This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
The NBA has eight games on tap Friday night, a slightly smaller slate than usual on a Friday. There are plenty of solid matchups and not a whole lot of terrible ones, so there is a good potential for high scores.
GUARD
Ricky Rubio, MIN at HOU ($29) - Rubio has scored at least 33 fantasy points in five of his last six games and is averaging 14.3 points and 13.3 assists over his last three games. On Friday he faces a poor Rockets defense that ranks 25th in the NBA against point guards.
Zach LaVine, MIN at HOU ($25) - LaVine averaged 35 fantasy points per game this week against the Grizzlies and the Suns, and on Friday he faces another poor defense in James Harden and the Rockets. He joins teammate Ricky Rubio as a strong play, as each have scored at least 33 points in consecutive games.
Guards to Avoid:
Rajon Rondo, SAC at DET ($39) - Rondo is questionable to play because of a toe injury, but even if he plays he has a tough matchup against a Pistons defense that ranks seventh in the NBA against point guards.
Brandon Knight, PHO at LAL ($37) - Knight has a reasonable matchup Friday against a weak Lakers defense, but he is the second highest-priced shooting guard on the board and has only topped 28 fantasy points once in his last four games.
FORWARD
Chandler Parsons, DAL vs GS ($29) - Parsons has averaged 16.8 points, 6.3 assists, 5.8 boards, 2.5 3-pointers and 1.5 steals over his last four outings. He faces a Warriors defense that ranks only 25th against opposing small forwards.
Alex Len, PHO at LAL ($24) - Len has been a monster in the middle, grabbing double-digit boards in 10 consecutive games and scoring more than 40 fantasy points in four of those. He is too big and athletic for the Lakers' frontcourt to slow him Friday.
Forwards to Avoid
Rudy Gay, SAC at DET ($30) - Gay has only scored more than 23 fantasy points once in his last four outings and has a tough matchup against a Pistons defense that ranks third in the NBA vs. small forwards.
Aaron Gordon, ORL vs CLE ($31) - Gordon is generally a safe start at power forward these days, but he seemed to get into Coach Scott Skiles' dog house in his last outing in which he played less than 13 minutes and went scoreless. Presumably he should play his usual minutes Friday, but even if he does it will be against a Cavaliers defense that is fourth in the NBA against power forwards.
CENTER
Mason Plumlee, POR at NO ($17) - Plumlee is a solid center with a great match-up. He is averaging almost a double-double over his last four games at 9.8 points and 9.0 rebounds, and on Friday he faces a Pelicans defense that has struggled all season against opposing centers.
Center to Avoid:
Zaza Pachulia, DAL vs GS ($16) - Pachulia was a solid value player for much of the season, but this week he lost his starting job and has come off the bench in back-to-back games. In addition, his Friday opponent the Warriors is No. 1 in the NBA vs. centers.
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