ESPN's fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you set your lineups for that night's games. Here, you'll read our best advice for the night, including a selection of players you can stream as well as game-by-game injury reports.
What you need to know for Friday
We've got another big night in the NBA, with nine games on tap contributing to the NBA Emirates Cup. Keep in mind that scoring margin is a factor in the NBA Cup standings, so teams may not be as quick to pull their starters or take their foot off the gas tonight compared to a regular game. We are a few weeks into the group play stage now, so the standings are starting to shake out and many of these games will be big in determining who advances.
The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls battle, both entering with winning records overall and 1-1 records in the NBA Cup standings, a game behind the idle Milwaukee Bucks in East Group C. A loss may be prohibitive to advancing, but the winner will be right in the mix.
Meanwhile, in West Group C all five teams are currently tied at 1-1, so at the moment the standings are determined entirely by scoring margin. The top two teams in the group, by both overall record and scoring margin, face off tonight with the Denver Nuggets battling the Houston Rockets. The other game in the group pits the Portland Trail Blazers against the Golden State Warriors.
West Group A has three undefeated teams, with the Minnesota Timberwolves at 2-0 and both the Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns at 1-0. The Timberwolves and Suns put their perfect records on the line against each other tonight, while the Thunder look to get their second win and maybe try to improve their scoring margin tonight against the winless Utah Jazz.
These, and many other storylines will be on display on Friday night as the NBA continues their season-within-a-season. As always, let's dig a little deeper to identify some fantasy streamers and betting angles of interest.
Friday's fantasy stream team
Bilal Coulibaly, SF/SG, Washington Wizards (rostered in 14.9% of ESPN leagues): Coulibaly returned earlier this week from his most recent injury absence, and has now produced strong fantasy games in all five of his outings of at least 24 minutes this season. In those games, he is averaging 12.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 3.6 APG. More importantly, he has been elite on defense with 14 combined steals and blocks in those five games.
Derik Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans (24.5%): Queen has moved into the starting lineup for the Pelicans and is coming off a career-high 30 points on Wednesday against the Nuggets. Going back five games, including three starts, Queen has averaged 16.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 4.4 APG with nine total combined steals and blocks.
Peyton Watson, SF/PF, Denver Nuggets (7.0%): Watson has started four of the past six games for the Nuggets, including three in a row. In his four starts, he has averaged a strong 16.3 PPG, 6.3 APG, 1.8 3PG, 1.8 SPG and 1.0 BPG.
Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns (17.3%): Gillespie has been getting more run with Grayson Allen out, and he's taken advantage of it to average 17.0 PPG, 6.5 APG and 5.5 RPG in 30.0 MPG in his last two games.
Jusuf Nurkic, C, Utah Jazz (21.3%): Nurkic has been a rebounding force since taking over as the starting center in Utah. He has grabbed double-digit boards in five straight games, and has supplemented the boards by dishing 5.2 APG in that stretch. He also has three points/rebounds double-doubles in that stretch while also averaging 2.2 SPG.
Dre's bets for Friday
Denver Nuggets +2.5 over Houston Rockets (-110)
This is a heavyweight matchup between two powers in the Western Conference that both enter the game on a roll. The Nuggets have won eight of their past nine games and have an average scoring margin of +11.5 points on the season, while the Rockets have won 10 of their past 11 and rock a season scoring margin of +11.4. Both teams were preseason favorites to contend and both are living up to the billing. They rank first (Nuggets) and second in the NBA in points per game, and fifth (Rockets) and sixth in points allowed with similar relative rankings in offensive and defensive rating.
This projects as a toss-up game, but the Nuggets have more big-game experience and the best player on the court in Jokic. They are also the team getting points, which I'll take as a differentiator in this close matchup.
Coby White OVER 21.5 total points (-115)
White made his season debut this week after recovering from a calf injury, and despite coming off the bench he has been scoring like he's in midseason form. White has scored 52 points in 57 minutes played, with at least 25 points in both games. His Friday opponent, the Heat, plays by far the fastest pace in the NBA, which would give him plenty of opportunity to score. The one thing to keep an eye on is White's availability. He is listed as questionable and the Bulls are on the first half of a back-to-back. In his recovery, it is assumed he will continue to play in only one-half of back-to-backs. But Friday's NBA Cup game would seemingly be more important than Saturday's regular-season matchup against the Wizards, so if he were to play in only one game, it would be logical that he might play on Friday.
Julius Randle OVER 22.5 total points (-120)
Randle has been posting big numbers all season, averaging 25.0 PPG in 15 games. But he's been even hotter lately, dropping at least 26 points in four of his past five games, with the one exception coming in a blowout where he played fewer minutes than usual. In fact, Randle has scored at least 26 points in each of the past five games he has played at least 30 minutes. In a big matchup against a tough team where the scoring margin matters, Randle should play full minutes and, thus, has a good chance to go over his prop.
