Jim McCormickJan 18, 2026, 12:00 PM ET
CloseJim McCormick is a contributing writer for fantasy football and men’s basketball at ESPN.
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 Sunday
Basketball action tips off early today in London. The Memphis Grizzlies face the Orlando Magic for the second and final stop of this unique European series. With the London game beginning at noon ET, fantasy managers and bettors will want to make decisions about the contest ahead of time.
Turning to the Western Hemisphere, there are five stateside games on the schedule. There aren’t any above-average point totals among these matchups. Of today’s six total games, only the contest in London has a total of at least 230 points.
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For context, a high NBA total these days is north of 235 points. One positive is that, with the narrow range of today’s totals, we can consider every rotation investable. When totals vary widely, it often makes sense to concentrate on the most optimistic offensive environments. In today’s case, there is a sense of parity.
Looking at injury reports, the Brooklyn Nets are resting Michael Porter Jr., while their opponent, the Chicago Bulls, could get Josh Giddey back soon. The do-it-all lead guard is listed as doubtful today after missing several weeks. This upgrade suggests Giddey’s return is imminent.
The main availability mystery is the status of Deni Avdija for today’s tilt with the Sacramento Kings. The All-Star candidate is day-to-day with a back issue that kept him out of last night’s win over the Lakers. We’ll learn more once the team releases additional information ahead of tipoff.
With an eye toward uncovering productive fantasy streamers and compelling betting angles, let’s take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Sunday’s fantasy stream team
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, Denver Nuggets (Rostered in 12.3% of ESPN leagues): A fearless bucket willing to take on star-level workloads whenever asked, Hardaway is currently in green light mode for the Nuggets. The veteran scorer is needed as a perimeter force for a team missing the game’s top offensive engine. Charlotte, meanwhile, is a quality matchup for this savvy floor-spacer.
Editor’s Picks
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Noah Clowney, PF, Brooklyn Nets (10.9%): Without Porter in the lineup, Clowney’s usage is likely to rise. This versatile forward can deliver a quality line without the need for tons of scoring, as his rebounding, passing and defense tend to surface in the box score.
Jamal Shead, PG, Toronto Raptors (4.3%): While his value is dependent on the status of Immanuel Quickley, the upside is immense if Shead is the lead creator for Toronto tonight. If Quickley remains sidelined, Shead is a top addition for his passing potential alone against a tired Lakers team.
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (7.9%): A glue guy willing to do the dirty work, Achiuwa has earned a spot in the Kings’ rotation. A recent big double-double reminds us of his potential when given big minutes. Expect a busy role for Achiuwa in this matchup with the Trail Blazers.
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Precious Achiuwa skies for big slam
Precious Achiuwa skies for big slam
McCormick’s bets for Sunday
Nikola Vucevic over 3.5 assists (-159)
At least for today, Vucevic will remain a major creator for the Chicago offense. With Giddey still on the mend, Vucevic should continue to handle a significant share of the offense, operating through the high post and facilitating for cutters and spot-up shooters. The matchup also works in his favor, as Brooklyn’s undersized frontcourt may struggle to contest his passing angles or keep him from thriving in his preferred spots.
Trey Murphy III over 2.5 3-pointers (-162)
Another costly prop, but one that feels quite achievable. Pairing this with the Vucevic play in a parlay could prove rewarding and help buffer the juice on these plays. Focusing on Murphy, he’s been a simply elite scorer in 2026. Regularly lofting over 10 3-pointers per game and with a bright green light to find his own looks, Murphy’s success from deep could continue.
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Trey Murphy III is automatic from 3-point land
Trey Murphy III buries 3 against vs. Indiana Pacers
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Jamal Murray, SG, Denver Nuggets ($9,800)
Turning up his scoring and playmaking in the absence of Nikola Jokic, Murray has impressively topped 60 DraftKings points in three of his past four games and has at least 56 in five of six. The Hornets, for their part, have allowed 52 DraftKings points per game to point guards on the season.
