There are seven NBA games on Friday’s slate.
GSW, LAL, POR and TOR are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
As for injuries, Keldon Johnson is probable. Cade Cunningham, Jaylen Brown, Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Nick Smith Jr., Charles Bassey, Devin Carter, Jordan Walsh are questionable. Tobias Harris, Walker Kessler, Isaiah Stewart, Jaylin Williams, Jeremy Sochan, Cody Williams, Dean Wade are out.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, there are four double-digit favorites: SAC -11 over CHA, IND -15 over UTA, BOS -14 over PHO and CLE -14 over SAS. There is no game within 3 points. There are five games with a total of at least 230: UTA/IND (235.5), DET/TOR (231.5), POR/CHI (240), OKC/HOU (230) and CLE/SAS (239.5). There is no game below 220.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $150K Fadeaway [$50K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets ($11,600): During the 2024 part of this NBA season, SGA failed to hit 40 FPTS six times. Since the calender flipped to 2025, he’s gone over 40 FPTS in every game, with nine of those over 60 FPTS and a high of 81.5 FPTS. The last time he faced Houston, he went for 73.25 FPTS. Yes, he’s expensive, but the floor/ceiling combo is too high while the other lower-priced options aren’t that compelling.
Other Options: Coby White ($8,700), Derrick White ($7,800), Shaedon Sharpe ($7,600), Stephon Castle ($7,400), Jrue Holiday ($6,600), Dennis Schroder ($6,400) if Cunningham is out, Toumani Camara ($6,300), Isaiah Collier ($6,000)
Value
Chris Paul, San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers ($4,300): Amazingly, the soon-to-be 40 year old Paul has not missed a game this season! Over the last five games, he’s received at least 30 minutes in three of those contests, putting up over 20 FPTS in four and 34.25 and 41.25 FPTS in the two most recent games. As long as he plays over 30 minutes, the floor should be in the 20-FPTS range, with the possibility of 40 FPTS, something few of the lower-priced options have a chance of attaining.
Other Options: K.J. Simpson ($4,900), Dalano Banton ($4,800) if he starts, Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,700), Collin Gillespie ($4,500), Ja’Kobe Walter ($4,400), Cason Wallace ($4,200), Talen Horton-Tucker ($3,800) if Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips and Jevon Carter are out
Forward
Stud
Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers at Chicago Bulls ($9,400): There was a time earlier in the season when Avdija was priced in the $5K range. They grow up so fast! On Tuesday, he was priced above $8K for the first time. Now he’s over $9K. The Avdija price is rocketing faster than the Nasdaq is tanking. Over the last seven games, Avdija has put up over 40 FPTS in all, with three over 60 and a high of 72.25 FPTS. Chicago has been playing at the fastest pace over the last 10 games and the Bulls do not have anyone that can handle his size and strength. Maybe Patrick Williams, but he’s only playing around 20 minutes a night.
Other Options: Jayson Tatum ($11,000), Coby White ($8,700), Chet Holmgren ($7,300), Toumani Camara ($6,300), Ausar Thompson ($6,200)
Value
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers vs. Utah Jazz ($3,500): Walker has received at least 22 minutes in each of the last four games, putting up over 20 FPTS in all with a high of 33.25 FPTS. Utah is 11th in pace and dead-last in defensive rating over the last 10 games, as it continues to plant the Flagg. There’s a chance Walker sees playing time in the mid-to-high 20s because a blowout is very likely.
Other Options: Al Horford ($5,700), Matas Buzelis ($5,400), Jabari Smith Jr. ($5,400), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($4,700), Ja’Kobe Walter ($4,400), Jonathan Mogbo ($3,900)
Center
Stud
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder at Houston Rockets ($7,300): The recent FPTS history for Holmgren isn’t inspiring, but zooming in a little closer, the Thunder have been in so many blowouts that the playing time hasn’t been there. On Wednesday, Holmgren played 33 minutes in a competitive game against the Pistons and put up 58.25 FPTS, displaying his all-around game and stuffing the stat sheet. This should be a competitive game with two of the best teams in the Western Conference battling.
Other Options: Domantas Sabonis ($10,100), Alperen Sengun ($9,200), Nikola Vucevic ($7,900)
Value
Jonathan Mogbo, Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons ($3,900): Mogbo is a low-usage player who will probably only play in the mid-20s. But he hustles his butt off and provides a relatively nice floor, considering the price. Over the last six games, he’s gone over 20 FPTS four times with a high of 35.25 FPTS. In the two games he failed to hit 20 FPTS, Mogbo put up 16.75 and 19.5 FPTS.
Other Options: Al Horford ($5,700), Jabari Smith Jr. ($5,400)
