The Oklahoma City Thunder are shaking things up as they face the Portland Trail Blazers with a completely new starting lineup due to resting key players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. This opens up intriguing opportunities for Thunder reserves in NBA DFS contests. With Aaron Wiggins averaging 17.8 points off the bench since February, he could become a key value pick. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks are also affected by an injury to Jalen Brunson, which may lead to other players stepping up for DFS consideration.

On the advice of DFS expert Mike McClure, top picks for Friday include Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes, who has shown strong performances recently, averaging 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds over his last eight games. Facing the Utah Jazz, whose defense ranks poorly, Barnes is primed for a breakout game. Another option is Charlotte Hornets’ Jusuf Nurkic, who could shine in the absence of Mark Williams. With the current injury landscape, value plays are crucial for crafting winning lineups.