Scottie Barnes, SF, Toronto Raptors ($9,700)
This hulking swing forward has bullied his way to the rim against slower and smaller rosters such as the Lakers. The Lakers are playing their fifth game in seven days, while Barnes and company are younger, bigger, and fresher.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Kon Knueppel, SF, Charlotte Hornets ($6,400)
It’s difficult to overstate how good Knueppel has been as a young rookie for Charlotte. Last night saw him produce an efficient double-double, good for the third time he’s been in double figures in rebounds. The rare rookie with a high floor, Knueppel is a solid play today.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Caleb Love, PG, Portland Trail Blazers ($5,800)
With Jrue Holiday on a minutes restriction and the team on the second leg of a back-to-back series, Love could be quite busy creating offense for Portland today. Last night, Love topped 30 minutes and produced 30 combined points, assists and rebounds.
Tim Hardaway Jr., SF/PF, Denver Nuggets ($4,900)
With atypical positional eligibility and his aforementioned affinity for getting buckets, Hardaway makes for a solid option during a slate that proves shallow at power forward. The Nuggets need Hardaway’s shooting volume, and he’s never been shy to answer such a request.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. elevates for slam
Tim Hardaway Jr. rocks the rim with powerful flush
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Orlando Magic at Memphis Grizzlies
Noon ET
Line: Magic -4.5 (-102) | Grizzlies +4.5 (-118)
Money line: Magic -170 | Grizzlies +142
Total: 230.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 5.6, straight up 66%, 231.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Jett Howard, (GTD – Illness); Colin Castleton, (OUT – Thumb); Jalen Suggs, (OUT – Knee)
Grizzlies: Ja Morant, (GTD – Calf); Santi Aldama, (GTD – Calf); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Calf); , (OUT – Calf); Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT – Toe); Zach Edey, (OUT – Ankle)
Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls
7 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +6.5 (-115) | Bulls -6.5 (-105)
Money line: Nets +200 | Bulls -245
Total: 222.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 3.9, straight up 62%, 228.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Drake Powell, (OUT – Knee); Haywood Highsmith, (OUT – Knee); Ziaire Williams, (OUT – Illness)
Bulls: Josh Giddey, (GTD – Hamstring); Noa Essengue, (OFS – Shoulder)
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans +13.5 (-110) | Rockets -13.5 (-110)
Money line: Pelicans +525 | Rockets -750
Total: 231.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 13.7, straight up 84%, 234.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Herbert Jones, (OUT – Ankle); Jose Alvarado, (OUT – Oblique); Dejounte Murray, (OUT – Achilles)
Rockets: Tari Eason, (GTD – Ankle); Fred VanVleet, (OUT – Knee)
Charlotte Hornets at Denver Nuggets
8 p.m. ET
Line: Hornets +1.5 (-115) | Nuggets -1.5 (-105)
Money line: Hornets -102 | Nuggets -118
Total: 228.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 2.8, straight up 59%, 235.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Moussa Diabate, (GTD – Hamstring); Mason Plumlee, (OUT – Groin)
Nuggets: Christian Braun, (GTD – Ankle); Cameron Johnson, (OUT – Knee); Jonas Valanciunas, (OUT – Calf); Nikola Jokic, (OUT – Knee); Tamar Bates, (OUT – Foot)
Portland Trail Blazers at Sacramento Kings
9 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +2.5 (-105) | Kings -2.5 (-115)
Money line: Blazers +130 | Kings -155
Total: 227.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Kings by 0.1, straight up 50%, 235.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Deni Avdija, (GTD – Back); Kris Murray, (GTD – Back); Robert Williams III, (GTD – Knee); Scoot Henderson, (GTD – Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Knee); Blake Wesley, (OUT – Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles)
Kings: Keon Ellis, (GTD – Knee); Isaiah Stevens, (OUT – Hamstring); Keegan Murray, (OUT – Ankle)
Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Lakers
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Raptors -1.5 (-115) | Lakers +1.5 (-105)
Money line: Raptors -125 | Lakers +105
Total: 223.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 0.1, straight up 50%, 227.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Raptors: Immanuel Quickley, (GTD – Back); Jamison Battle, (GTD – Ankle); Ja’Kobe Walter, (OUT – Hip); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Back); RJ Barrett, (OUT – Ankle); Chucky Hepburn, (OUT – Knee)
Lakers: Deandre Ayton, (GTD – Knee); Jaxson Hayes, (GTD – Hamstring); Luka Doncic, (GTD – Groin); Marcus Smart, (GTD – Undisclosed); Austin Reaves, (OUT – Calf); Adou Thiero, (OUT – Knee)