We have a big nine-game slate on tap for the final Friday night of January, teeing us up for what should be a fun night of DFS play. However, the injury report is littered with big names, so it could turn out to be a big night for identifying value plays that could outperform their salaries.
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, Jan. 30 at 1:00 a.m. EST:
Los Angeles Lakers (-9) at Washington Wizards (O/U: 230.5)
Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic (-1) (O/U: 220.5)
Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics (-11.5) (O/U: 220.5)
Portland Trail Blazers at New York Knicks (-7.5) (O/U: 227.5)
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans (-2.5) (O/U: 233.5)
Cleveland Cavaliers (-4) at Phoenix Suns (O/U: 224.5)
Los Angeles Clippers (-6) at Denver Nuggets (O/U: 211.5)
Brooklyn Nets at Utah Jazz (-2.5) (O/U: 227.5)
Detroit Pistons at Golden State Warriors (-1) (O/U: 225.5)
One of the more encouraging aspects of Friday's slate is the fact that despite the nine-game ledger, there is only one double-digit favorite. Additionally, that team, the Celtics, could see its projected advantage narrow if/when Jaylen Brown, who's listed as doubtful, is ruled out. The rest of the night looks likely to feature plenty of tightly contested games, and about the only less-than-ideal aspect of the betting landscape is the fact we only have two games with projected totals north of 230 points.
Injury Situations to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
Luka Doncic, LAL (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
If Doncic were to sit out, the rest of the starting five, led by LeBron James, will see significant usage boosts, while Gabe Vincent could draw a spot start at point guard.
Jaylen Brown, BOS (hamstring): DOUBTFUL
In Brown's likely absence, Hugo Gonzalez is likely set for a spot start, while Payton Pritchard and Derrick White could be among the biggest beneficiaries in terms of extra usage.
Deni Avdija, POR (back): QUESTIONABLE
If Avdija is out, Siddy Cissoko and Jerami Grant could handle most of the power forward minutes, while Shaedon Sharpe could see even more usage than usual.
Kawhi Leonard, LAC (knee): QUESTIONABLE
If Leonard is sidelined, James Harden will see his already elevated usage rise, while Kobe Sanders could draw a spot start.
Other notable injuries:
Nikola Jokic, DEN (knee): OUT
Aaron Gordon, DEN (hamstring): OUT
Ja Morant, MEM (elbow): OUT
Evan Mobley, CLE (calf): OUT
Devin Booker, PHO (ankle): OUT
Lauri Markkanen, UTA (rest): OUT
Franz Wagner, ORL (ankle): OUT
Darius Garland, CLE (toe): OUT
Santi Aldama, MEM (knee): OUT
Jalen Green, PHO (hamstring): OUT
Cam Thomas, BKN (hamstring): OUT
Tre Johnson, WAS (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Austin Reaves, LAL (calf): QUESTIONABLE
Russell Westbrook, SAC (foot): QUESTIONABLE
Josh Hart, NYK (ankle): QUESTIONABLE
Elite Players
We have three players with five-figure salaries who have a chance to play on Friday's slate – Luka Doncic ($12,600), Cade Cunningham ($10,300) and Jaylen Brown ($10,000).
Doncic's status will have to be monitored, but if he's cleared to play, he'll look to exceed 60 FD points for the fifth time in the last six games.
Cunningham has exceeded 45 FD points in three straight games and four of his last five overall, and he should be in for a busy night in a showdown with Stephen Curry and the Warriors.
Brown appears unlikely to play through his hamstring injury.
Go to RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups and NBA News for up-to-the-minute information!
Expected Chalk
Other likely chalk plays include:
Donovan Mitchell, CLE ($9,800)
Mitchell has cleared 40 FD points in four consecutive games, including three straight 50-plus tallies, which should lock in an elevated roster rate.
Jamal Murray, DEN ($9,700)
Murray has been over 41 FD points in four straight contests and should be in line for heavy minutes again in a matchup against the Clippers.
James Harden, LAC ($9,600)
Harden gets a favorable matchup against Murray and the Nuggets and could be taking the floor without Kawhi Leonard, factors that should ensure he's a popular pick Friday.
Paolo Banchero, ORL ($9,300)
Banchero has erupted for 53 and 56.4 FD points in his last two games, which should make him very popular at his salary.
Stephen Curry, GSW ($9,300)
Curry has scored at least 26 actual points in three straight games and is in a marquee matchup against the Pistons, which should lead to him being in plenty of lineups.
Key Values
Jaylon Tyson, CLE at PHO ($6,300)
Tyson comes into Friday's interconference clash running hot, averaging 30.6 FD points on the strength of 18.3 points (on 52.8 percent shooting, including 53.6 percent from behind the arc), 6.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest. He's drawn eight straight starts as well, and with both Evan Mobley and Darius Garland sidelined Friday, Tyson should be set for even more usage than usual. The second-year pro is averaging 40.2 FD points per 36 minutes with both teammates off the floor, setting Tyson up to potentially overdeliver on his very reasonable salary Friday against a short-handed Suns squad.
Nic Claxton, BKN at UTA ($6,100)
Claxton is undeniably susceptible to the occasional scoring dip, but given his ability to check off boxes in other areas of the stat sheet, he's still averaging 29.3 FD points in his last 11 games while generating a modest 10.0 points per contest in that span. However, Claxton is complementing that figure with 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.6 blocks over 28.7 minutes per contest. Friday, he draws a premium matchup against the Jazz, which are surrendering a Western Conference-high 58.5 FD points per game to centers in the last 15 contests, along with the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to the position on the season (36.1). Additionally, Utah is conceding a robust 52.2 points in the paint per home game, while Claxton is scoring 76.4 percent of his points in that part of the floor.
Cam Spencer, MEM at NOP ($5,900)
Spencer will continue to run with the first unit Friday as Ja Morant (elbow) remains out, and the former draws a very appealing matchup against the Pelicans. New Orleans is surrendering 50.5 FD points per game to point guards in the last 30 games, as well as the second-most assists per contest overall (28.7). Spencer is a talented distributor that has seven double-digit assist tallies, and he's averaging 29.2 FD points over his last 10 games. Spencer's shooting efficiency is always a concern, but he's draining 66.7 percent of his shots in three games versus New Orleans, including 69.2 percent from behind the arc.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jock Landale, MEM at NOP ($6,000); Tobias Harris, DET at GSW ($5,600)
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