We have a typically robust Friday night nine-game slate of NBA Cup Group Play action with plenty of elevated totals and intriguing matchups. The injury report is also relatively light, making it solid for DFS roster construction.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, Nov. 21 @12:00 p.m. ET:
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (-13.5) (O/U: 239.5)
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors (-13.5) (O/U: 239.5)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics (-15.5) (O/U: 222.5)
Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls (-2.5) (O/U: 249.5)
New Orleans Pelicans at Dallas Mavericks (-4) (O/U: 233.5)
Minnesota Timberwolves (-4.5) at Phoenix Suns (O/U: 233.5)
Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets (-2.5) (O/U: 234.5)
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (-7.5) (O/U: 238.0)
Oklahoma City Thunder (-16.5) at Utah Jazz (O/U: 234.5)
Friday's betting landscape is a true mixed bag as we have a trio of double-digit favorites while eight of the nine games carry totals north of 233 points, so we should be in for plenty of rewarding individual performances where taking down tournaments will require elevated cumulative scoring.
The best overall DFS environment on paper is clearly Heat-Bulls given the projected total and the fact both teams play at a top-7 pace.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Anthony Davis, DAL (calf): OUT
In Davis's ongoing absence, P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall should continue to be primary beneficiaries.
Alex Sarr, WAS (toe): QUESTIONABLE
If Sarr is sidelined on Friday, Tristan Vukcevic and Anthony Gill may handle the majority of minutes at center.
Shaedon Sharpe, POR (calf): QUESTIONABLE
In Sharpe isn't able to go, Sidy Cissoko and Kris Murray are likely to continue absorbing plenty of shooting guard action while the remainder of the starting five will see elevated usage.
Darius Garland, CLE (toe): QUESTIONABLE
If Garland is sidelined again, Donovan Mitchell will keep receiving additional ball-handling opportunities and Craig Porter could be up for more minutes.
Other notable injuries:
Tyler Herro, MIA (ankle): OUT
Jalen Williams, OKC (wrist): OUT
Andrew Wiggins, MIA (hip): OUT
Kelly Oubre, PHI (knee): OUT
Grayson Allen, PHO (quadriceps): OUT
Jarrett Allen, CLE (finger): QUESTIONABLE
Jaden McDaniels, MIN (wrist): QUESTIONABLE
Jrue Holiday, POR (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Jabari Smith, HOU (knee): QUESTIONABLE
Aaron Gordon, DEN (hamstring): PROBABLE
Jerami Grant, POR (illness): PROBABLE
Jimmy Butler, GSW (back): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have two players with five-figure salaries on Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($12,800) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,000).
Jokic does have a tough matchup against the Rockets, though he's been even more prolific than usual over his last six games by scoring over 63 FD points in five while churning out four triple-doubles.
Gilgeous-Alexander does carry a bit of risk due to the Thunder being 16.5-point favorites against the Jazz, but gets a favorable matchup and checks in having posted 50-plus FD points from five of the last six.
Go to RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Alperen Sengun, HOU ($9,900)
Sengun has recorded between 52.7 and 68.5 FD during his last three outings to make him very popular at his salary on Friday.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($9,400)
Mitchell had a bit of a dip last time out with only 29.6 FD, yet managed at least 45.5 in the eight previous appearances while carrying an appealing ceiling for his salary.
Deni Avdija, POR ($9,400)
Avdija went off for 67.7 FD against the Bulls on Wednesday, and a clear 50-plus ceiling should get him on many rosters.
Josh Giddey, CHI ($9,300)
Giddey will be an integral part of a matchup with the highest projected total and comes in averaging 47.9 FD on the season.
Julius Randle, MIN ($9,000)
Randle has notched between 47.7 and 54.1 FD from four of his last five and will be a big part of a competitive matchup against the Suns.
Key Values
Norman Powell, MIA at CHI ($7,300)
Powell's salary is a bit higher than what I would normally include in this section, but the sharpshooting veteran is a warranted an exception on Friday. The projected total of 249.5 points for Heat-Bulls is the first factor that makes him stand out while his overall body of work plays a significant part. Powell checks in averaging a career-high 25.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while tying his peak of 1.2 steals. He's also draining a career-high 49.5 percent - including 47.0 from behind the arc - while averaging 36.3 FD over the last seven. Powell encouragingly put up 38.7 FD across 28 minutes against the Warriors on Wednesday despite Bam Adebayo's return to the floor and will face a Bulls team surrendering the fourth-most FD points to shooting guards during the last seven games (47.4).
Jakob Poeltl, TOR vs. WAS ($6,300)
Poeltl has considerably picked up the pace after an uneven start having averaging 34.1 FD over the last six outings on the strength of 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals. The big man is always a threat for a double-double and his blocks may have decreased (0.5) compared to previous years, though he's facing a Wizards team allowing an Eastern Conference-high 6.1 per home matchup. They're also conceding the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to centers (38.4) and the second-most FD points to the position overall (64.7).
Naz Reid, MIN at PHO ($5,800)
Reid has had his share of clunkers during the first month, yet comes into Friday hot averaging 38.5 FD across four appearances. The veteran big man has gotten to that figure by putting up 20.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 55.2 percent - with 48.3 from deep. Reid is averaging a solid 24.3 minutes off the bench and will be facing a Suns team ranked 19th in offensive efficiency surrendered to second-unit players (46.5).
ALSO CONSIDER: Ajay Mitchell, OKC at UTA ($6,100); Davion Mitchell, MIA at CHI ($5,700)
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