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 the Detroit 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.