The final Friday NBA slate of 2022 arrives and will feature nine games. Let’s lock and load on some top DFS plays and props to consider!

Written By: Ryan Humphries on Twitter & LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries

DFS Main Slate Rundown 📰

Let’s close out the last couple of days left in this calendar year on a high note! We’ve got nine games to run through tonight so there is much to get to and many ways to attack this slate. Best of luck and I hope everyone has a Happy New Year this weekend!

Today’s Key Injuries:

Wizards: B. Beal - Questionable, T. Gibson - Questionable

Magic: W. Carter Jr. - OUT, J. Suggs - OUT, M. Wagner - OUT, C. Anthony - OUT, C. Okeke - OUT, M. Bamba - OUT, G. Harris - OUT, RJ Hampton - OUT

Suns: D. Booker - OUT, C. Johnson - OUT, C. Payne - OUT, L. Shamet - OUT

Raptors: F. VanVleet - Questionable, P. Achiuwa - Questionable, O. Porter Jr. - OUT

Lakers: A. Davis - OUT, D. Schroder - Probable, L. Walker IV - Questionable, A. Reaves - Probable

Hawks: T. Young - Probable, C. Capela - OUT, D. Hunter - Questionable

Pistons: K. Hayes - OUT, H. Diallo - OUT

Bulls: P. Williams - Probable, C. White - Questionable, A. Caruso - Probable, J. Green - Probable, D. Jones Jr. - Questionable

Timberwolves: K. Towns - OUT, R. Gobert - Questionable, K. Anderson - Questionable, J. McLaughlin - OUT, T. Prince - OUT

Bucks: J. Holiday - OUT, K. Middleton - OUT, G. Hill - Doubtful

76ers: T. Maxey - Probable

Pelicans: B. Ingram - OUT, H. Jones - Questionable, L. Nance Jr. - Doubtful

Heat: J. Butler - Probable, C. Martin - Questionable, G. Vincent - Probable, D. Dedmon - OUT

Nuggets: J. Murray - Questionable, A. Gordon - Questionable, B. Brown - Questionable, J. Green - Questionable

Trailblazers: J. Nurkic - Questionable, K. Johnson - OUT, J. Winslow - OUT

Warriors: S. Curry - OUT, A. Wiggins - OUT, D. DiVincenzo - Probable, D. Green - Probable, J. Green - OUT

Kings: T. Lyles - Questionable

Main Slate Match-Ups w/ Game Totals & Point Spreads

Note: NBA position designations are never going to perfectly align between the major DFS sites. For the purposes of these newsletters, positional designations will default to DraftKings.

💫 = Favorite Play

Point Guards/Shooting Guards to Consider 🏀

PG Trae Young, ATL | DK: $9.9k, FD: $10k | vs. LAL | Cash & GPP

This game features just an absolutely massive 243.0 O/U and the Hawks lead the slate with a 124.5 implied point total, so we’ll likely want some pieces here. Trae Young sat out Wednesday’s game with a calf strain but is listed as probable to play this evening. The Lakers currently rank 3rd in pace and they have been bleeding points and peripherals to opposing PGs. Young is averaging 50.1 FPPG at home this season (45.4 FPPG away) and this does feel like a game he’ll “get up” for.

PG Markelle Fultz, ORL | DK: $6k, FD: $6.8k | vs. WAS | Cash & GPP

The fallout from Wednesday night’s scuffle in Detroit will carry some major implications on this slate. Six Magic players have been suspended for tonight’s game, which will leave them with eight players available. Three more Magic players will serve a suspension next week but the NBA did not want to leave Orlando short of the required minimum of eight players. So we’ll be giving many of the available Magic players a long, hard look today. Fultz has been playing well as of late already, averaging 1.14 FPPM over his last five games. Now his minutes should be increased, along with his usage. He’s going to carry huge ownership tonight but rightfully so.

SG/SF Terrence Ross, ORL | DK: $3.1k, FD: $3.7k | vs. WAS | Cash & GPP

For a salary-saving guard option, we’ll again target the shorthanded Magic. Ross should be one of three players available to come in off of the bench and he’ll likely push for 25-30 minutes while picking up additional usage and point guard duties. Ross makes for a fairly safe punt play at just above the minimum salary on both sites.

Other Guards to Consider:

PG/SG James Harden, PHI | DK: $10k, FD: $10.2k | @ NOP | GPP Preferred

PG Russell Westbrook, LAL | DK: $7.5k, FD: $8k | @ ATL | GPP Preferred

PG/SG Jaden Ivey, DET | DK: $5.9k, FD: $5.9k | @ CHI | Cash & GPP

PG/SG Alec Burks, DET | DK: $4.4k, FD: $5.3k | @ CHI | DK Preferred

PG/SG Patrick Beverly, LAL | DK: $4.1k, FD: $5k | @ ATL | DK Preferred

PG Ty Jerome, GSW | DK: $3.8k, FD: $5k | vs. POR | GPP Preferred

Small Forwards/Power Forwards to Consider 🏀

PF/C Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL | DK: $11.9k, FD: $11.9k | vs. MIN | Cash & GPP

Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton are both out for the second consecutive game. With both guys sidelined on Wednesday, it was the Greek Freak show. Giannis put up an absurd 39 shots, poured in 45 points, grabbed 22 rebounds, and dished seven assists -- good for a cool 84.0 DKFP. He posted a triple-double when he ran up against Minnesota earlier this season and they could be vulnerable in the paint if Rudy Gobert (questionable) doesn’t suit up tonight.

