This article is part of our DraftKings NBA series.
Friday's NBA slate begins at 6:30 p.m. EDT and features two games. The Heat have grabbed a surprising 2-0 series lead over the top-seeded Bucks in the East, while the top-seeded Lakers and the Rockets are set to tip off the first game of their West series.
Slate Overview
Game to Target
Lakers (-6.5) vs. Rockets O/U: 225
This game presents the slightly higher over/under, so most of your pricier players will likely come from this one. Both rosters are constructed around superstars with more reasonable supporting options.
Game to Fade
Bucks (-5) vs. Heat O/U: 223.5
Miami's averaging 115.5 points per game through this series' first two games, while Milwaukee's at 109.0. Game 3 should play out in a similar scoring range to the first two, so you know what you're getting in this game while the other one offers more upside.
Positional Breakdown
PG: Three of this slate's five most expensive players are eligible at point guard along with a slate-high four options priced at $7,000 or more. Expect most lineups to either pay up for one of those four options or grab one of the slightly cheaper Milwaukee options.
SG: There are two shooting guards over $8,000. If you're not interested in spending big at the position, there's a selection of relatively affordable sharpshooters to choose from.
SF: This position has three options over $8,000 and as a slate-high six options at $5,000 or more, so there are plenty of directions to go here.
PF: With five players at $5,000 or more - including two over $10,000 - power forward offers almost as much variety as small forward.
C: If you don't pay up for Anthony Davis ($10,600) or Bam Adebayo ($8,000), you'll have a number of intriguing budget options to consider.
Injury Situations to Monitor
LeBron James (groin) and Anthony Davis (finger) are both probable for the Lakers, but neither star is in any real danger of missing the game.
Eric Bledsoe (hamstring) played in Game 2 for Milwaukee after missing the series opener, and he doesn't carry an injury designation ahead of Game 3.
Andre Iguodala sprained his ankle for the Heat in Game 2, leaving the veteran questionable for Game 3. Teammate Kelly Olynyk bruised his knee in Game 2 and is also questionable.
After sitting out the Lakers' whole first round series due to back spasms, Rajon Rondo is listed as probable for Game 1.
Elite Players
Anthony Davis ($10,600) should be the key player in this series, as the diminutive Houston lineup has no apparent way of containing AD's interior prowess. He scored at least 28 points and 52.25 fantasy points in four of five games against Portland but averaged just 9.4 RPG. Expect the rebounding numbers to climb against an opponent with much less size to throw at the big man.
LeBron James ($11,000) eclipsed 70 fantasy points twice in the first round, but also threw in a 29-point dud in Game 2. Look for him to try to set the tone early with a strong series opener.
Miami has done an excellent job containing Giannis Antetokounmpo ($11,500) through this series' first two games by holding him to 23.5 PPG, 12.0 RPG and 6.0 APG with 4.0 turnovers per game. This slate's biggest salary player will need to step things up significantly to be worth his lofty valuation.
James Harden ($11,200) was just 4-for-15 in Game 7 against the Thunder, and it's fair to wonder whether fatigue is setting in ahead of this matchup with a Lakers' defense second-stingiest in terms of fantasy points allowed to shooting guards this season. That said, Harden's always capable of carrying a fantasy lineup when he's on.
Russell Westbrook ($8,600) has averaged only 14.7 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 4.0 APG in three games since returning from his quadriceps injury, so he'll be hard to trust at this valuation.
Expected Chalk
Robert Covington ($6,300) was sensational down the stretch in the Thunder series, averaging 45.7 fantasy points in Games 5 through 7. The surging Rockets' forward should be in your lineup until he shows signs of cooling down.
Goran Dragic ($7,000) has scored at least 20 points in six straight games and has topped 40.0 fantasy points in each of this series' first two games, averaging 25.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 4.5 APG against Milwaukee. Keep rolling him out there while he's hot.
P.J. Tucker ($4,400) played at least 38 minutes in four of the last five games against the Thunder, and his toughness inside will be necessary against the Lakers' impressive big men. The budget centers represent an enticing option given all the court time Tucker will see and his affinity for hustle stats like eight steals in the last three games.
It's hard to predict which of the Lakers' shooters will have the hot hand on any given night, but Danny Green ($4,100) gives himself a higher floor with his contributions on the other end. He averaged 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game against Portland, while hitting 9 of 26 3-point attempts (34.6 percent). Green hit 36.7 percent from deep this season and is at 40.0 for his career, so look for his shooting to pick up a bit against Houston.
Key Values
Brook Lopez ($5,600) has poured in 20.0 PPG in this series and improved his rebound total from one in Game 1 to seven in Game 2. As long as the lanky center stays active on the glass, he should be a strong option given his scoring contributions.
With Eric Bledsoe ($5,700) back, George Hill ($4,300) came off the bench in Game 2 after getting the start in Game 1. The veteran point guard was still heavily involved and finished with 14 points, three rebounds and an assist over 26 minutes. With Milwaukee likely to do everything it can to avoid a 3-0 hole, Hill and Marvin Williams ($3,300) will likely be the only bench pieces to break 20 minutes of playing time as in Game 2.
It will be interesting to see how much the Lakers use Dwight Howard ($4,000) against the small Houston lineup. While the Rockets' shooting could force him off the floor, he should dominate inside in the minutes he gets. After a quiet Game 1 against Portland, Howard averaged 9.5 PPG and 7.3 RPG in the last four games of the first round.
