We have a much fewer than usual amount of games for a Friday night, as there are only four contests on FanDuel's main slate. It's still enough to allow us to differentiate in tournaments, but there is a much narrower pool of players to work with and some big-name injuries to be concerned with.
Slate Overview
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Listed spreads/totals are from FanDuel Sportsbook and current as of Friday, Jan. 16 @12:00 a.m. EST:
New Orleans Pelicans at Indiana Pacers (-3) (O/U: 238.5)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers (-1.5) (O/U: 235.5)
Los Angeles Clippers (-2) at Toronto Raptors (O/U: 215.5)
Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (-1) (O/U: 225.5)
We have a fairly encouraging overall picture on the betting landscape Friday, especially on the point-spread front. With four highly competitive games projected, we should have plenty of security in terms of minutes for star players. Projected totals are just slightly less appealing, as the two games with lower figures are offset by the other pair with figures north of 235 points.
Injury Situations to Monitor
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Kawhi Leonard, LAC (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Leonard has been reliably playing through his ankle issue, but if he were to sit Friday, Nicolas Batum would potentially benefit from a spot start, while James Harden would see his usage elevate even further.
Darius Garland, CLE (toe): OUT
In Garland's absence, Craig Porter and Lonzo Ball could handle the majority of point guard minutes, while Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley should be among the biggest beneficiaries in terms of increased usage.
RJ Barrett, TOR (ankle): OUT
In Barrett's absence, Jamal Shead and Gradey Dick could once again see expanded opportunity.
Ivica Zubac, LAC (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Zubac remains out Friday, Brook Lopez should draw another start at center.
Other notable injuries:
Josh Giddey, CHI (hamstring): OUT
Bennedict Mathurin, IND (thumb): OUT
Jakob Poeltl, TOR (back): OUT
Sam Merrill, CLE (hand): OUT
Immanuel Quickley, TOR (back): QUESTIONABLE
John Collins, LAC (groin): QUESTIONABLE
Sandro Mamukelashvili, TOR (illness): QUESTIONABLE
Kevin Huerter, CHI (hip): PROBABLE
Paul George, PHI (knee): PROBABLE
Joel Embiid, PHI (knee): PROBABLE
Elite Players
We only have one player with a five-figure salary on Friday's slate – Tyrese Maxey ($10,000).
Maxey scored just 28.4 FD points across 31 minutes in the first game of the back-to-back set against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, but he'd posted at least 42.8 FD points in nine of the prior 10 games. The star guard also recorded 46.9 FD points against Cleveland in his first encounter with the Cavaliers back in early November.
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Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Kawhi Leonard, LAC ($9,900)
If Leonard is cleared to play through his ankle injury, he'll be one of the most popular plays on the slate after posting at least 40.6 FD points in every game since Dec. 18.
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($9,600)
Mitchell put up 58.9 FD points in the first game of the back-to-back set against the 76ers on Wednesday, and he'd scored over 45 FD points in five of the previous six games.
James Harden, LAC ($9,500)
Harden dipped below 40 FD points against the Wizards on Wednesday, but he'd scored over that amount in each of the previous five games and should continue to be highly rostered.
Scottie Barnes, TOR ($9,100)
Barnes will once again take the floor without RJ Barrett and has scored 47.4 and 59.9 FD points in two of his last three games, factors that should keep him very popular Friday.
Michael Porter, BKN ($8,900)
Porter is averaging 40.9 FD points per game for the season and will be in a fast-paced battle against the Bulls, which should ensure his popularity Friday.
Key Values
Egor Demin, BKN vs. CHI ($5,700)
Demin has begun to hit his stride over the last month, averaging 26.5 FD points per game on the strength of 15.1 points, 3.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 28.8 minutes over his last 12 contests. The rookie eighth overall pick has shot an improved 45.1 percent overall in that span (37.1 percent prior), including a blistering 45.8 percent from behind the arc. Demin's well-rounded production has helped establish a solid floor that's enabled him to score at least 24 FD points in 14 of 34 games, and he'll draw a solid matchup against a fast-paced Bulls team Friday that could help Demin get a couple of extra possessions to work with. Chicago also ranks just outside the bottom 10 in three-point shooting percentage (36.5) and made three-pointers (14.2) per road game, which could certainly work in Demin's favor given his prowess from long range.
Jay Huff, IND vs. NOP ($4,600)
Huff has an encouraging outlook Friday, considering both his recent form and the matchup. The big man is averaging 21.2 FD points over the 17 games covering his last month-plus of play, a stretch where he's eclipsed 20 FD points on 10 occasions, including 26 in five instances. The fifth-year center is putting up a well-rounded 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 blocks during the entirety of that sample, and he now gets a crack at a Pelicans team that's been exploited by bigs all season. New Orleans is surrendering 57.6 FD points per contest to centers in the last 30 games, along with the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to the position on the season (36.2). Then, the Pels are giving up the fourth-most points in the paint per contest (53.8), giving Huff an additional path to meaningful production.
De'Andre Hunter, CLE at PHI ($4,200)
Hunter's production does go through its ebbs and flows, so he might ideally be suited for tournaments. The veteran wing bounced back from a couple of clunkers to put up 26.8 FD points across 22 minutes against the Sixers on Wednesday, and he now may have a shot at a spot start in the rematch with Philadelphia as part of the domino effect of Darius Garland's absence Friday. Hunter's 22.8 percent usage rate with Garland off the floor is the second highest of anyone on the Cavaliers, and he's averaging 32.7 FD points per 36 minutes in that split. With his salary potentially falling very short of what is actual opportunity would be Friday, he's a very viable option.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jalen Smith, CHI at BKN ($5,000)
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