This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
We have what might be considered a modest slate for a Friday since only seven games are on tap. The injury report has some big names on it, including a trio of best big men in the game, but with 14 teams in action, we'll still have a nicely sized player pool to work with.
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, 1/10 @ 11:30 a.m. EST:
New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (-5) (O/U: 220.5)
Milwaukee Bucks (-6.5) at Orlando Magic (O/U: 210.5)
Golden State Warriors at Indiana Pacers (-8) (O/U: 224.0)
Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics (-10.5) (O/U: 229.0)
Oklahoma City Thunder (-3.5) at New York Knicks (O/U: 225.5)
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls (-11.5) (O/U: 243.0)
Brooklyn Nets at Denver Nuggets (-15.5) (O/U: 219.0)
Point spreads paint a mixed picture Friday, as we have the undesirable development of three double-digit favorites, which ups the chances of unpredictable minutes for some big names on either side. That's not really offset by a bunch of other games with narrow lines either, as we have only one team favored by fewer than five points.
Projected totals point us firmly in one of two directions as DFS players – the Kings-Celtics and Wizards-Bulls clashes. There's certainly good reason to have faith in the numbers cited for each game, and the Warriors-Pacers battle also seemingly has potential to take off.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Nikola Jokic, DEN (illness): QUESTIONABLE
If Jokic sits again, DeAndre Jordan could be in line for another start while Dario Saric would also get expanded time off the bench.
Joel Embiid, PHI (foot): OUT
In Embiid's ongoing absence and that of Andre Drummond's (toe), Guerschon Yabusele should lead the way at center.
Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Towns can't go, Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa would handle the majority of center minutes with Jalen Brunson likely gaining the biggest usage boost among the Knicks' starting five.
De'Aaron Fox, SAC (glute): QUESTIONABLE
Should Fox be forced to miss out, Malik Monk could shift over to point guard and the rest of the starting five would also see an increase in opportunity.
Tyrese Haliburton, IND (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Haliburton can't play, T.J. McConnell would be in line to start at point guard.
Stephen Curry, GSW (knee): OUT
With Curry sidelined, Dennis Schroder is likely to assume primary ball-handling duties.
Other notable injuries:
Paolo Banchero, ORL (oblique): OUT
Chet Holmgren, OKC (hip): OUT
Jalen Suggs, ORL (back): OUT
Cameron Johnson, BKN (ankle): OUT
Cam Thomas, BKN (hamstring): OUT
Trey Murphy, NOP (ankle): OUT
Jonathan Kuminga, GSW (knee): OUT
Draymond Green, GSW (back): OUT
Andrew Wiggins, GSW (personal): OUT
D'Angelo Russell, BKN (lower leg): OUT
Brandon Ingram, NOP (ankle): OUT
Herbert Jones, NOP (shoulder): OUT
Franz Wagner, ORL (oblique): OUT
Jonathan Kuminga, GSW (ankle): OUT
Malcolm Brogdon, WAS (foot): OUT
Andre Drummond, PHI (toe): OUT
Aaron Gordon, DEN (calf): DOUBTFUL
Jordan Poole, WAS (hip): QUESTIONABLE
Dejounte Murray, NOP (elbow): QUESTIONABLE
Alexandre Sarr, WAS (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Paul George, PHI (groin): PROBABLE
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (knee): PROBABLE
Damian Lillard, MIL (calf): PROBABLE
Khris Middleton, MIL (ankles): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have five players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($12,800), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,800), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,400), Karl-Anthony Towns ($10,300) and Jayson Tatum ($10,200).
Jokic has missed the last two games with an illness, so his status will naturally have to be closely monitored. If he suits up, he'll be looking to extend an incredible streak of games with over 80 FD points to three.
Antetokounmpo has scored over 55 FD points in four of the last five games, including one tally of 62.1 in that stretch.
SGA has scored over 52 FD points in five of the last six games, scoring at least 31 actual points in all of those contests.
Like Jokic, Towns' availability is in question Friday, but if he's cleared to play, he'll be looking to post his fifth straight game with over 56 FD points.
Tatum has scored 43.5 to 63.1 FD points in three of the last four games and should be in for a full allotment of minutes in what could be a wire-to-wire battle with the Kings.
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Domantas Sabonis, SAC ($9,700)
Sabonis is coming off having scored 65.1 FD points against the Heat on Monday and will be entering Friday's game with a nice allotment of rest, which should help make him very popular.
Tyrese Maxey, PHI ($9,200)
Maxey will once again take the floor without Embiid on Friday and has scored 48 and 46.6 FD points in his last two games, which should make him very popular at his salary.
Jalen Brunson, NYK ($8,800)
Brunson could take the floor without Karl-Anthony Towns and has tallies of 69.1 and 52.4 FD points within his last six games, all factors that should make him very popular at his salaries.
Jalen Williams, OKC ($8,500)
Williams is averaging 38 FD points over his last 10 games and has eclipsed 41 FD points on four occasions in that span, affording him a ceiling that will keep him highly rostered at his salary.
Paul George, PHI ($7,400)
George is listed as probable to return from a one-game absence and like Maxey, should be one of the prime beneficiaries of another Embiid absence.
Key Values
Guerschon Yabusele, PHI vs. NOP ($5,900)
Yabusele is yet another candidate to thrive without Embiid on the floor Friday, as the former has already proven amply capable of capitalizing in such instances recently. Most recently, Yabusele has scored 30.5 and 43.1 FD points in the last two games without Embiid, and he's now averaging 31.4 FD points per 36 minutes when not sharing the court with the latter. With Andre Drummond still out Friday as well due to a toe injury, Yabusele should see another full workload and is facing a Pelicans team that's ranked No. 27 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to centers (29.8) and surrendering the fourth-most FD points per game (59.0) to the position on the season. New Orleans is also giving up a Western Conference-high 53.8 points in the paint per game, furthering Yabusele's case down low.
Jonas Valanciunas, WAS at CHI ($5,700)
Valanciunas continues to come off the bench for the most part but did draw a spot start Wednesday, scoring 27.3 FD points over just 21 minutes against the 76ers. The veteran big man is averaging an impressive 30.2 FD points over his last nine games, a stretch where he's averaging just under a double-double (13.0 points, 9.4 rebounds). Valanciunas has scored at least 30 FD points in 14 of 35 games overall thus far, and he draws a premium matchup Friday versus a Bulls team ranked No. 29 in offensive efficiency rating allowed to centers (33.3) and surrendering the second-most FD points per game to fives (66.6) in the last seven contests. Valanciunas just scored 35.2 FD points in only 21 minutes against Chicago on New Year's Day as well, another factor that brightens his outlook.
Keon Johnson, BKN at DEN ($5,500)
D'Angelo Russell, Cam Thomas and Cameron Johnson will all remain out for the Nets on Friday, opening up plenty of usage for the rest of the starting five. Johnson turned in a bit of a dud Wednesday against the Pistons in the form of 16.7 FD points, but he'd averaged 28.5 per contest in the eight games prior with a well-rounded line of 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The fourth-year pro's inconsistent shooting efficiency can cap his upside on occasion, yet Johnson is averaging 30.4 FD points per 36 minutes without his trio of teammates on the floor and is facing a Nuggets team that's ranked No. 24 in offensive efficiency rating surrendered to shooting guards (25.1) and has conceded an NBA-high 48.8 FD points per game to twos in the last 15 games.
