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 Saturday's games
"Silly season" is upon us. We're already enduring an historic tanking season, one that will likely inspire actual change to the incentive structure for teams. How should fantasy managers and bettors navigate these hazy final weeks of the season?
Today's seven-game slate offers a handful of potentially competitive matchups in addition to a series of mismatches marked by massive spreads. In fact, as a sign that we've indeed entered the silly side, the Boston Celtics are favored by 19.5 points over the Washington Wizards, marking the biggest spread of the season.
Will a Celtic go for 84 points? Jokes aside, this is just one of four games today with a spread of at least 8.5 points. Blowouts present some clear risks for fantasy managers and those pursuing player props; playing time and offensive opportunity rates can prove less predictable in lopsided games. This is even truer later in the season, when rest is prioritized ahead of the postseason.
In a game with real seeding implications, the Denver Nuggets visit the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:40 p.m. ET on ABC. It helps that this game has the coveted combo of a close spread and the highest point total of the day. Another compelling matchup features an afternoon meeting between the Charlotte Hornets and San Antonio Spurs; two of the best teams of the calendar year.
Today is stocked with afternoon and early evening games, which means we'll want to make lineup and betting decisions ahead of the first whistle. Managing this stage of the season means identifying which players may benefit from shifting rotations and which matchups carry greater volatility. With an eye toward uncovering productive fantasy streamers and compelling betting angles, let's take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Saturday's fantasy stream team
Tristan da Silva, SF, Orlando Magic (Rostered in 25.0% of ESPN leagues): Featured in a recent roundtable focused on rising players for these final games of the season, da Silva is taking his game and reputation to a new level this past week. As a 3-and-D role player for the Magic, scoring hasn't been the calling card for da Silva. With 49 points over his past two games and now a matchup with the fast-paced Miami Heat, da Silva is a strong streaming option today.
Derrick Jones Jr., SF, LA Clippers (15.7%): One of the best non-center rim protectors in the league, Jones is also among the best wings when it comes to collecting steals. With a stellar four "stocks" per game over the past week and a high-percentage shot diet on offense, Jones is a high-floor option facing a weak Sacramento Kings team tonight.
Nique Clifford, SG, Sacramento Kings (14.8%): Speaking of those Kings, Clifford is the rare positive from another troubling season in Sacramento. The rookie combo guard is finding success as a facilitator and rebounder, helping to round out his profile. The biggest angle in playing time, with Clifford averaging 39 minutes the past two outings.
Justin Edwards, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (2.1%): Earning shots and minutes lately thanks to a depleted Philadelphia roster, Edwards just produced an awesome line against the Detroit Pistons. The visiting Brooklyn Nets appear set on sitting most of their top players today, setting up Edwards for success.
Justin Edwards throws down the hammer
McCormick's bets for Saturday
Nikola Jokic over 28.5 points (-117)
As the league's best offensive engine, Jokic has an additional gear to reach in this game thanks to clear matchup advantages over the Lakers' suspect depth chart at center. This game has a total of 246.5 points, the highest of the day, and a meeting with a Lakers defense that has no answer for Jokic in the paint, this lofty scoring number appears in reach.
Tristan da Silva over 11.5 points (-123)
Opponents take more shots against high-paced teams. The Heat lead the league in pace. da Silva is on a career-best scoring stretch. With his 3-point shooting acumen and a recent rise in driving and subsequent trips to the free throw line, da Silva has multiple paths to getting over this scoring threshold.
Tristan da Silva somehow gets the and-1 to fall
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers ($9,900)
Facing the Kings provides strong offensive and defensive upside. The Clippers' matchup with Sacramento airs on ESPN at 10:30 p.m. ET, making it a worthwhile watch for Leonard's ability to deliver a two-way opus. With evening DFS contests also featuring stars from the Lakers and Nuggets, Leonard offers a more affordable pivot from Luka Dončić or Nikola Jokić. Pairing Leonard with one of those superstar peers could also prove rewarding.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Bennedict Mathurin, SF, LA Clippers ($6,600)
The Clippers' pivot from the James Harden era to featuring Mathurin and Darius Garland has been impressive. Posting at least 31 DraftKings points in four straight and with a green light to hunt for his own offense in second units, Mathurin has become a fun complementary scorer to Leonard worthy of attention against a porous defense.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Kyle Kuzma, PF, Milwaukee Bucks ($4,900)
One of the more unpredictable players in the league, Kuzma is just as likely to put up 19 DraftKings points as he is 49. The good news? He posted 49 fantasy points two games ago, flashing that upside we covet from less expensive wings. The reason he stands out is Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable and frankly just doesn't look comfortable on the floor when active, leading to the potential for Kuzma to take on a larger role in the rotation.
