Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Friday - ESPN

One matchup stands out on Friday's seven-game slate as the Philadelphia 76ers host the Denver Nuggets. These teams last met in Denver on Jan. 21, but this time the stakes feel different. The struggling Nuggets have dropped three straight while the 76ers are riding a four-game winning streak. However, Philadelphia will be without Joel Embiid and Paul George, which may change the dynamic.

Two bets from this game immediately caught my attention, but there are other key plays around the league in both betting and fantasy that you need to know about.

Bruce Brown, SG/SF, Toronto Raptors (available in 95.6% of ESPN leagues) Brown is producing across the board — scoring, rebounding, assists and steals — especially over the past six games. He has played at least 19 minutes in each of those contests and scored 30 fantasy points in four of them… He's a solid option for those in deeper formats, but keep an eye on the status of Immanuel Quickley and Gradey Dick, as their availability could impact Brown's streaming value.

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Moussa Diabate, Charlotte Hornets (98.7%) Diabate is firmly on the streaming radar with Mark Williams out Friday night. He's been playing more minutes than starter Taj Gibson lately, and has scored at least 24 fantasy points in three of his past four games, including a 34-point performance on Saturday. Despite the Hornets being 13.5-point underdogs tonight, Diabate's minutes should be secure, making him a stronger streaming option.

Eric Gordon, SG/SF, Philadelphia 76ers (97.4%) Gordon has scored 24 or more fantasy points in four straight games, and he's played at least 29 minutes in