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Fantasy basketball tips and projections for Friday

Wendell Carter Jr. is one of the interesting streaming options for Friday's massive 12-game slate. Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

April in the NBA can offer unique competition conditions. It's important for fantasy managers to consider how to appraise and invest in games that can vary greatly in regards to intention. Consider that while 80% of the league plays on Friday evening, a solid percentage of these teams eye lottery odds over immediate success. Scroll down the verbose injury report in today's matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Detroit Pistons.

The Portland Trail Blazers and Washington Wizards are similarly going for a word count award with tonight's injury designations. To varying degrees the Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, and even San Antonio Spurs are waving the lottery flag at this stage, as well.

This doesn't disqualify such rosters from potentially helping your fantasy team(s), rather it's just going to require adapting to new-look, late-season rotations on the fly. The key is staying informed by checking out injury reports and final lineup submissions prior to respective tip times.

Conversely, Friday features a number of games with serious seeding implications. We can assume teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Orlando Magic, and this second meeting of the week between the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors to include heavy minutes and predictable usage from the core contributors on each respective contender. Relying on predictable patterns is part of what got you this far in fantasy hoops.

With a mixture of such motivational variance combined with injury report implications and betting market indicators, we've taken time to curate today's streaming endorsements and BPI information in order to help prepare you for the volatile nature of these final days of the season.


Friday's Stream Team

Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, Toronto Raptors (Rostered in 30.6%)

The short-handed Raptors are at least depleted by a legitimate series of injuries to the likes of Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, which factors directly into increased playmaking and playing time outcomes for this versatile big. Capable of delivering double-digit dimes and with a floor-spacing shooting skill set, Olynyk enters tonight's meeting with the Bucks with a stable floor and fun ceiling.

Wendell Carter Jr., C, Orlando Magic (43.7%)

Facing the Hornets can prove productive for centers, particularly with Charlotte dealing with depth issues at that spot most of the season. Looking to Carter as a double-double candidate is reasonable given his blend of role and matchup.

Scoot Henderson, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (53.1%)

Henderson is trending towards a strong finish to his rookie season. He has tallied 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.3 combined steals and blocks over the past week and could flirt with 40 minutes against a depleted Washington defense.

Miles McBride, PG, New York Knicks (23.6%)

Even if McBride's line was a bit lean last night, a deeper look reveals he took a team-high 10 3-point attempts while tying for the most minutes played on the roster amid four personal fouls. Positive opportunity rates should remain ahead of his matchup against Coby White and the Chicago Bulls.


Projections and injury reports

Fantasy projections powered by ESPN Analytics. * Projections assume all players who are listed as GTD will play. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Players available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues are listed in italics.


Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC


BPI Projection: Magic in the 9th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Magic: Caleb Houstan, (GTD - Ankle)
Hornets: Amari Bailey, (GTD - Illness); Brandon Miller, (GTD - Wrist); Grant Williams, (GTD - Ankle); Miles Bridges, (GTD - Wrist); Nick Richards, (GTD - Foot); Vasilije Micic, (GTD - Shoulder); Cody Martin, (OUT - Ankle); LaMelo Ball, (OUT - Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT - Back); Seth Curry, (OUT - Ankle)

Magic projections:

Hornets projections:


Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers
7 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis


BPI Projection: Pacers in the highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Thunder: Jalen Williams, (GTD - Ankle); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (OUT - Quadriceps)
Pacers: Myles Turner, (GTD - Finger); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Shoulder)

Thunder projections:

Pacers projections:


Portland Trail Blazers at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.


BPI Projection: Wizards in the 12th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Blazers: Ibou Badji, (GTD - Back); Jerami Grant, (GTD - Hamstring); Anfernee Simons, (OUT - Knee); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Elbow); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Ankle); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT - Knee); Toumani Camara, (OUT - Ribs)
Wizards: Deni Avdija, (NA - Head); Johnny Davis, (NA - Ankle); Richaun Holmes, (GTD - Toe); Kyle Kuzma, (OUT - Ankle); Landry Shamet, (OUT - Calf); Tyus Jones, (OUT - Back); Marvin Bagley III, (OUT - Knee); Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT - Wrist); Isaiah Livers, (OUT - Hip)

Blazers projections:

Wizards projections:


Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. TD Garden, Boston


BPI Projection: Celtics in the 3rd highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Kings: Malik Monk, (OUT - Knee); Kevin Huerter, (OUT - Shoulder)
Celtics: Derrick White, (GTD - Back); Jaylen Brown, (GTD - Hand); Jaden Springer, (OUT - Knee)

Kings projections:

Celtics projections:


New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. United Center, Chicago


BPI Projection: Knicks in the 8th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Knicks: Duane Washington Jr., (OUT - Knee); OG Anunoby, (GTD - Elbow); Julius Randle, (OUT - Shoulder)
Bulls: Torrey Craig, (GTD - Knee); Julian Phillips, (OUT - Foot); Lonzo Ball, (OUT - Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT - Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT - Foot)

Knicks projections:

Bulls projections:


Miami Heat at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. Toyota Center, Houston


