Friday's DraftKings NBA DFS slate projects elite upside with Nikola Jokic likely dominating Portland's inexperienced Donovan Clingan. Lauri Markkanen could extend his hot streak against Phoenix's struggling frontcourt. Trae Young's absence should elevate Nickeil Alexander-Walker into a smash spot against Indiana's depleted backcourt. Jaren Jackson figures to exploit Lakers' league-worst power forward defense.
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Slate Overview
ATL at IND: Hawks 2-1 on road; Pacers on four-game slide
BOS at PHI: Celtics on two-game win streak; Sixers on four-game win streak
TOR at CLE: Raptors on four-game slide; Cavs 1-0 at home
NYK at CHI: Knicks on two-game slide; Bulls on four-game win streak
LAL at MEM: Lakers 2-0 on road; Grizzlies 2-1 at home
UTA at PHX: Jazz 0-1 on road; Suns on four-game slide
DEN at POR: Nuggets on three-game win streak; Trail Blazers on two-game win streak
NOP at LAC: Pelicans on four-game slide; Clippers 2-0 at home
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Visit RotoWire's NBA Daily Starting Lineups to find out starters for every game on the schedule!
Injuries to Monitor
For all the latest updates, visit RotoWire's NBA Injury News page and our comprehensive NBA Injury Report.
ATL - Trae Young (knee): OUT
IND - Johnny Furphy (foot): Questionable; Bennedict Mathurin (toe), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Obi Toppin (foot): OUT
PHI - Dominick Barlow (elbow), Paul George (knee), Jared McCain (thumb): OUT
TOR - Jakob Poeltl (back): OUT
CLE - Jarrett Allen (finger), Donovan Mitchell (hamstring): Questionable; Darius Garland (toe), Sam Merrill (hip), Max strus (foot): OUT
CHI - Coby White (calf): OUT
LAL - LeBron James (back), Gabe Vincent (ankle): OUT
MEM - Brandon Clarke (knee), Zach Edey (ankle), Ty Jerome (calf), Scotty Pippen (toe): OUT
UTA - Isaiah Collier (hamstring), Georges Niang (foot): OUT
PHX - Dillon Brooks (groin), Jalen Green (hamstring): OUT
DEN - Jamal Murray (calf): OUT
POR - Kris Murray (illness), Robert Williams (knee): Questionable; Scoot Henderson (hamstring): OUT
NOP - Kevon Looney (knee): OUT
Elite Players
Guards
James Harden, Clippers 
($8,700) vs. Pelicans
Harden topped 50 DK points in back-to-back games before finishing with just 29.5 in the last outing. He is averaging 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.3 steals through four games this season, and he has a great opportunity to pick up again with a matchup against the Pelicans, who are giving up the league's fifth-most points per game to opposing point guards.
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Josh Giddey, Bulls 
($9,000) vs. Knicks
Giddey has topped 40 DK points in three of his four outings on the season and is doing a great job stuffing the stat sheet, averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. He faces a tough matchup against the Knicks, but he should find room to get his, and his teammates' offense rolling, as the Knicks are allowing opponents to shoot an average of 47.3 percent from the field.
Forwards/Centers
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz 
($8,000) at Suns
Markkanen is off to a fantastic start to the campaign, including racking up 77.0 DK points in the game before last and finishing with 53.8 DK points in the most recent outing. He has scored more than 30 points in three straight outings and is averaging 34.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists through four games on the season. He has a good chance to keep rolling against the Suns, who are giving up the league's seventh-most points per game to opposing small forwards.
Jalen Johnson, Hawks 
($8,600) at Pacers
Johnson has topped 40 DK points in three of his four appearances and is averaging 20.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.5 steals on the season. He faces a favorable matchup against the Pacers, who are significantly shorthanded, and he should pad his stats at the foul line, as they are also giving up the league's most free throws per game.
Jaren Jackson, Grizzlies 
($8,400) vs. Lakers
Jackson is off to a relatively modest start to the season, averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. However, he is up for an excellent chance to shine against the Lakers, who are giving up the league's most points per game to power forwards by a wide margin.
Expected Chalk
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets 
($12,000) at Trail Blazers
Jokic has gone over 55 DK points in each of his four outings this season, logging a triple-double in each and producing a high of 72.8 DK points in the game before last. He is averaging 20.3 points, 14.5 rebounds, 11.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals on the year and should keep it up while matched up across from the Trail Blazers' second-year center, Donovan Clingan.
Mid-Range Money
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Hawks ($5,700) at Pacers
With Trae Young sidelined, Alexander-Walker is up for a major role as the starting point guard. He also faces a highly favorable matchup against a significantly shorthanded Pacers backcourt. He is averaging 16.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game while coming off the bench in three of his five outings, so far.
Keyonte George, Jazz ($6,900) at Suns
George is off to a great start to the season, averaging 22.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.0 steals through four outings, including going over 40 DK points in the last two. He has an ideal opportunity to thrive against the Suns, who are shorthanded in the backcourt and without a key defender, Dillon Brooks. The Suns are also giving up the league's eighth-most points per game to opposing point guards.
Value Picks
Saddiq Bey, Pelicans 
($4,400) at Clippers
Bey is making the most of his minutes off the bench, averaging 10.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while amassing a high of 27.5 DK points among his first four appearances. He is also averaging 2.3 made three-pointers per game and has a good chance to stay hot, as the Clippers are giving up the league's fourth-most threes per game to opposing small forwards.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Raptors 
($3,900) at Cavaliers
Murray-Boyles is up for his second straight start, as the Raptors are shorthanded in the frontcourt. He finished with 18.8 DK points in the last game but had a season-high 32.8 in the game prior. He is up for a very tough matchup against the Cavs' frontcourt, but it is a good chance for the rookie to build on momentum and show that he can compete.
Jock Landale, Grizzlies ($4,800) vs. Lakers
Landale is up for a sixth consecutive start for the Grizzlies' shorthanded frontcourt. He is averaging 9.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.8 blocks in 23.4 minutes per game, and he should continue to deliver solid value thanks to the the boosted role.
