After nothing on Thanksgiving, the NBA is back in full force for another full Friday night of NBA Cup Group Play action. Our player pool also gives us plenty of options at all salary cap levels.
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, Nov. 28 @12:00 p.m. EST:
Orlando Magic at Detroit Pistons (-3) (O/U: 232.5)
Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers (-6.5) (O/U: 240.5)
Philadelphia 76ers (-7.5) at Brooklyn Nets (O/U: 222.5)
Chicago Bulls (-2.5) at Charlotte Hornets (O/U: 248.5)
Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks (-8.5) (O/U: 232.5)
Cleveland Cavaliers (-6.5) at Atlanta Hawks (O/U: 235.5)
Sacramento Kings at Utah Jazz (-2) (O/U: 242.5)
Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder (-15.5) (O/U: 225.5)
San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets (-7.5) (O/U: 238.5)
Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Clippers (-6) (O/U: 224.5)
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers (-10) (O/U: 230.5)
The betting metrics project an encouraging night for DFS with only two double-digit favorites among the 11 games and no shortage of elevated totals. Af first glance, the best pure DFS environment seems to clearly be Bulls-Hornets, though Kings-Jazz isn't far behind.
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 (thigh): QUESTIONABLE
Giannis is questionable to make his return from a multi-game absence. But if he sits out again Friday, Gary Trent Jr. could remain in the starting five and Bobby Portis will be in line for expanded opportunity off the bench.
Joel Embiid, PHI (knee): OUT
In Embiid's absence, Andre Drummond is likely to draw a start at center and Tyrese Maxey should be up for even more usage than usual.
Nikola Vucevic, CHI (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Vucevic can't go, Jalen Smith should start at center while Josh Giddey will be set for additional usage.
VJ Edgecombe, PHI (calf): OUT
With Edgecombe's sidelined, Quentin Grimes could get another spot start at shooting guard.
Michael Porter, BKN (back): OUT
As Porter will be unavailable, Ziaire Williams would most likely start at small forward while the rest of the first unit receives a collective bump in usage.
Other notable injuries:
Trae Young, ATL (knee): OUT
Paolo Banchero, ORL (groin): OUT
Victor Wembanyama, SAN (calf): OUT
Ja Morant, MEM (calf): OUT
Paolo Banchero, ORL (groin): OUT
Aaron Gordon, DEN (hamstring): OUT
OG Anunoby, NYK (hamstring): OUT
Grayson Allen, PHO (quadriceps): OUT
Coby White, CHI (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Andrew Nembhard, IND (quadriceps): QUESTIONABLE
Kyshawn George, WAS (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Paul George, PHI (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Deandre Ayton, LAL (knee): PROBABLE
Jarrett Allen, CLE (finger): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We have seven players with five-figure salaries who have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Nikola Jokic ($12,700), Luka Doncic ($12,600), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($11,100), Cade Cunningham ($10,600), Tyrese Maxey ($10,400) and Jalen Johnson ($10,100).
Jokic essentially carries a floor of 50 FD points and won't have to contend with Victor Wembanyama down low on Friday to enhance his prospects.
Doncic is coming off 76.3 FD against the Clippers with at least 61.2 in four straight.
Antetokounmpo still remains very questionable to return on Friday, yet would be a play worth considering if he were cleared.
Gilgeous-Alexander has posted 50-plus FD during three of his last four, including 64.2 against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Cunningham has also gone over 50 FD in three of four and just dropped 61.1 against the Celtics on Wednesday.
Maxey only managed 29.1 FD across 31 minutes against Orlando on Tuesday, though racked up 86.5 three games ago and will once again take the floor Friday without multiple significant teammates.
Johnson also dipped (29.9 FD) against the Wizards in his most recent matchup, but has regularly exceeded 45 during Trae Young's ongoing absence.
Visit RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
James Harden, LAC ($9,800)
Harden put up 49.5 FD against the Lakers on Tuesday and also recorded 70.1 versus the Hornets three games ago.
Josh Giddey, CHI ($9,700)
Giddey is averaging 47.3 FD on the season and may take the floor without Nikola Vucevic, factors that should keep his roster rate elevated.
Karl-Anthony Towns, NYK ($9,600)
KAT scored 63.9 FD earlier in the week while his significant upside usually makes him a popular choice.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($9,300)
Mitchell is averaging 45.9 FD while facing a favorable matchup against the shorthanded Hawks a a fairly reasonable salary.
Jalen Brunson, NYK ($9,300)
Brunson has scored 27 actual points or more in four straight with a significant offensive floor.
Key Values
Keegan Murray, SAC at UTA ($6,200)
Murray has been busy making up for lost time after his delayed season debut by averaging 44.1 FD across 30 minutes over the last three games. The talented forward has gotten there with a well-rounded 21.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks on 49.0 percent shooting. Murray is averaging 16.3 shot attempts during that stretch and faces a Jazz team on Friday surrendering a Western Conference-high 128.6 points per home matchup and 51.3 percent shooting across their last three outings. Utah is also yielding a league-high 31.8 assists at home along with the second-most steals (10.7) and third-most blocks (6.0). It's also worth noting they're giving up the fifth-most FD per game to power forwards from the last seven (51.2) to make this an excellent all-around matchup expected to have one of Friday's best DFS environments.
Brandon Miller, CHA vs. CHI ($6,100)
Miller is another lower-salaried player who should have a chance to thrive in very DFS-friendly conditions. The third-year wing has been solid in the two games he's played since returning from a shoulder injury having averaged 31 FD points on the strength of 19.5 points, 3.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals across 27 minutes a night. Miller is only shooting only 43.3 percent over that span, so even a slight uptick against a vulnerable Bulls squad could lead to him overdelivering on his salary. Chicago is also conceding an average of 127.2 points on the road where Miller should get a bunch of fantasy points in matchup boasting Friday's highest projected total.
Anthony Black, ORL at DET ($5,600)
Black came through as a value option on Tuesday against the 76ers with 36.7 FD across 28 minutes off the bench. That was an extension of what had already been an extended run of strong production as he's averaging 31.7 FD over the last six while shooting 52.7 percent - including 39.1 percent from deep - while exceeding 32 FD four times. The Pistons aren't the most appealing on-paper matchup, though they're ranked 20th in offensive efficiency rating allowed to two-guards (24.7).
ALSO CONSIDER: Ajay Mitchell, OKC vs. PHO ($5,800); Ryan Kalkbrenner, CHA vs. CHI ($5,300)
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