There are eight NBA games on Friday’s main slate. No teams are playing the second leg of a back-to-back.
Keep track of all the injury news at DK Network.
This article was written on Thursday night. Any changes will be updated.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $300K Friday 8’s [$100K to 1st]
Guard
Stud
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics ($9,800): Maxey has shot out of the gates like Usain Bolt, averaging a career-high 37.5 points and 25.3 field goal attempts while shooting 47% from downtown. The usage rate is 31%, the first time over 30%. Maxey, when he huddles up with his teammates, looks Joel Embiid directly in the eye and whispers, “I’m the captain now.” Maxey is also leading the league with 43 minutes per game, and minutes are half the battle, Yo, Joe! The efficiency is going to come down and so may the volume, but I’ll side with the robust volume for now. Maxey has put up at least 50 FPTS in all four games with three of those over 60 FPTS.
Other Options: Luka Doncic ($11,500) if he plays, Austin Reaves ($10,000), Devin Booker ($9,400), James Harden ($8,700), Jrue Holiday ($7,200), Keyonte George ($6,900)
Value
Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz ($4,800): Gillespie hasn’t started a game yet this season, but he’s received 31 and 32 minutes in the last two games and produced 48.2 and 36 FPTS. He showed some things at the end of last season, so this production isn’t coming out of nowhere. He’s obviously garnered the trust of the coaching staff and teammates, so ride this wave until new information is presented.
Other Options: Tre Jones ($5,900), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,700), Cedric Coward ($5,400), RayJ Dennis ($5,200), Ben Sheppard ($5,000), Luke Kennard ($4,400)
Forward
Stud
Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns ($8,000): Markkanen has certainly been on a heater, scoring 32, 51 and 33 points over the last three games. The two most recent outings have been 53.8 and 77 FPTS. He’s shooting 50% from the field, but back in 2022-23, he shot 49% from the field, so this is not unprecedented. He will likely slow down at some point, but I don’t think it happens tonight as Phoenix is 28th in defensive rating.
Other Options: Pascal Siakam ($9,300), Evan Mobley ($8,700), Jalen Johnson ($8,600), Kawhi Leonard ($7,800)
Value
Josh Minott, Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers ($4,500): They call him the Lawnmower because as NBA.com’s Taylor Snow says, “Once he enters the game and you pull the cord, he starts mowing down opponents with relentless energy. And he doesn’t let up until Joe Mazzulla releases the bail bar and subs him out.” Minott is 6’8, 205 pounds and possesses a 6’11 wingspan. He balled out during the preseason and has been rewarded with starts in the last two games. He has returned the favor with 32.3 and 42.2 FPTS, playing 28 and 33 minutes.
Other Options: Kelly Oubre Jr. ($6,000), Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,700), Jarace Walker ($5,500), Royce O’Neale ($5,400) if he starts, Cedric Coward ($5,400), Jake LaRavia ($5,300) if he starts, Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,600), Luke Kennard ($4,400), Jaylon Tyson ($4,200), Collin Murray-Boyles ($3,900)
Center
Stud
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers ($12,000): I think I’m going to just be copy and pasting blurbs for Jokic and Victor Wembanyama this season for the center slot because when either one is one the slate, they will be auto-selects. Jokic is not only a threat to triple-double on any given night, but he’s actually done it in four straight games to start the season. He’s put up at least 60 FPTS in all but one game with a high of 72.8 FPTS. The one game he “missed,” Jokic finished with 59 FPTS. Here is why Jokic truly is the GOAT: this production is somewhat of a disappointment because he has 90 to 100 FPTS upside, something he did many times last season.
Other Options: Mark Williams ($7,400), Walker Kessler ($6,800), Onyeka Okongwu ($6,600)
Value
Neemias Queta, Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers ($5,000): Queta has put up at least 25 FPTS in four of five games this season. The one game he failed, Queta put up 19.2 FPTS. In the most recent outing against Cleveland, he went for 37.8 FPTS. Barring foul trouble, he should play plenty to matchup with Joel Embiid.
Other Options: Collin Murray-Boyles ($3,900)
