After a star-studded Christmas slate, we're primed for a big Friday with nine games. There are no teams on the second leg of a back-to-back, so we should see some relatively fresh legs on a night projected for plenty of competitive matchups.
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, Dec. 26 @11:45 a.m. EST:
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks (-3.5) (O/U: 248.5)
Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic (-6) (O/U: 230.5)
Toronto Raptors (-7.5) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 225.5)
Boston Celtics (-8.5) at Indiana Pacers (O/U: 221.5)
Philadelphia 76ers (-1.5) at Chicago Bulls (O/U: 239.5)
Phoenix Suns (-5.5) at New Orleans Pelicans (O/U: 238.5)
Milwaukee Bucks at Memphis Grizzlies (-5.5) (O/U: 228.5)
Detroit Pistons (-10) at Utah Jazz (O/U: 244.5)
Los Angeles Clippers (-1) at Portland Trail Blazers (O/U: 226.5)
The betting metrics paint a solid outlook for Friday as even the one double-digit favorite (Pistons) is on the road in a matchup that will feature enough useful fantasy performances. We also have what should be a premium DFS environment for Heat-Hawks and a few other high totals projecting plenty of upside.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Joel Embiid, PHI (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Embiid is sidelined, Andre Drummond should draw a spot start while Tyrese Maxey and Paul George will see their usage increase.
Ja Morant, MEM (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Morant remains out, Cam Spencer could start again at point guard while Jaren Jackson would benefit from additional usage.
Bam Adebayo, MIA (back): DOUBTFUL
In Adebayo's likely absence, Kel'el Ware would go at center with the remainder of the first unit receiving a boost.
Scottie Barnes, TOR (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Barnes was added to the injury report Friday morning, so if he can't play the likes of Ochai Agbaji and Jamison Battle could share power forward minutes while Immanuel Quickley and Brandon Ingram would enjoy even more opportunity than usual.
Other notable injuries:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL (calf): OUT
Tyler Herro, MIA (toe): OUT
Ivica Zubac, LAC (ankle): OUT
Franz Wagner, ORL (ankle): OUT
Jerami Grant, POR (Achilles): OUT
Kristaps Porzingis, ATL (illness): OUT
Grayson Allen, PHO (knee): OUT
RJ Barrett, TOR (knee): OUT
Jakob Poeltl, TOR (back): OUT
Jalen Suggs, ORL (hip): DOUBTFUL
VJ Edgecombe, PHI (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries that have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Jalen Johnson ($11,000), Cade Cunningham ($10,700) and Tyrese Maxey ($10,200).
Johnson has continued to thrive despite the recent return of Trae Young by scoring 60.7 and 53.8 FD points during his last two games and a recent 71.7. He'll also be a central figure in what could be Friday's best game environment.
Cunningham gets a premium matchup against the Jazz and comes in having topped 51 FD from four of his last five.
Maxey could be taking the floor without both Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe, which would make him even more appealing going up against the Bulls.
Go to RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Jaylen Brown, BOS ($9,800)
Brown has posted between 49.3 and 62.1 FD over his last three outings, which would make him closer to the upside of someone with a five-figure salary.
Paolo Banchero, ORL ($9,700)
Banchero didn't do well against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday, though managed between 41.9 and 61.2 FD during the three previous matchups.
Deni Avdija, POR ($9,600)
Avdija has delivered over 41 FD in five straight, so that safe floor should continue to lock him into plenty of rosters.
Josh Giddey, CHI ($9,500)
Giddey will be a key part of what should be a fast-paced, high-scoring game against the 76ers while supplying between 47.7 and 58.7 FD in three of his last four.
James Harden, LAC ($9,300)
Harden could be due for some extra usage with Ivica Zubac sidelined while producing 43.8 and 44.8 FD from his last two appearances.
Key Values
Mark Williams, PHO at NOP ($5,700)
Williams sees the occasional dip due to less court time, but he continues to offer excellent numbers on a per-minute basis and should be due for a normal workload for Friday's favorable matchup. The talented big man is averaging 31 FD over his last 13 games while registering 14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals. The Pelicans conceded 20.9 FD in only 20 minutes to Williams back on Nov. 10 while surrendering the fifth-most FD to centers (58.7) along with a Western Conference-high 56.4 points in the paint per home matchup - with 76.0 percent of Williams' scoring coming there.
Tobias Harris, DET at UTA ($5,600)
There are many Pistons with positive fantasy outlooks for Friday's highly favorable matchup against Utah, who are allowing a Western Conference-high 129.5 points at home and a league-high 109.3 possessions. Harris shapes up as a solid value having averaged 24.6 FD during his last 12 games on the strength of 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists. The Jazz are an appealing target considering they've conceded 48.3 FD to power forwards through the last 15 games and 49.2 percent shooting overall.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, TOR at WAS ($5,000)
Mamukelashvili is in line for another start on Friday due to Jakob Poeltl already listed out and produced 33.7 FD across 27 minutes against the Heat in a run with the first unit on Tuesday. The big man has averaged 32.1 FD from his five starts this season, including one at 40.1. The matchup against the Wizards could hardly be better for another strong performance as they're surrendering an Eastern Conference-high 62.7 FD to centers on the year and the third-most points in the paint per home game (55.5). As a bonus, Washington is also conceding a co-NBA-high 15.3 made threes at home while Mamukelashvili is shooting a blistering 41.2 percent from deep.
ALSO CONSIDER: Andre Drummond, PHI at CHI ($6,000)
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