This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
There are a total of 12 games in the NBA on Friday night, but FanDuel has paired that down to 10 for its main slate. That naturally still makes for a massive player pool, making it an intriguing night of DFS lineup building as we start the final stretch of the regular season. For those more comfortable with less decisions to make in terms of putting together rosters, it may also be a good night to consider playing one of several smaller slates FD offers throughout the night.
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, 4/5 @11:30 a.m. ET:
Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards (-3) (O/U: 224.0)
Orlando Magic (-12) at Charlotte Hornets (O/U: 205.5)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers (-6) (O/U: 234.5)
*Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics (-9.5) (O/U: 226.0)
Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks (-15) (O/U: 228.5)
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans (-11.5) (O/U: 219.0)
*New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls (-1.5) (O/U: 212.0)
Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies (-1.5) (O/U: 212.5)
*Miami Heat (-2.5) at *Houston Rockets (O/U: 215.0)
*Golden State Warriors at *Dallas Mavericks (-5) (O/U: 226.0)
*denotes team on second night of back-to-back set
As is typically the case with such a large amount of games, we have a bit of everything when it comes to lines and totals Friday. However, spreads are tilting slightly toward the favorable side for us as DFS players, as the three double-digit figures are offset by plenty of games that are projected to be very close.
WIth it being late in the season and some non-contending teams playing a host of backups and fill-ins, we do have more sub-220-point projected totals than usual. Nevertheless, half the games still sport figures of 224 points or higher, helping balance that out.
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 (hamstring): QUESTIONABLE
If Antetokounmpo were to sit out, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis would be big beneficiaries, especially if Damian Lillard also out Friday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC (quadriceps): OUT
With SGA still sidelined, Josh Giddey should once again be a primary beneficiary, while Cason Wallace, who produced 31.7 FD points against the Celtics in a spot start Wednesday, would be in line to run with the first unit again.
Zion Williamson, NOP (finger): QUESTIONABLE
If Williamson sits out, Kenrich Williams is likely due for a start at power forward, while the remainder of the starting five will see even more usage than usual with Brandon Ingram also still sidelined due to his knee injury.
Damian Lillard, MIL (groin): QUESTIONABLE
If Lillard sits out, Patrick Beverley would likely be due for a start if he can play through his ankle issue.
Jaren Jackson, MEM (quadriceps): OUT
In Jackson's absence, Jake LaRavia and GG Jackson could be primary beneficiaries.
Cade Cunningham, DET (knee): OUT
In Cunningham's absence, Malachi Flynn, who exploded for a career-high 50 points off the bench against the Hawks on Wednesday, could draw the start at point guard.
Jaylen Brown, BOS (hand): QUESTIONABLE
If Brown sits out Friday, Sam Hauser could replace him in the starting five.
Other notable injuries:
Kyle Kuzma, WAS (ankle): OUT
OG Anunoby, NYK (elbow): OUT
Julius Randle, NYK (shoulder): OUT
Anfernee Simons, POR (knee): OUT
Brandon Ingram, NOP (knee): OUT
Desmond Bane, MEM (back): OUT
Jalen Williams, OKC (ankle): DOUBTFUL
Jerami Grant, POR (hamstring): DOUBTFUL
Amen Thompson, HOU (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Andrew Wiggins, GSW (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Jonathan Kuminga, GSW (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Tyler Herro, MIA (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Myles Turner, IND (finger): QUESTIONABLE
Derrick White, BOS (back): QUESTIONABLE
Patrick Beverley, MIL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Miles Bridges, CHA (wrist): PROBABLE
Brandon Miller, CHA (wrist): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have five players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Luka Doncic ($12,600), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($12,200), Victor Wembanyama ($11,900), Domantas Sabonis ($10,700) and Jayson Tatum ($10,600).
Doncic, who posted yet another game with over 50 FD points Thursday against the Hawks, could be worth every dollar Friday in what should be a highly competitive game against the Warriors.
