There are 10 games on tap for Friday's NBA slate, but does that get dropped to 9 with the Bucks as a whopping -17 point favorite over Houston? Most of the spreads are huge tonight as Philly is -9 vs. New Orleans, Dallas -10 vs. Cleveland, and Portland -8 vs. the Lakers which looks like a steal after L.A's no-show vs. the Clippers last night.

Yes we know to never trust a spread, but exploring benches may be a profitable route tonight. Let's get to it:

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Today's NBA Matchups

Pelicans @ Sixers (-9), O/U 227 7:00 PM ET

New Orleans is just 1.5 GB from the 10 seed and a spot in the play-in tournament, but oddsmakers are showing no love making them +9 point underdogs tonight. Philly has won six in a row though, and are 25-7 at home on the year. Brandon Ingram (ankle) is also out for New Orleans.

Celtics (-4) @ Bulls, O/U 222.5 7:30 PM ET

The spread seems low for a Bulls team playing on the b2b. Jaylen Brown (ankle) is out for Boston and Chicago won in Bean Town 102-96 on April 19th but still.

Timberwolves @ Heat (-6), O/U 224.5 8:00 PM ET

It's a nice Miami target game, as Minnesota has allowed 139 and 140 points in their last two games. The T'Wolves can put up points too (136 and 135 the last two) but the Heat defense is top 5 in scoring and has had the last two nights off. Jimmy Butler (illness) is questionable for this one.

Magic @ Hornets (-7), O/U 215.5 8:00 PM ET

Orlando has actually won three of their last five, and Charlotte is in the back to back after dropping a 120-99 contest to the Bulls last night. Chicago shot 51% from the field in that win, is it a Magic night?

Rockets @ Bucks (-17), O/U 231.5 8:00 PM ET

Holy Spread! Milwaukee is in a definite 🕯️Blowout Game🕯️spot especially as the Bucks are on a 4-game win streak and are within 3 games of the top spot in the East. The Rockets are on the road for the first time since April 24th as well.

Cavaliers @ Mavericks (-10), O/U 219 8:30 PM ET

The Cavs have called it a year, losers of 8 straight. There's a real good chance Dallas turns to reserves early in this one though, coming off a 113-109 win over the Nets last night

Nuggets @ Jazz (-4) O/U 217.5 9:00 PM ET

Utah has won three straight, but against the struggling Spurs (twice) and 27-40 Raptors. Good spot for the Nuggets, who beat New York 113-97 on Wednesday.

Knicks @ Suns (-7), O/U 218 10:00 PM ET

Prior to falling to the Nuggets by 16 on Wednesday, New York's only loss over the last 13 games was 118-110 against the Suns on April 26th. Devin Booker went for 33 real points in that one, but it's usually the Knicks frontcourt that can be exploited lately.

Lakers @ Trail Blazers (-8), O/U 221.5 10:00 PM ET

The Lakers didn't really show up in their 118-94 loss to the Clippers last night. Hence the Trail Blazers being lofty favorites as winners of 5 of their last 6, scoring 128+ in each of those wins.

Spurs (-4.5) @ Kings, O/U 226 10:00 PM ET

San Antonio has dropped five straight but are still favored over Sacramento tonight. That's weird, because the Kings have won four straight and for some reason have found their defense, holding three straight opponents under 100 points.

Tonight's Point Guard / Shooting Guard Notables

Jordan Clarkson DK $7.5k | FD $7.2k

vs. Denver

Risky play but Denver is very banged up in the backcourt and Jordan Clarkson is coming off 30 real points last time out. This should be a very close game, and even with Mike Conley out Clarkson is still coming off the bench as the Jazz have moved Royce O'Neale to the G spot. That's a better role for Clarkson.

Marcus Smart DK $6.9k | FD $6.2k

@ Chicago

Terry Rozier knocked in 32 fp last night, keeping the streak of SGs vs. the Bulls alive. Chicago is now on the back to back, opening up a great spot for Marcus Smart, especially with Jaylen Brown out (+2% usage, +2fp).

Delon Wright DK $6.8k | FD $7k

vs. San Antonio

You ride it out, don't you? Delon Wright has double digit scoring in four straight, 5+ assists in each of those games, and 6+ boards in three contests over that span. He's hit 55fp the last two games in an increased role as Fox, Haliburton, and Barnes sit again.

🍺Other Likes🍕 - Dejounte Murray ($7.8k) the Kings defense suddenly looks good, but still rank 25th vs. the PG position. San Antonio is in a must win spot as well.

Kendrick Nunn ($6.2k) no Jimmy Butler would be huge for Nunn, up against a T'Wolves defense that is leaking the last two games. Nunn has 13+ shots in four straight.

Evan Fournier ($5.6k) great price point with no Jaylen Brown and has hit 33+ in 3 of 5. Chicago is on the b2b and horrible vs. SGs.

Tonight's SF / PF Notables

Zion Williamson DK $9.9k | FD $9.6

@ Philadelphia

For whatever reason, the Sixers struggle vs. the PF position giving up an average of 17/8/3 which is 27th in the league. Zion Williamson proved that on April 9th going for 37/15/8. Run it back tonight, especially with Brandon Ingram out and Steven Adams questionable for a +3% usage and +8fp Williamson boost.

Bojan Bogdanovic DK $6.8k | FD $5.7k

vs. Denver

Solid FD price for Bojan Bogdanovic, who has put up 22+ real points in six of the last seven. The showdown with Denver should be a tight battle, maybe even headed towards OT? The Nuggets rank 27th vs. the SF position as well.

Bobby Portis DK $5.6k | FD $5.4k

vs. Houston

There should be a lot of garbage time minutes available for Bobby Portis tonight as the Bucks are -17 point favorites over the Rockets. Portis has 37 and 43 fp the last two times he's logged at least 24 minutes, and Houston's reserve defense is the worst in the league.

🍺Other Likes🍕 - Jimmy Butler ($9.5k) if he plays as he put up 64fp against Minnesota last month and the T'Wolves are 25th defensively vs. the SF.

Daniel Theis ($5.3k) revenge game vs. his old mates and has hit 30+ in 3 of 4. Chicago on the b2b, but Theis played just 26 minutes last night

Tonight's Center Position Notables

Nikola Jokic DK $10.8k | FD $11.2k

@ Utah

The matchup might not look the best as Utah is 9th defensively vs. the C position. Nikola Jokic has torched the Jazz in two meetings this year though, going for 35/9/14 and 47/12/5 for a 75fp average. Yes, please.

Richaun Holmes DK $6.6k | FD $6.6k

vs. San Antonio

Richaun Holmes production is horrible lately with a 28fp ceiling over the last three games. He's got the matchup tonight though, as the Spurs are getting rocked by opposing C's. San Antonio allows 10.2 rebounds/game to C's, en route to nearly 38fppg which is 28th in the league.

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