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.
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Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Saturday's games
A six-pack of NBA action awaits fantasy managers and bettors. As a nod to how the All-Star game was formatted for decades, a theme from today's games is Eastern versus Western Conference competition.
Just two of today's six games feature intraconference matchups. Familiar matchups often prove helpful given how much head-to-head data accumulates, although the San Antonio Spurs and the Detroit Pistons are massive favorites versus the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls, respectively. Blowout ingredients don't signal a need to outright fade these teams, rather account for the inherent risk present in such games.
There are some gems to focus on, as well; the New Orleans Pelicans host the Philadelphia 76ers in a matchup with a close point spread and a healthy point total. The absence of Joel Embiid and Paul George for Philly could lead to increased value throughout the rotation. The Pelicans, meanwhile, might fly on offense versus an undersized opponent.
The marquee matchup of the day airs this evening at 8:30 p.m. on ABC with the Houston Rockets making their annual stop in Madison Square Garden to face the New York Knicks. The Knicks are positioned as slight favorites for this anticipated matchup.
A proactive approach to today's games could prove rewarding, especially with decisions due early. 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
Maxime Raynaud skies for big dunk
Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings (Rostered in 24.3% of ESPN leagues): The runway is clear for this impressive rookie to ascend in the final weeks of the season. With Domantas Sabonis ruled out the rest of the season, Raynaud is due for big minutes and healthy usage against this impressive San Antonio frontcourt. Those in deeper formats should give Precious Achuiwa a look given his recent surge in minutes, usage, and production. Teammate Devin Carter is the target for those looking for guard depth.
Jeremiah Fears, SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans (21.1%): The name is appropriate given this guy has zero fear of finding his own shot. With such confidence and the trust of his staff to create, Fears is in a good spot to produce against a 76ers backcourt that lacks point-of-attack stoppers past V.J. Edgecombe.
Jalen Smith, PF/C, Chicago Bulls (12.1%): Like Raynaud, there is now even more playing time and opportunity rates for Smith to consume in his frontcourt. The departure of Nikola Vucevic means gobs of rebounding chances for Smith on a team with little frontcourt depth.
Andre Drummond, C, Philadelphia 76ers (5.5%): Drummond might take offense to calling the Sixers' undersized, as he's been playing more minutes with Embiid out recently. The issue is the volatility of his playing time, although he's in a good spot tonight against a Pelicans team that is on the second leg of a back-to-back series.
McCormick's bets for Saturday
Norman Powell throws it up with one hand and sinks the bucket with one second left before half.
Norman Powell over 20.5 points (-120)
The Heat are on the second leg of a back-to-back, but Powell should remain the offensive engine for Miami's fast-paced offense tonight. The real sell is the porous Memphis defense, as they now have little resistance on either the perimeter or in the paint.
Karl-Anthony Towns over 17.5 points (-118)
Hitting this points threshold in five of his past six games, KAT benefits from not having to bang with Steven Adams in this matchup. Towns doesn't see the shooting volume he once did for the Timberwolves, but he is set to play 30 minutes in a pivotal prime time matchup.
Devin Carter over 11.5 points (-121)
A former lottery pick now healthy and earning big minutes in the aftermath of Zach LaVine's injury, Carter has averaged 28 minutes over his past four games with a steady diet of touches and shots. Even in a blowout scenario, I envision Carter getting his shots up.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
Bam Adebayo gets the hoop and the harm
$8,100+ salaries
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat ($8,900)
The Grizzlies don't have the personnel to slow down Adebayo on either side of the floor. With at least 44 DraftKings points in three of his past four, the precedent for production is here. With a combination of a high floor and impressive ceiling aid Adebayo's case as a building block.
Kevin Durant, SF, Houston Rockets ($8,700)
The stage is set for Durant, fresh from nearly 60 DraftKings points against the Hornets. The Rockets need his scoring, especially facing a New York group that can score with the best of them. The shots, minutes, and late-game usage should all be there for Durant.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Tyler Herro, SG, Miami Heat ($7,400)
If he's active tonight, Herro could eat against a soft Memphis defense that rates third-worst in the league over the past 15 games. The pace and matchup ingredients are so inviting that the risks with Herro's durability are worth taking on.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Devin Carter, SG, Sacramento Kings ($5,100)
Building on his case is the fact Carter has been collecting rebounds and dishing assists at rewarding levels in the past several games. This is a case of usage and opportunity rates outweighing the lack of track record for Carter.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns
5 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +1.5 (-108) | Suns -1.5 (-112)
Money line: Magic +105 | Suns -125
Total: 219.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 1.2, straight up 54%, 224.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Jalen Suggs, (GTD - Back); Franz Wagner, (OUT - Ankle)
Suns: Grayson Allen, (GTD - Ankle); Cole Anthony, (OUT - Not Injury Related); Devin Booker, (OUT - Hip); Haywood Highsmith, (OUT - Knee)
Philadelphia 76ers at New Orleans Pelicans
7 p.m. ET
Line: 76ers -3.5 (-115) | Pelicans +3.5 (-105)
Money line: 76ers -162 | Pelicans +136
Total: 233.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 1.7, straight up 55%, 238.8 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Joel Embiid, (OUT - Lower Leg); Paul George, (OUT - Suspension)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (GTD - Achilles); Micah Peavy, (GTD - Toe); Trey Murphy III, (GTD - Shoulder); Yves Missi, (GTD - Calf)
Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat
8 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies +10.5 (-108) | Heat -10.5 (-112)
Money line: Grizzlies +370 | Heat -485
Total: 238.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 4.9, straight up 65%, 239.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Cedric Coward, (GTD - Knee); Santi Aldama, (GTD - Knee); Scotty Pippen Jr., (GTD - Toe); Ty Jerome, (GTD - Calf); Walter Clayton Jr., (GTD - Calf); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Calf); Zach Edey, (OUT - Ankle); Ja Morant, (OUT - Elbow); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, (OFS - Finger)
Heat: Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -10.5 (-115) | Bulls +10.5 (-105)
Money line: Pistons -535 | Bulls +400
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 9.5, straight up 76%, 235.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Tolu Smith, (GTD - Knee); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT - Suspension)
Bulls: Guerschon Yabusele, (GTD - Calf); Jaden Ivey, (GTD - Knee); Zach Collins, (OUT - Toe); Noa Essengue, (OFS - Shoulder)
Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +18.5 (-112) | Spurs -18.5 (-108)
Money line: Kings +1000 | Spurs -1800
Total: 230.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 15.5, straight up 87%, 230.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Dylan Cardwell, (OUT - Ankle); De'Andre Hunter, (OFS - Eye); Domantas Sabonis, (OFS - Knee); Zach LaVine, (OFS - Finger)
Spurs: Lindy Waters III, (GTD - Knee); David Jones Garcia, (OFS - Ankle)
Houston Rockets at New York Knicks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Rockets +3.5 (-115) | Knicks -3.5 (-105)
Money line: Rockets +136 | Knicks -162
Total: 217.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 3.1, straight up 59%, 223.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Knee); Steven Adams, (OFS - Ankle)
Knicks: Miles McBride, (OUT - Pelvis)