If Antetokounmpo is cleared to play, he figures to be very heavily involved whether or not Damian Lillard suits up, considering the Bucks have lost two straight to inferior opponents. The big man is also on a tear that's seen him score at least 55.8 FD points in six straight games.
Wembanyama just posted a whopping 81 FD points against the Nuggets on Tuesday with the help of nine blocks, and he comes in with two full days of rest, a particularly valuable commodity this time of season.
Sabonis continues to be a double-double machine and could be facing a Celtics team that will limit the minutes of its starters to some extent now that Boston has clinched home-court edge throughout the postseason.
Tatum carries the aforementioned risk of curtailed minutes due to the Celtics' favorable postseason situation, making him a bit of a shakier selection than usual at his lofty salary.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Tyrese Haliburton, IND ($9,800)
Haliburton appears to be rediscovering his stride as the postseason nears, having scored at least 46.6 FD points in three straight, including more than 50 in the last two.
De'Aaron Fox, GSW ($9,700)
Fox posted another impressive showing Thursday against the Knicks with 55.9 FD points, his second tally over 50 in the last three games.
Jalen Brunson, NYK ($9,400)
Brunson has flashed the upside of a five-figure salary player on multiple occasions this season, most recently doing it Thursday against the Kings with 59.9 FD points.
CJ McCollum, NOP ($8,500)
McCollum could be taking the floor without Zion Williamson in addition to Brandon Ingram and just put up 56 FD points in a tough matchup against the Magic on Wednesday.
Josh Hart, NYK ($7,600)
Hart played through injury Thursday against the Kings to put up 55.8 FD points, the latest in a string of impressive recent performances that should keep him very popular Friday.
Key Values
Scoot Henderson, POR at WAS ($6,800)
I'll start by acknowledging that there's a ton of appealing plays under the $7K level Friday given all the injuries and the size of the slate, hence the very robust "Also Consider" section below this one. That said, Henderson is an intriguing option toward the higher end of that salary range due to both recent performance and matchup. The electric rookie is playing on a Blazers team besieged by injury, and he's averaged 32.3 FD points in what is now a nine-game starting stint. Henderson is shooting an encouraging 37.8 percent from three-point range in that span, and Friday, he takes on a Wizards team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the NBA and that's allowed an Eastern Conference-high 29.5 offensive efficiency rating to point guards. Washington is playing better defense overall lately, but the Wizards are also still allowing the fourth-most FD points per contest on the season to PGs (51.5), furthering Henderson's case.
Bobby Portis, MIL vs. TOR ($6,700)
Portis has been offering strong contributions off the bench throughout the season, and he comes into Friday's favorable matchup having averaged 34.1 FD points over his last nine games on the strength of 15.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 50.0 percent, including 48.1 percent from three-point range. The floor-spacing big man could actually be due for an even bigger role Friday if Giannis Antetokounmpo sits out with his hamstring injury, but Portis is a good play under any circumstance against a Raptors team ranked No. 23 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to power forwards (28.6) and No. 26 in that category against second-unit players (44.2). What's more, Toronto is giving up an NBA-high 53.9 FD points per contest to power forwards in the last 15 games, making Portis all the more appealing.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, GSW at DAL ($6,500)
Jackson-Davis continues to serve as a formidable force down low for the Warriors, most recently having put up a career-high 20 points against the Rockets on Thursday on the way to 37 FD points. That was the rookie's fifth tally of 32 FD points or more in the last nine games, excellent returns at his current salary. The Mavericks could help facilitate another strong showing Friday, considering Dallas is conceding 56.4 FD points per contest to centers in the last 30 games and ranks No. 19 in points in the paint allowed per contest (51.0).
ALSO CONSIDER: P.J. Washington, DAL vs. GSW ($6,200); GG Jackson, MEM vs. DET ($5,900); Malachi Flynn, DET at MEM ($5,400); Jake LaRavia, MEM vs. DET ($5,100); Cason Wallace, OKC at IND ($4,600)
