It's a 10-game Friday slate in the NBA tonight and we've finally got some trends to examine as each team has a game under their belt. Does that mean Chris Duarte ($6k) goes for 39 fp again - heck no. Does that mean Joel Embiid ($10k) goes for 3.9X again - also no.

This is a building block and a process, so let's mix together trends, projections, and good old gut feelings for this Friday night cocktail of success.

Tonight's Key NBA Matchups

Pacers @ Wizards (-1.5), O/U 228 7:00 PM ET

This is a matchup of the top two teams in pace from a year ago. Indiana lost their opener 123-122 to Charlotte but the Wizards were in much of a slower tempo game in a 98-83 win over Toronto.

Hornets (-2.5) @ Cavs , O/U 225.5 7:00 PM ET

This might be a quiet game to target as Charlotte had 113 possessions in their opener and Cleveland also has the worst defensive efficiency in the league after one game following a 132-121 loss to Minnesota on Wednesday.

Knicks (-8) @ Magic , O/U 212.5 7:00 PM ET

The biggest blowout game 🕯️potential of the night is the Knicks who look like they'll dominate Orlando. The Magic lost by 26 at the Spurs on Wednesday and have the 2nd worst defensive efficiency in the league after one game. New York ranking 2nd in pace is skewed by the Knicks going to 2OT in the win over Boston last game.

Nets (-2.5) @ Sixers, O/U 226 7:30 PM ET

Decent betting total and the Nets were eaten up by the Bucks in a 127-104 loss on Tuesday. James Harden had barely 5X vs. Milwaukee so is looking for a bounce-back while Kevin Durant wasn't especially great with 58fp.

Pelicans @ Bulls (-6), O/U 222.5 8:00 PM ET

It's the Lonzo Ball revenge game but still, a hard one to target with New Orleans scoring only 97 in a 20-point loss to the Sixers to open up the season while the Bulls defense showed up in holding Detroit to 88.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Zach LaVine DK $8k | FD $8.4k vs. Pelicans

• $700 price drop even after 52fp night in opener

• Went for 65 and 55 fp in two games vs. New Orleans last season

• Can focus on scoring now with Lonzo handling the PG duties (34 ppg)

Malcolm Brogdon DK $7.5k | FD $7.7k @Washington

• Pacers stack (Sabonis) vs. Washington worst scoring defense in 20/21

• Brogdon hit 54 fp in opener

• LaVert out, Lamb GTD, Holiday GTD for Indianapolis

Shai Gilgeous - Alexander DK $6.7k | FD $7.5k @Houston

• Just 26fp in the opener but against Utah's #4 defensive efficiency

• Houston was 28th in defensive efficiency last season

• Great DK value as $7.5k+ all of last season

Evan Fournier DK $6.5k | FD $6.1k at Orlando

• Return to Orlando where he spent 6 seasons before the trade last year

• Launched 25 times in season opener (albeit in 2 OT)

• Orlando 26th in defensive efficiency last season

• Blowout game (NYK -8) is a concern

Tyrese Maxey DK $5.3k | FD $5.8k vs. Brooklyn

• Last game starting before Simmons return?

• Up pace game expected vs. Brooklyn

• Logged 34 minutes in game 1 with 14 fga

• Went for 37fp

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Domantas Sabonis DK 9k | FD $9.7k @ Washington

• $700 price drop does raise some 🚩🚩

• Hit 13 of 19 shots with 15 rebounds in the season opener

• Washington #1 in opponent ppg after one game, but were 30th last season 118.

Evan Mobley DK $6.9k | FD $6.1k vs. Charlotte

• $2.4k price jump on DK but still hit 6X that last game

• Went for 17/9/6 in his NBA debut on Wednesday

• Charlotte allowed 33 points and 15 boards to Sabonis in opener.

OG Anunoby DK $6.2k | FD $6.9k @Boston

• Scored 32fp in opener despite 3 for 17 shooting

• Grabbed 10 rebounds vs. Wizards

• Boston went to 2 OT on Wednesday

Kyle Kuzma DK $5.7k | FD $5.6k vs. Indiana

• Only $600 price boost despite 38fp team debut

• 15 rebounds hard to replicate, so is 4 of 13 shooting and 1 FTM

• Pacers have #4 pace after one game

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Rudy Gobert DK $7.9k | FD $8.2k @ Sacramento

• Had 16 points and 21 rebounds in 29 minutes in the opener

• Kings allowed 20/14 to Jusuf Nurkic in the season opener

• Sacramento gave up 58 points in the paint to Trail Blazers game one

Jonas Valanciunas DK $7.2k | FD $6.5k @ Chicago

• Nice FD pricing

• Chicago struggled vs. bigs last season

• Had a 31 fp opener in New Orleans debut, but with 12 rebounds and on 3 of 19 shooting.

Mo Bamba DK $6k | FD $6.3k vs. Knicks

• Hit 6 of 8 shots in season opener

• Could see extra minutes if New York gets blowout win

• Knicks gave up 51 fp to Boston C Robert Williams in the opener

____________________________________________________________________________________

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.

🚨 Bonus: Get 3 Free Months of LineStar Premium

Get 3-months of LineStar Premium for new users to Monkey Knife Fight who deposit/play $10!

Terms: Partnership offers do NOT renew. See Monkey Knife Fight landing page for full terms and conditions. Must be a new user to MKF and deposit and play a minimum of $10 to qualify. If you have an existing LineStar Premium subscription you get a Hat/Tee/Pen combo instead of the 3-months.