma, LAL
Kuzma is a game-time call due to a sprained left ankle. He was unable to take the court Wednesday against Orlando as a result of the injury.
Tyler Herro, MIA
Herro was added to the injury report due to illness, so how he feels in morning shootaround will likely dictate his availability against the Lakers.
Markelle Fultz, ORL
Fultz has been downgraded to doubtful due to illness. D.J. Augustin figures to draw another start, assuming Fultz is ultimately ruled out.
Nikola Vucevic, ORL
Vucevic has missed the last 10 games due to an ankle injury and isn't expected to make his way back in time for Friday's matchup with Houston. Khem Birch should continue to fill in.
Derrick Favors, NOR
Favors is being considered questionable after being away from the team for nearly a month. He's now back with the Pelicans, though it's unclear as to when he'll be cleared for action.
Zach LaVine, CHI
LaVine was added to the injury report ahead of Friday's matchup due to a shoulder injury, but the team expects him to gain clearance prior to tip.
Wendell Carter Jr., CHI
Carter continues to deal with a laundry list of injuries (abdomen, tailbone, head), though they haven't been enough to keep him out of any action of late. He's probable against the Hornets.
Giannis's status is up in the air due to a quad issue. The team should have a better idea of his availability following morning shootaround.
Eric Paschall, GS
Paschall isn't expected to take the floor Friday against Utah due to hip soreness. Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman should benefit from a minutes standpoint, assuming Paschall is ruled out prior to tip.
Jeff Teague, MIN
Teague carries a questionable tag into Friday because of an ankle injury. He was also considered a game-time call for Wednesday's clash with the same issue, but ended up logging 36 minutes off the bench.
Cory Joseph, SAC
Joseph is probable for Friday's game due to lower back soreness. He figures to start and take on his usual workload assuming nothing changes leading up to tipoff.
Elite
We have the usual suspects in the elite category Friday night, with Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo (quad), Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Karl-Anthony Towns to name a handful.
Looking at elite players valued under $10K, we have Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Trae Young in the backcourt. If we head to the frontcourt, you'll find Paul George, Domantas Sabonis, Clint Capela and Bam Adebayo up for grabs at more reasonable prices than the stars listed above.
There are also plenty of All-Stars in the mid-tier price range, including Andrew Wiggins ($7,500) and Jrue Holiday ($7,600).
Expected Chalk
As with any large slate, it won't be too difficult to differentiate your lineups Friday night. However, the elite players listed above will have high ownership - especially Karl-Anthony Towns, who's expected to play in one of the highest-scoring matchups of the evening. James Harden and LeBron James are also in line to be chalky plays despite their high price tags.
Heading further down the list, D.J. Augustin has a good chance to be a popular value play with Markelle Fultz (illness) considered doubtful. Khem Birch could also be heavily targeted, assuming Nikola Vucevic missed another contest with an ankle injury.
It could be worth keeping an eye on who will slot in at point guard for the Clippers with Patrick Beverley (concussion) out of the mix. Although unless LA announces their starting lineup early, it'll be difficult to know who will pick up the spot start before lineups lock. Derrick Walton Jr. and Jerome Robinson could both be in for more playing time. And Lou Williams could also be in for a heavy workload, making him a popular choice.
Key Values
Marquese Chriss, GS at IND ($3,500):
Chriss is coming off a huge performance Wednesday night against the Knicks, putting up 12 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists on the way to 38 FanDuel points. While he's certainly not a lock to score 30-plus points, he's done so five times in his last 12 contests and is averaging 19.7 FD points on the season. It was also a good sign that Chriss logged 24 minutes in Wednesday's tilt, as it appears he's working his way back into the thick of the rotation. With Draymond Green (rest) ruled out for Friday's game, look for Chriss to see north of 20 minutes against the Pacers.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SAC vs. NY ($4,500):
Bogdanovic draws an enticing matchup Friday evening. And while his game isn't projected to be a high-scoring affair, it's never a bad idea to select a value play going up against an inferior New York squad. He's scored 10 or more points in each of his last three contests, and he's also seeing plenty of playing time by averaging 29.3 minutes over that brief stretch. Bogdanovic could be a nice pair with either James Harden or Jimmy Butler, limiting the amount of cash you need to shell out at shooting guard.
