Betting tips, DFS picks for Friday's NBA play-in tournament games

ESPN's fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you set your lineups for that night's games. Here you'll read our best advice for the night, including a selection of players you can stream as well as game-by-game injury reports.

What you need to know for Friday's games

Charlotte tips off at Orlando for the first game of the night, with the teams heading in different directions and the line reflects that as the visiting Hornets are 3.5-point favorites.The winner earns the No. 8 seed and a first-round matchup against theDetroit Pistons.

Orlando's identity is built on physicality and defense, but offensive inconsistency and uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff create added pressure in a must-win environment. The Hornets, meanwhile, arrive as one of the league's hottest teams, winning 18 of their final 25 games behind the perimeter-driven trio of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel. Charlotte's 3-point shooting has been a defining factor, evident in a 3-1 edge over Orlando during the regular season.

This matchup ultimately comes down to contrasting styles -- Orlando will look to slow the pace and impose its defense, while Charlotte aims to control the tempo from the perimeter. The outcome may hinge on whether the Magic can limit the Hornets' shooting or if Charlotte's momentum carries them through.

In the night game, thePhoenix Sunshost theGolden State Warriorsafter falling to thePortland Trail Blazerson Tuesday, while Golden State arrives with momentum following a comeback win over theLA Clippers. Despite both teams struggling to find consistency late in the season, this sets up as a high-stakes clash where execution will ultimately decide who moves on.

The Warriors continue to lean on Stephen Curry, who reminded everyone of his ability to take over games with a dominant performance in the previous play-in matchup. Golden State has had success against Phoenix this season, winning three of four meetings, and their experience in high-pressure situations gives them a clear edge. However, injurieshave limited their depth and forced them to rely heavily on Curry and veteran leadership from players like Draymond Green.

The Suns, meanwhile, are still searching for consistency but have the pieces to compete. Devin Booker has delivered strong performances against Golden State, though Phoenix has struggled to get enough support around him in those matchups. Jalen Green provides another scoring threat, and the Suns' ability to force turnovers could be a key factor in shifting the outcome.

The margin for error is razor thin and whichever team controls the tempo and limits mistakes will move on to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Moody's Bets for Friday

LaMelo Ball38+ points, rebounds and assists (-107): Ball has cleared this line in four of his last five games and continues to see elite usage, averaging 23.2 field goal attempts, 8.8 rebound chances and 12.5 potential assists over that stretch. He played 40 minutes in Charlotte's overtime win over the Heat on Tuesday and is likely to see heavy run again in another win-or-go-home scenario. He's also hit this mark in six of 11 games this season when sharing the floor with Miles Bridges,Miller and Knueppel.

Dillon Brooks 5+ rebounds (+152): Brooks should be active on the glass in a win-or-go-home matchup against the Warriors, where he's expected to play heavy minutes. When playing at least 33 minutes this season, Brooks recorded five or more rebounds in 11 of 18 games. He's also cleared this mark in all three matchups against Golden State and faces a Warriors team that ranks 18th in rebounds allowed over the last 10 games.

Top Daily Fantasy Values of the Day

$8,100+ Salaries

Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors ($8,800): The Warriors leaned heavily on Curry against the Clippers on Wednesday, and it paid off. He finished with 46.2 fantasy points while attempting 23 field goals. With Golden State facing another win-or-go-home Play-In matchup against the Suns, expect them to rely on the future Hall of Famer once again.

Devin Booker, SG, Phoenix Suns ($8,500): Booker finished with just 30.2 fantasy points against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday in a game he dealt with foul trouble. Still, he's averaging 40.2 fantasy points per game this season with a career-high 33.4% usage rate. Booker's also averaged 33.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG and 3.7 APG in three matchups against the Warriors this season.

$6,100-$8,000 Salaries

Brandon Miller, SF, Charlotte Hornets ($7,100): Miller is in the midst of a career defining season and has emerged as a reliable No. 2 scoring option for the Hornets. With Knueppel continuing to struggle from the field, Miller is more than capable of picking up the slack, as he posted 42.8 fantasy points Tuesday against the Heat. He also recorded 43.5 fantasy points in a matchup against the Magic on March 19.

Dillon Brooks, PF, Phoenix Suns ($6,200): Brooks has been excellent for the Suns this season, averaging a career-best 20.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.0 SPG in 30.4 minutes per game across 56 outings. He contributes on both ends of the floor, which adds value in DFS, especially alongside high-usage players like Booker and Green. At this price point, he's tough to pass up.

$3,500-$6,000 Salaries

Gui Santos, SF/PF, Golden State Warriors ($5,000): Santos has become a key part of the Warriors' rotation during the second half of the season, capitalizing on his opportunity when Curry was sidelined with a knee injury. Since Feb. 3, he's averaged 31.5 fantasy points in 31.0 minutes per game. Santos finished with 35.5 fantasy points against the Clippers on Wednesday and should continue to play a pivotal role for Golden State against the Suns on Friday night.

Coby White, PG/SG, Charlotte Hornets ($4,400): White has scored at least 20 fantasy points in five of his last seven games, though his minutes can fluctuate from night to night. He continues to come off the bench but has established himself as a key contributor, providing a reliable scoring boost when the offense stalls. At this price, White offers solid value.

Projections and Injury Reports

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

Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic

7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video

Line: Hornets -3.5 (-105) | Magic +3.5 (-115)

Money line: Hornets -162 | Magic +136

Total: 218.5 (-108 O, -112 U)

BPI Projection: Hornets by 3.1, straight up 60%, 217.0 total points.

Injury Report:



Hornets: None reported

Magic: Jonathan Isaac, (GTD - Knee)

Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns

10 p.m. ET on Prime Video

Line: Warriors +3.5 (-108) | Suns -3.5 (-112)

Money line: Warriors +130 | Suns -155

Total: 219.5 (-112 O, -108 U)

BPI Projection: Suns by 4.8, straight up 65%, 214.6 total points.

Injury Report:



Warriors: Kristaps Porzingis, (GTD - Ankle); Quinten Post, (OUT - Foot); Jimmy Butler III, (OFS - Knee); Moses Moody, (OFS - Knee)

Suns: None reported