This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
There are eight games on tap Friday, several of which shape up to be fantasy friendly. The Timberwolves at the Wizards, the 76ers at the Celtics, the Knicks at the Bucks and the Clippers at the Kings all look to be potentially high scoring with lots of value. The story of the night will be whether the slew of injured point guards, including Chris Paul, Kyrie Irving and even Matthew Dellavedova, are able to return. Stay tuned after morning shoot around for updates.
GUARDS
Tyler Johnson, MIA at LAL ($23): Johnson is averaging 17.2 points, 4.0 boards, 4.0 assists, 2.4 combined steals/blocks and 1.6 treys per game over his last five, and he now faces a Lakers defense that ranks 22nd in the league against point guards over the past 10 games.
Malcolm Brogdon, MIL vs NY ($13): This pick is contingent on the health of Dellavedova, and whether or not he returns as the starting guard. While Delly has been out injured, Brogdon has averaged 12.5 points, 7.3 assists, 5.8 boards and 0.8 treys in 35.5 minutes per game over his past four. If he starts again Friday, he is set for another strong game against a Knicks team that he hit for 12 points, eight assists and six boards Wednesday.
Guard to Avoid
Stephen Curry, GS vs MEM ($42): Curry has scored fewer than 32 fantasy points in three of his last five games. He also is facing a Grizzlies defense that ranks fourth in the NBA against point guards. Curry could explode at any time, but the odds of it happening Friday seem lower than his price would support.
FORWARDS
LeBron James, CLE at BKN ($55): James played though the flu Wednesday and still managed 31 points, eight boards and seven assists with both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. On Friday, assuming he isn't rested himself, James faces a Nets defense that allows the second-most fantasy points per game to small forwards.
James Johnson, MIA at LAL ($20): Johnson was already in the midst of a big season, but he is also one of the big beneficiaries of Justise Winslow's absence moving forward. Johnson is averaging 18.7 points, 5.3 boards, 5.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.0 steals and 3.3 treys per game over his last three.
Forward to Avoid
Kristaps Porzingis, NY at MIL ($37): Porzingis practiced fully Thursday but is still listed as a game-time decision for Friday due to a sore Achilles that has caused him to miss the last week. Even if he does play, he'll be trying to work the rust off against a Bucks team that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to power forwards over the last 10 games.
CENTER
Marc Gasol, MEM at GS ($35): Gasol is ten bucks cheaper than Karl-Anthony Towns, but outside of a partial game against the Kings when he had to leave with a sprained ankle, Gasol has been just as effective. In his two games since the injury, Gasol has averaged 22.5 points, 6.5 assists, 5.0 boards and 2.0 combined steals and blocks with a trey in 35.5 minutes per game, which came in a back to back.
Greg Monroe, MIL vs NY ($14): Monroe has been playing well of late, averaging 16.0 points, 9.7 boards, 3.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.7 blocks per game in his last three. On Friday, he faces the same Knicks defense that he burned for a season-high 18 points and nine boards on Wednesday.
Center to Avoid
Brook Lopez, BKN vs CLE ($27): Lopez hasn't scored more than 28 fantasy points in any of his last three games. He has been getting rested more often lately, as he is a veteran with a history of injury on a team that is going nowhere. On Friday, he'll be facing a Cavaliers defense that is allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to centers over the last 10 games.