Kyle Kuzma drains triple vs. Phoenix Suns
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers
1 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +8.5 (-105) | 76ers -8.5 (-115)
Money line: Nets +300 | 76ers -380
Total: 217.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 7.5, straight up 72%, 223.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Ochai Agbaji, (GTD - Ankle); Drake Powell, (OUT - Knee); Michael Porter Jr., (OUT - Ankle); Day'Ron Sharpe, (OFS - Thumb); Egor Demin, (OFS - Foot)
76ers: Adem Bona, (GTD - Back); Andre Drummond, (GTD - Back); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Oblique); Paul George, (OUT - Suspension); Kelly Oubre Jr., (OUT - Elbow); Johni Broome, (OUT - Knee); Tyrese Maxey, (OUT - Finger)
Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks
3 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks +9.5 (-112) | Hawks -9.5 (-108)
Money line: Bucks +280 | Hawks -355
Total: 227.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 7.8, straight up 73%, 233.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Calf); Kevin Porter Jr., (GTD - Knee); Ousmane Dieng, (GTD - Illness); Alex Antetokounmpo, (OUT - Illness)
Hawks: Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT - Knee)
Charlotte Hornets at San Antonio Spurs
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: Hornets +4.5 (-105) | Spurs -4.5 (-115)
Money line: Hornets +170 | Spurs -205
Total: 228.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 2.5, straight up 58%, 227.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Coby White, (GTD - Heel); Ryan Kalkbrenner, (GTD - Illness); Liam McNeeley, (OUT - Ankle); Tidjane Salaun, (OUT - Calf)
Spurs: Dylan Harper, (GTD - Calf); Victor Wembanyama, (GTD - Ankle); Emanuel Miller, (OUT - Undisclosed); David Jones Garcia, (OFS - Ankle)
Washington Wizards at Boston Celtics
6 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +19.5 (-105) | Celtics -19.5 (-115)
Money line: Wizards +1200 | Celtics -2400
Total: 230.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 17.6, straight up 90%, 223.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Sharife Cooper, (GTD - Ankle); Kyshawn George, (OUT - Elbow); Anthony Davis, (OUT - Finger); D'Angelo Russell, (OUT - Not Injury Related); Cam Whitmore, (OFS - Shoulder)
Celtics: Baylor Scheierman, (GTD - Ankle); Derrick White, (GTD - Knee); Nikola Vucevic, (OUT - Finger)
Orlando Magic at Miami Heat
8 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +3.5 (-105) | Heat -3.5 (-115)
Money line: Magic +136 | Heat -162
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 2.6, straight up 58%, 236.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Anthony Black, (OUT - Abdomen); Franz Wagner, (OUT - Ankle); Jonathan Isaac, (OUT - Knee)
Heat: Dru Smith, (GTD - Hip); Norman Powell, (GTD - Groin); Tyler Herro, (GTD - Quadriceps); Andrew Wiggins, (OUT - Toe); Nikola Jovic, (OUT - Back); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets -3.5 (-102) | Lakers +3.5 (-118)
Money line: Nuggets -155 | Lakers +130
Total: 246.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 0.3, straight up 51%, 237.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, (GTD - Hamstring); Jamal Murray, (GTD - Ankle); Peyton Watson, (OUT - Hamstring)
Lakers: Jaxson Hayes, (GTD - Back); Maxi Kleber, (OUT - Back)
Sacramento Kings at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +13.5 (-108) | Clippers -13.5 (-112)
Money line: Kings +600 | Clippers -900
Total: 231.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 13.4, straight up 84%, 226.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Malik Monk, (GTD - Ankle); Devin Carter, (OUT - Calf); Drew Eubanks, (OUT - Thumb); Keegan Murray, (OUT - Ankle); De'Andre Hunter, (OFS - Eye); Domantas Sabonis, (OFS - Knee); Zach LaVine, (OFS - Finger)
Clippers: Darius Garland, (GTD - Toe); John Collins, (OUT - Neck); Bradley Beal, (OFS - Hip); Yanic Konan Niederhauser, (OFS - Foot)