BPI Projection: Heat in the 11th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Heat: Tyler Herro, (GTD - Foot); Josh Richardson, (OUT - Shoulder)
Rockets: Amen Thompson, (GTD - Ankle); Alperen Sengun, (OUT - Ankle); Steven Adams, (OUT - Knee); Tari Eason, (OUT - Lower Leg)

Heat projections:

Rockets projections:


Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis


BPI Projection: Pistons in the 10th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Pistons: Cade Cunningham, (OUT - Knee); Simone Fontecchio, (OUT - Toe); Taj Gibson, (OUT - Hamstring); Ausar Thompson, (OUT - Illness); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT - Hamstring); Quentin Grimes, (OUT - Knee); Stanley Umude, (OUT - Ankle)
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Rest); Desmond Bane, (OUT - Back); Jaren Jackson Jr., (OUT - Quadriceps); John Konchar, (OUT - Heel); Luke Kennard, (GTD - Knee); Santi Aldama, (OUT - Foot); Vince Williams Jr., (OUT - Knee); Yuta Watanabe, (OUT - Personal); Marcus Smart, (OUT - Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT - Groin)

Pistons projections:

Grizzlies projections:


Toronto Raptors at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee


BPI Projection: Bucks in the 5th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Raptors: Bruce Brown, (GTD - Knee); D.J. Carton, (GTD - Ankle); Gary Trent Jr., (GTD - Back); Ochai Agbaji, (GTD - Hip); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT - Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT - Hand); Chris Boucher, (OUT - Knee); Jontay Porter, (OUT - Personal)
Bucks: Damian Lillard, (NA - Groin); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Hamstring); MarJon Beauchamp, (GTD - Ankle); Patrick Beverley, (GTD - Ankle)

Raptors projections:

Bucks projections:


San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans


BPI Projection: Pelicans in the 7th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Spurs: Keldon Johnson, (GTD - Foot); Cedi Osman, (OUT - Ankle); Dominick Barlow, (OUT - Knee); Charles Bassey, (OUT - Knee); Devin Vassell, (OUT - Foot); Jeremy Sochan, (OUT - Ankle)
Pelicans: Zion Williamson, (GTD - Finger); Jose Alvarado, (OUT - Oblique); Brandon Ingram, (OUT - Knee)

Spurs projections:

Pelicans projections:


Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas


BPI Projection: Mavericks in the 4th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Warriors: Andrew Wiggins, (GTD - Ankle); Dario Saric, (GTD - Knee); Jonathan Kuminga, (GTD - Knee)
Mavericks: Greg Brown III, (GTD - Personal); Josh Green, (GTD - Ankle); Dereck Lively II, (OUT - Knee)

Warriors projections:

Mavericks projections:


Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. Footprint Center, Phoenix


BPI Projection: Suns in the 6th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark, (OUT - Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT - Knee)
Suns: Grayson Allen, (GTD - Hip); Jusuf Nurkic, (GTD - Calf); Damion Lee, (OUT - Knee)

Timberwolves projections:

Suns projections:

  • Devin Booker, PG/SG/PF: 44.1 FPTS (27.7 pts, 4.4 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.3 3PM)

  • Kevin Durant, SF/PF: 42.2 FPTS (26.2 pts, 6.7 reb, 5.5 ast, 2.0 3PM)

  • Bradley Beal, PG/SG: 30.2 FPTS (16.4 pts, 4.1 reb, 5.2 ast)

  • Jusuf Nurkic, C: 26.3 FPTS (10.5 pts, 10.5 reb, 3.5 ast)

  • Grayson Allen, SG: 19.7 FPTS (9.3 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.7 ast, 2.0 3PM)

  • Royce O'Neale, SF: 19.0 FPTS (8.5 pts, 4.7 reb, 2.1 ast, 2.1 3PM)

  • Eric Gordon, SG/SF: 13.6 FPTS (7.1 pts, 1.6 reb, 1.4 ast)


Utah Jazz at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles


BPI Projection: Clippers in the 2nd highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Jazz: John Collins, (OUT - Back); Jordan Clarkson, (OUT - Back); Walker Kessler, (OUT - Nose); Lauri Markkanen, (OUT - Shoulder)
Clippers: Joshua Primo, (OUT - Ankle); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Knee); Jordan Miller, (OUT - Thumb); Moussa Diabate, (OUT - Hand)

Jazz projections:

Clippers projections:

  • Paul George, SG/SF/PF: 39.9 FPTS (22.9 pts, 5.0 reb, 3.4 ast, 3.2 3PM)

  • James Harden, PG/SG: 37.2 FPTS (14.7 pts, 5.2 reb, 8.1 ast, 2.3 3PM)

  • Ivica Zubac, C: 26.1 FPTS (12.6 pts, 9.8 reb, 1.3 ast, 1.4 blk)

  • Russell Westbrook, PG: 23.0 FPTS (10.9 pts, 3.9 reb, 3.6 ast)

  • Norman Powell, SG/SF: 21.3 FPTS (13.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.3 ast, 2.0 3PM)

  • Terance Mann, SG/SF: 13.7 FPTS (6.9 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.1 ast)

  • Daniel Theis, PF/C: 12.3 FPTS (5.9 pts, 4.1 reb, 0.9 ast)