SF/SG Josh Hart, POR | DK: $5.8k, FD: $6.1k | @ GSW | Cash & GPP

Due to all of the Orlando Magic value out there tonight, I expect a mid-range player like Josh Hart to go very overlooked. It’s a plus match-up against the Warriors, who rank 1st in pace this season and 22nd against opposing small forwards. Hart has also picked up a few additional minutes recently with Justise Winslow (ankle/out) sidelined. In the last two games without Winslow, Hart has played 37 and 38 minutes while putting up 38.75 DKFP and 34.75 DKFP. Hart can be close to an FPPM-type of player so, should he push for close to 40 minutes again tonight, there is some sneaky 6x-7x upside here.

SF Saddiq Bey, DET | DK: $4.3k, FD: $5.5k | @ CHI | GPP Preferred

Saddiq Bey is one of those players that we really need a crystal ball for. When he gets the minutes, he can put up some great fantasy scores -- similar to Wednesday night when he played 35 minutes and dropped a 50 (DKFP) burger. Bey won’t come without some moderately high risk, but if his minutes continue to trend up the way they have been, then he could work out as a strong GPP play.

Other Forwards to Consider:

SF/PF LeBron James, LAL | DK: $10.1k, FD: $10.6k | @ ATL | Cash & GPP

SF/PF DeMar DeRozan, CHI | DK: $9.1k, FD: $9k | vs. DET | Cash & GPP

SF/PF Paolo Banchero, ORL | DK: $7.8k, FD: $8.5k | vs. WAS | DK Preferred

SF/SG Franz Wagner, ORL | DK: $6.2k, FD: $6.6k | vs. WAS | Cash & GPP

PF/C John Collins, ATL | DK: $5.7k, FD: $6.3k | vs. LAL | GPP Preferred

PF Rui Hachimura, WAS | DK: $4.1k, FD: $5.5k | @ ORL | DK Preferred

PF Admiral Schofield, ORL | DK: $3k, FD: $3.8k | vs. WAS | Cash & GPP (if starting)

Centers to Consider 🏀

C Domantas Sabonis, SAC | DK: $10.3k, FD: $10.4k | vs. UTA | Cash & GPP

Fortunately, the thumb injury that Sabonis recently suffered ended up sidelining him for just one game and he looked no worse for the wear when he went up against Denver on Wednesday. He was able to play his usual minutes and put up the type of production we’ve come to expect out of him as of late. Sabonis has poured in at least 55.75 DKFP in six consecutive games and he receives a strong match-up against the Jazz, who rank 24th against opposing centers. This game also has a massive total 241.5 O/U), a close spread (SAC -3), and the Kings own the second-highest implied team total on the slate (122.3 implied points).

PF/C Bol Bol, ORL | DK: $4.8k, FD: $6.5k | vs. WAS | DK Preferred

Another Orlando Magic player who projects for a heavier-than-usual workload is Bol Bol. He’s essentially the only true Magic center available tonight and he has averaged right at 1.00 FPPM this season. The $6,500 price tag on FanDuel would give me some pause, but for $4,800 on DraftKings, he stands out as an excellent “fantasy point per dollar” play.

Other Centers to Consider:

C Nikola Jokic, DEN | DK: $11.8k, FD: $12.1k | vs. MIA | GPP Preferred

C Nikola Vucevic, CHI | DK: $7.6k, FD: $7.9k | vs. DET | Cash & GPP

C Jalen Duren, DET | DK: $5.4k, FD: $6.1k | @ CHI | Cash & GPP

C Onyeka Okongwu, ATL | DK: $5.3k, FD: $6.2k | vs. LAL | DK Preferred

PF/C Naz Reid, MIN | DK: $4.9k, FD: $5.9k | @ MIL | GPP Preferred (Cash play if Gobert is out)

NBA Player Props 📊

Player Prop or Bet | Odds | Unit Bet Size

Jalen Duren OVER 11.5 Rebounds + Assists | -120 (DraftKings) | 2.0 Units

Collin Sexton OVER 13.5 Points + Assists | -125 (DraftKings) | 2.5 Units

PrizePicks Power Play ⚡

Here is a two-pick “Power Play” I’m liking for today's NBA action over on PrizePicks! Nothing is ever a guarantee to hit but I put my own money on these bets so I don't just lightly throw these out there without believing they'll cash! If it hits, it will return 3x the wager.

Tyler Herro MORE than 31.5 Fantasy Score

Domantas Sabonis MORE than 47.5 Fantasy Score

🆕 Props Edge+ 🆕

In LineStar’s ongoing mission to improve, innovate, and help you reel in some cash, we are introducing Props Edge+ for NBA – available for LineStar Premium users! This tool can help you find value and mispriced odds on player props from sportsbooks and, more specifically, for PrizePicks and UnderDog Fantasy!

Speaking of props, put the Props Edge+ tool to use by signing up for PrizePicks (Promo code: BETFULLY) or Underdog (Promo code: LINESTAR). You'll receive a 100% match on first deposits up to $100 PLUS a free two-month subscription to LineStar Premium. Many people may not realize that you can legally place prop bets in most states using UnderDog (or PrizePicks) – it’s called Pick'Em, and it’s incredibly easy.

That will wrap us up with today’s “Daily Dribble” edition! Once again, you can find me on Twitter or in LineStar chat @Ryan_Humphries. Good luck everyone!