Stephen Curry OVER 27.5 total points (-120)
Curry is in a stretch where his output is very stratified based on the competitiveness of the game. In two recent blowouts, Curry averaged only 10.0 PPG in 24.0 MPG. But in the three recent games decided by single digits in either direction, Curry has averaged 43.0 PPG in 34.7 MPG, with at least 34 points in all three. Curry scored 35 points in 27 minutes in his first matchup against the Trail Blazers last month, and in his most recent NBA Cup game he dropped 49.
Stephen A. Smith weighs in on whether the Heat or the Magic are a bigger threat in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +13.5 (-105) | Cavaliers -13.5 (-115)
Money line: Pacers +700 | Cavaliers -1200
Total: 238.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 14.3, straight up 86%, 239.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Obi Toppin, (OUT - Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS - Achilles); Johnny Furphy, (OUT - Ankle); Quenton Jackson, (OUT - Hamstring); Kam Jones, (OUT - Back); Aaron Nesmith, (OUT - Knee)
Cavaliers: Darius Garland, (GTD - Toe); Jarrett Allen, (GTD - Finger); Jaylon Tyson, (GTD - Concussion); Sam Merrill, (OUT - Hand); Max Strus, (OUT - Foot)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +14.5 (-110) | Celtics -14.5 (-110)
Money line: Nets +600 | Celtics -1000
Total: 222.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 13.9, straight up 86%, 220.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Ben Saraf, (OUT - Ankle); Cam Thomas, (OUT - Hamstring); Haywood Highsmith, (OUT - Knee)
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT - Achilles)
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +13.5 (-105) | Raptors -13.5 (-115)
Money line: Wizards +600 | Raptors -1000
Total: 239.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 16.6, straight up 89%, 238.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Alex Sarr, (GTD - Toe); Marvin Bagley III, (GTD - Hip)
Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, (OUT - Knee)
Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Heat +2.5 (-110) | Bulls -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Heat +125 | Bulls -145
Total: 249.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 0.7, straight up 52%, 248.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Andrew Wiggins, (OUT - Hip); Nikola Jovic, (OUT - Hip); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Ankle); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Bulls: Jalen Smith, (GTD - Chest); Tre Jones, (GTD - Ankle)
New Orleans Pelicans at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans +3.5 (-115) | Mavericks -3.5 (-105)
Money line: Pelicans +145 | Mavericks -170
Total: 233.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 4.1, straight up 63%, 233.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Jordan Poole, (OUT - Quadriceps); Karlo Matkovic, (OUT - Calf)
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT - Knee); Dante Exum, (OFS - Knee); Anthony Davis, (OUT - Calf)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
9 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves -4.5 (-115) | Suns +4.5 (-105)
Money line: Timberwolves -190 | Suns +160
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 1.9, straight up 56%, 232.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels, (GTD - Wrist); Joe Ingles, (GTD - Groin); Terrence Shannon Jr., (OUT - Foot)
Suns: Grayson Allen, (OUT - Quadriceps); Rasheer Fleming, (OUT - Ankle); Jalen Green, (OUT - Hamstring)
Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets +2.5 (-105) | Rockets -2.5 (-115)
Money line: Nuggets +125 | Rockets -145
Total: 235.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 2.8, straight up 59%, 237.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Christian Braun, (OUT - Ankle); Aaron Gordon, (GTD - Hamstring); Julian Strawther, (OUT - Back)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Knee); Jabari Smith Jr., (GTD - Knee); Steven Adams, (GTD - Ankle); Dorian Finney-Smith, (OUT - Ankle); Tari Eason, (OUT - Hip)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz
10 p.m. ET
Line: Thunder -16.5 (-110) | Jazz +16.5 (-110)
Money line: Thunder -1600 | Jazz +800
Total: 234.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 15.9, straight up 88%, 236.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT - Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS - Knee); Aaron Wiggins, (OUT - Thigh); Jalen Williams, (OUT - Wrist); Kenrich Williams, (OUT - Knee)
Jazz: Walker Kessler, (OFS - Shoulder); Kyle Filipowski, (GTD - Wrist); Georges Niang, (OUT - Foot)
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +7.5 (-105) | Warriors -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Blazers +240 | Warriors -290
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 8.1, straight up 74%, 233.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Jerami Grant, (GTD - Illness); Jrue Holiday, (GTD - Calf); Robert Williams III, (GTD - Knee); Shaedon Sharpe, (GTD - Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring)
Warriors: Buddy Hield, (GTD - Illness); Draymond Green, (GTD - Illness); Jimmy Butler III, (GTD - Back); Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT - Knee); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Knee)