NBA betting tips, DFS picks for Friday: Big opportunity for Wembanyama in Game 3

ESPN’s basketball every day cheat sheet is your pregame vacation spot earlier than you lock in every day fantasy and betting selections for that evening’s video games. Here you may discover our high insights for the slate, together with gamers to focus on for your every day fantasy rosters, together with game-by-game damage reviews.

What it’s essential to know for Friday

The convention semi-finals go on the highway at the moment as the primary two Game 3s happen. The New York Knicks journey to Philadelphia main the 76ers 2-0. Game 2 was rather more aggressive than Game 1, though the 76ers did not have star large man Joel Embiid (knee, hip). He is questionable to return tonight.

The Knicks, in the meantime, had two starters endure accidents in Game 2 and each OG Anunoby (hamstring) and Josh Hart (thumb) are listed as questionable for Friday.

Out West, the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves enter Game 3 in Minnesota with the collection tied at one recreation every. The Timberwolves gained Game 1 with a mixture of bodily protection and well timed taking pictures, together with the shock return of Anthony Edwards (knee). But the Spurs struck again in Game 2, taking part in with power and drive, blowing the Timberwolves out of the constructing.

An enormous query going into Game 3 is how a lot the Timberwolves can anticipate from Edwards. He got here off the bench and performed about 25 minutes in every of Games 1 and a couple of. He was clearly not himself, however his taking pictures and presence on the ground was nonetheless useful. Will he be capable of ramp up his efforts transferring ahead?

As all the time, let’s dig deeper into the storylines and determine some betting angles and DFS performs of curiosity for tonight’s slate.

Dre’s Bets for Friday

Karl-Anthony Towns over 5.5 assists (+112)

In the 5 video games since Knicks head coach Mike Brown began working “Draymond Green“-type units with Towns as the purpose middle, Towns has averaged 7.8 APG with at the least six assists in every recreation. And he is nonetheless getting extra cash to succeed in that six help threshold in Game 3.

Joel Embiid over 25.5 factors (-123)

Embiid is questionable to play, however with the 76ers down 2-0 it could appear he would go if in any respect doable. And when he is on the court docket, Embiid places up factors. In his first recreation again from damage towards Boston, Embiid dropped 26 factors in 34 minutes. In the 4 video games he performed in that collection, he averaged 28.0 PPG. He struggled in Game 1 towards the Knicks, but when he’s on the market tonight I anticipate him to be nearer to his typical stage.

Spurs -4.5 vs. Timberwolves (-105)

InGame 1, Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox mixed to shoot 0-for-12 from 3-point vary and Edwards gave the Timberwolves a shock enhance by taking part in and hitting well timed photographs down the stretch, and the Wolves nonetheless gained by solely two factors when the Spurs’ buzzer beater bounced off the rim. Yo

In Game 2, the Spurs ratcheted their depth method up and it was a dominant win. I believe the Spurs discovered their stage and I’m nonetheless undecided we will anticipate rather more from Edwards as he fights by means of his damage. On high of that, I doubt that Wemby and Fox may have one other offensive recreation as poor as Game 1. So I choose the Spurs to cowl, right here.

Top Daily Fantasy Values ​​of the Day

$8,100+ Salaries

Victor WembanyamaC, San Antonio Spurs ($11,000)

Wembanyama discovered his stage on offense in Game 2, however the blowout nature of the sport saved his stats in examine. With this recreation in Minnesota, it needs to be extra aggressive and Wemby would have the opportunity to place a giant quantity on the board.

Karl-Anthony TownsC, New York Knicks ($8,800)

Towns dropped 20 factors, 10 boards and seven assists on Tuesday regardless of being in foul bother for a superb chunk of the sport. He is a numbers monster in his present function.

$6,100-$8,000 Salaries

Stephen CastleSG, San Antonio Spurs ($6,800)

Castle has been constant for the Spurs, notching at the least 31 fantasy factors in 13 of his previous 14 video games with a high-mark of 59 fantasy factors in that span.

$3,500-$6,000 Salaries

Dylan HarperPG, San Antonio Spurs ($4,800)

Harper has been taking part in near-starter minutes and recording starter-level manufacturing for the Spurs of late. In his previous 5 video games, he’s averaging greater than 29 FPPG.

Michael BridgesSF, New York Knicks ($5,400)

Bridges has bounced again after a really sluggish begin to the playoffs with three straight sturdy video games. And with each OG Anunoby (hamstring) and Josh Hart (thumb) questionable, Bridges could possibly be known as upon to do extra on Friday.

Projections and Injury Reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds supplied by DraftKings Sportsbook

Line: Knicks +1.5 (-108) | 76ers -1.5 (-112)
Moneyline: Knicks -102 | 76ers -118
Total: 214.5 (-105 W, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 4.8, straight up 65%, 214.6 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Knicks: Josh Hart(GTD – Thumb); Mitchell Robinson(GTD – Illness); OG Anunoby(GTD – Hamstring)

76ers: None reported

San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves
9:30 p.m. ET

Line: Spurs -4.5 (-112) | Timberwolves +4.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Spurs -198 | Timberwolves +164
Total: 216.5 (-110 W, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 4.1, straight up 63%, 219.6 whole factors.

Injury Report:

Spurs: David Jones Garcia(OFS – Ankle)

Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo(OFS – Achilles); Anthony Edwards(GTD – Knee); Ayo Dosunmu(GTD – Heel)