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Friday's slate of eight games follows a wretched Thursday full of injuries and inconsistencies. Luckily, a few 40-point games and one massive 50-point outing from Kevin Porter Jr. salvaged what was an otherwise mediocre night of basketball. Heading into Friday, there's no shortage of exciting matchups. Only two games are posted on MonkeyKnifeFight.com thus far, but we'll be sure to update the article accordingly as the day goes on.
There was plenty to unpack from Thursday night's slate of games, mainly a set of injuries that will have lasting implications. Giannis Antetokounmpo was barely on the court for a full minute before spraining his ankle against the Rockets, while Kristaps Porzingis managed to play 20 minutes before leaving the game with knee soreness. Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle has expressed some optimism in regards to Porzingis' knee, but with how well Tim Hardaway Jr. played last night, they already have someone ready to pick up the slack.
MonkeyKnifeFight.com continues to be ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. As always, you can find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter with any questions, especially since lines and players are subject to change throughout the day.
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ORL @ MEM
Ja Morant (MEM) MORE 20.5 Points - Cole Anthony (ORL) MORE 15.5 Points
Can we just ignore Ja Morant's last game versus the Trail Blazers? Because outside of that one game, his recent game log is, arguably, ideal if the line is to score 21 points. Morant's averaging 24-points over the last week without forgetting to involve his teammates, so against a bad defense like Orlando's, getting to the rim, playmaking, and shooting is going to come with minimal resistance.
Cole Anthony will have to work a little harder for his points, but it's not like the Magic have the options to just let him sit by the wayside. Despite Orlando letting the Cavaliers mount an epic comeback Wednesday, Anthony saw plenty of usage and kept up the scoring trend he started after returning from his shoulder injury. Until the Magic find someone else really capable of scoring with this consistency, Anthony has just as much upside as anyone in their matchup with Memphis.
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SAC @ LAL
Anthony Davis (LAL) MORE 23.5 Points - Buddy Hield (SAC) MORE 18.5
Richaun Holmes or no Richaun Holmes, the Kings frontcourt lacks whatever aspect of defense needed to stop Anthony Davis. If Davis' injury proves to be bothersome and he misses time then so be it, but there isn't anything other than himself that can hold him back against Sacramento's defense Friday night. The Lakers not being at full strength is going to allow Davis to have as much freedom as he wants, and Dennis Schroder's availability doesn't negatively affect Davis in any way. Either Schroder utilizes Davis in the offense, or Schroder sits and Davis does literally everything for this team with something like a 45% usage rate.
Buddy Hield on the other hand, alongside Tyrese Haliburton, is the head-shoulders-knees-and-toes for this Kings offense. Looking at who is available for Sacramento is frightening as a Kings fan, but as Hield-prop-bettor, the upside couldn't be better. To be completely honest, his role as the team's top spot-up shooter hasn't changed, although it's important to note the extra ball-handling duties doesn't pull from his shooting. Haliburton does a great job at incorporating the entire team on possessions, but even he knows the Kings are limited for scoring. Hield will be the go-to guy until the Kings return a few of their starters. Since only two games are up so far, check back in the morning to see an updated list of props for Friday's slate.
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UTA @ PHX
Devin Booker (PHX) MORE 25.5 Points - Jordan Clarkson (UTA) MORE 22.5
While most fans might anticipate the Jazz flopping again in the playoffs, it's impossible to deny their regular season success. Even after losing star player Donovan Mitchell, Utah has kept up their pace, defense, and winnings ways despite being short-handed. Every team is grappling with their own version of mishaps, but no team has been as consistent as this Jazz roster through those obstacles. With Jordan Clarkson taking near 20-shots a game, you have to roll with the over because he's getting the green light every game and he is more likely to rebound from a low-scoring game rather than succumbing to the trend of one game.
As great as the Jazz defense has been lately, Devin Booker takes pride is dismantling those types of defensive efforts. It will be a long, slow, grueling games for both teams, but Booker doesn't really adhere to the pace of the game as much as he just goes out and does what he does best, scoring. Even if he wasn't averaging 30 PPG over the past week, any game where the Suns play a good team, Booker and Chris Paul do more than what's necessary to win. Expect both to have high-usage games and carry Phoenix' offense.
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