The NBA returned on Thursday with DeMar DeRozan continuing to dominate with 37 points on 15-21 shooting, extending his NBA record to 8 straight games with 35+ and better than 50% shooting. We also saw good teams playing very well being rested coming out of the break. The Celtics beat the Nets by 23, The Suns topped OKC by 20, Golden State trampled Portland by 37 and the Nuggets upended Sacramento by 18.

The good news for Friday's 9-game slate is that they all look like they could potentially good games. The Suns being favored by -7 over the Pelicans is the highest point spread of the night. Let's hope the action on the court matches the closeness on paper as we dive back in.

🏀Top 5 Player Props February 25th 🏀

LineStar has a new Player Prop tab that lets you search the best individual props through apps such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, and PointsBet. Here are some of the best bets for tonight:

🏀Pascal Siakam (Over 37.5 points, rebounds, and assists) - Always play post players against Charlotte, especially a well-rested Siakam who is going to play 40+ minutes. Siakam has a couple 30+ point games alone in his last four so throw in a 5 assist average and a 7 rebound average over last 4 this looks solid.

🏀Tyrese Haliburton (Over 8.5 assists) Malcolm Brogdon is back which could hurt...or help. Haliburton is averaging 11 assists in his four games with the Pacers and is playing an OKC squad that ranks 22nd vs. PG/SG and gave up a dozen dimes to Devin Booker last night. Haliburton had 7, 10, and 17 assists in three games vs. OKC while playing with the Kings.

🏀Jonas Valanciunas (Over 11.5 rebounds) - Has grabbed 12+ rebounds in last four games against the Suns, who are on the back to back and had allowed 13 boards against Ivica Zubac and 14 to Alperen Sengun their two games prior to all-star weekend. J-Val grabbed 18 rebounds vs. the Mavs heading into the break.

🏀Kyle Lowry (Under 23.5 points, rebounds, and assists) - The all-star break should allow Miami to get a little bit healthier, and this betting total is just 210.5 the lowest of the night. Lowry had put together some big outings over the last four, but is under this 23.5 number in 6 of the last 8.

🏀Tyrese Maxey (Under 15.5 points) - Likely the biggest casualty of James Harden coming to the Sixers, it seems like his 16.9 ppg average is about to plummet big time. On it to see it.

Tonight's Key NBA Matchups

Rockets @ Magic (-4) O/U 234.5 7:00 ET

These two squads have combined to lose 11 straight, but something has to give when they play each other on Friday night. Houston has allowed 120+ in 6 of their last 7, Charlotte has done so in three straight so this could be a target spot.

Sixers(-2.5) @ Timberwolves, O/U 229 8:00 ET

Minnesota gets a back to back right out of the gate returning from the all-star break following a 119-114 win over Memphis last night. The 76ers are still just -2.5 favorites, mostly because oddsmakers don't know what to expect from James Harden's debut with Philadelphia. Joel Embiid had 42 points and 14 rebounds in his lone meeting with Minnesota this season although that was in OT.

Pelicans @ Suns(-7) O/U 230 9:00 ET

Phoenix is on the back, but not really cruising to a 20-point win last night in their first game without Chris Paul (thumb). Devin Booker did still play 38 minutes in the blowout though, posting a 25.3% usage en route to 61fp. New Orleans is just 1-4 since acquiring CJ McCollum, although he's gone for 52+ fp in three of those. Brandon Ingram has been held to 32fp or less in 4 of 5 McCollum games.

Mavericks @ Jazz (-5.5) O/U 216.5 9:00 ET

Both of these teams were 6-1 in their last 7 prior to the all-star break, and Luka Doncic has earned himself the highest price tag of the night ($11.8k) after averaging 35/10/10 over his last 10 games. Doncic didn't play against the Jazz on Christmas, which ended up being a 120-116 Utah win.

Clippers @ Lakers (-1.5), O/U 221 10:00 ET

The Clippers hope that a 142-111 win over Houston right before the all-star break will propel them to get out of their current position in the play-in tournament (#8 seed) as they keep their fingers crossed about getting some key players back down the stretch. The Lakers are without Anthony Davis until late March, and Lebron James has landed on the injury report as questionable with his lingering knee issues.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Russell Westbrook DK $8.5k | FD $7k vs Clippers

• Great FD pricing, especially against a Clippers squad that gave up a couple 70+ fp games to Luke Doncic leading up to the all-star break

• Clippers giving up 43fppg to PGs over past 20 games

• Anthony Davis out, Lebron James & Carmelo Anthony questionable which would give an 8% usage boost.

Cole Anthony DK $7k | FD $6.1k vs. Houston

• Betting total of 234.5

• Rockets are allowing 40.6 fppg to opposing PGs over last 20

• Had 26 points and 7 assists vs. Rockets in early December

Terrance Mann DK $5.4k | FD $5.9k @ Lakers

• Home game even though it's on the "road"

• Made the perfect lineup in 5 of 6 prior to the break

• +31% boost when well rested

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Julius Randle DK $9.7k | FD $10.2k vs. Miami

• Has been pushing 6X in 6 of the last 7

• Attempting 20+ shots in 7 straight games

• Miami a tough matchup, but Heat allowed 14 rebounds to PJ Washington at the break just prior to the break

Darius Bazley DK $6.4k | FD $6.5k @ Indiana

• A tough situation on the back to back and with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander back in the lineup

• Pacers are thin in the frontcourt though and have allowed 29 rebounds to the last two starting PFs

• Only played 26 minutes last night vs. the Suns

• 4 total points last two games will drive ownership down

Keldon Johnson DK $5.7k | FD $5.9k @ Washington

• Solid matchup with the Wizards allowing 31fppg to SF starters over the last 20 games

• Had 22/7 last game before the break, 6X floor in 4 of the last 6

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Joel Embiid DK $11.6k | FD $11k @ Minnesota

• Pay to see it in the James Harden debut, could be a lot of easy pick and roll dunks and/or offensive rebounds

• Grabbed 14 rebounds against Karl-Anthony Towns in November en route to 71fp

• Timberwolves playing on the back to back

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You can follow me, Carl Taylor (@dailydogsports), on Twitter for more daily fantasy and sports betting talk and make sure to check out the LineStar chat.

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