This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have another three-game playoff slate on tap Friday, and this one is a bit different in that it kicks off in the late afternoon with the Bucks-Pacers tilt. We also have three notable names on the injury report, something to monitor as tip-off for each of their games approaches.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, April 26 @ 11:30 a.m. EDT:
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers (-6) (O/U: 223.5)
Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks (-4.5) (O/U: 213.0)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns (-4.5) (O/U: 208.0)
The Pacers' status as the biggest favorites of the slate isn't too surprising when considering Giannis Antetokounmpo's likely absence and a potential one for Khris Middleton as well. The Mavs having a 4.5-point projected advantage is understandable also given they're at home and Kawhi Leonard appears legitimately questionable for the Clippers, but the bigger surprise might be the Suns' line, given how effective Minnesota's defense has been in the first two games.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (calf): DOUBTFUL
In Antetokounmpo's likely ongoing absence, Bobby Portis should continue to handle power forward duties while Damian Lillard's usage should go through the roof.
Kawhi Leonard, LAC (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Leonard sits, Amir Coffey is likely to reenter the starting five, while Paul George and James Harden should be major beneficiaries in terms of usage.
Khris Middleton, MIL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Should Middleton not be able to go, Pat Connaughton or Jae Crowder could cover starting small forward duties.
Other notable injuries:
Grayson Allen, PHO (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Friday's slate – Luka Doncic ($12,100) and Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,200).
Doncic has been excellent in the first two matchups this series with tallies of 56.6 and 55.7 FD points, and he should be just as heavily involved in Game 3 at home. He also could have an easier path to production if Kawhi Leonard isn't available.
Antetokounmpo doesn't appear to have a realistic chance of playing due to his calf injury.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Damian Lillard, MIL ($9,700)
Lillard is shooting 46.7 percent -- including 50.0 percent from distance -- over the first two games of the sereis while averaging 46 FD points, and he's projected to once again take the floor without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Anthony Edwards, MIN ($9,600)
Edwards still managed 42 FD points in Game 2 despite going 3-for-12 from the field, following a tally of 52.8 FD points in Game 1.
Kyrie Irving, DAL ($9,400)
Irving has been somewhat overshadowed by Doncic, yet he's been impressive over the first two games of the series while averaging 45.5 FD points and shooting 50.0 percent.
Pascal Siakam, IND ($9,200)
Siakam has averaged a stellar 60.9 FD points over the first two games of the series while capitalizing on Giannis' absence in the Bucks frontcourt, a figure that should keep him highly rostered at his salary Friday.
James Harden, LAC ($8,800)
Harden has significantly stepped up his offense so far this series while scoring over 46 FD points in each of the first two games, solid returns on his current salary.
Key Values
Ivica Zubac, LAC at DAL ($6,600)
Zubac has stood out over the first two games of the series, putting up 16.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal per contest on his way to an average of 36.5 FD points. Not only is his signature work on the boards impressive, but the fact he took 17 and 12 shots in those contests is very encouraging and bodes well for his chances of replicating his solid numbers Friday. That would be even more likely were Kawhi Leonard to sit out, as Zubac posted 44.5 FD points without his teammate on the floor in Game 1 and is averaging 42.5 FD points per 36 minutes without Kawhi since the start of the regular season.
Brook Lopez, MIL at IND ($6,100)
Lopez has unsurprisingly helped fill the void of Antetokounmpo's absence over the first two games of the series, averaging 16.5 points, 3.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 56.5 percent, including 63.6 percent from behind the arc. The big man has posted tallies of 28.3 and 33.7 FD points in those contests, and he also generated 28.1 and 40.5 FD points against Indiana in two of their four regular-season meetings. Lopez is now averaging 37.1 FD points per 36 minutes with Giannis off the floor since the start of the campaign, while the Pacers rank 23rd in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to centers (32.5).
Russell Westbrook, LAC at DAL ($5,600)
Westbrook has played a key role off the bench this series with averages of 10.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. The future Hall of Famer has averaged a solid 26.6 FD points during that stretch and is even shooting 42.9 percent from three-point range on seven attempts. While efficiency can sometimes be a problem, Westbrook also shot 55.2 percent against the Mavs across three regular-season meetings, and Dallas has allowed 47.2 percent shooting to opposing second-unit players since the start of the season, along with the eighth-highest offensive efficiency rating to point guards (28.9).
ALSO CONSIDER: P.J. Washington, LAC at DAL ($6,300); Jaden McDaniels, MIN at PHO ($5,300)
