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 forMonday’s games
The NBA has 10 games on the schedule for this final Monday before the All-Star Break. The league is still settling down after all the moves prior to last week’s trade deadline and, with the break coming up, there are several players who may be sitting or playing fewer minutes knowing there is rest and a chance to recover on the horizon. Injuries that a player might typically try to play through might be grounds to sit at this point on the schedule, somewhat similar to how players take added rest days ahead of the playoffs.
This all breeds opportunity for players in new situations to make names for themselves, or for healthy players to outproduce their norms. Monday is a relatively busy day with 20 of the 30 teams in play, so there are lots of players and teams with the opportunity to shine.
As always, we’ll dig into the matchups and identify fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS plays of interest for tonight’s games.
Monday’s fantasy stream team
Isaiah Collier, PG, Utah Jazz (rostered in 47.3% of ESPN leagues): Collier has notched three straight double-doubles, two as a starter in place of Keyonte George and one as a sixth man once George returned. Collier still played 32 minutes in that game off the bench and is averaging 20.7 PPG and 14.3 APG in that span.
Kyle Kuzma, PF/SF, Milwaukee Bucks (28.3% rostered): Kuzma had a down effort last Wednesday and sat Friday due to calf soreness, but in the four games before that was averaging 20.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 5.5 APG. Kuzma is expected to return Monday.
Nique Clifford, SG, Sacramento Kings (4.0%): Clifford has stepped up of late, scoring double-figures in three straight games while averaging 20.0 PPG in that span. He’ll have a larger than average role Monday with Zach LaVine, De’Andre Hunter and Malik Monk all out.
Day’Ron Sharpe, C, Brooklyn Nets (4.2%): Sharpe is coming off a 19-point, 9-rebound performance in his last outing, and over his last five he is averaging 13.2 PPG and 9.6 RPG in just under 20 MPG.
Dre’s favorite bets for Monday
Kon Knueppel OVER 17.5 points (-121)
Knueppel is a frontline scorer for the Charlotte Hornets on a consistent basis. He is averaging 18.9 PPG on the season and has picked it up of late, averaging 22.2 PPG over his last five outings. He’ll be facing a Detroit Pistons squad that he dropped 19 points against in his first matchup against, back in December.
Jalen Johnson 8+ assists (-148)
Johnson has been in full triple-double mode of late, averaging 28.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 11.0 APG over his last four games. He dished out at least eight assists in all four of those games and in six of his last eight games overall. Johnson is playing point forward for the Atlanta Hawks and is the primary decision maker on most possessions. He will be facing a Minnesota Timberwolves squad that has a big defensive frontline but has some difficulty with dynamic big forwards, having just been torched by Kawhi Leonard (41 points) yesterday. You could also get Johnson to produce a triple-double at solid plus-money (+257).
Saddiq Bey OVER 17.5 points (-121)
Bey is one of the Pelicans’ primary scoring options, with a green light almost equal with leading scorersTrey Murphy III and Zion Williamson. In his last nine games, Bey averaged 23.6 PPG with at least 20 points in seven of them. He dropped 30 points Friday in his most recent game, the third time he has scored 30 in a two-week span.
Los Angeles Lakers +6.5 (-115) OVER Oklahoma City Thunder
Both teams are missing their MVP candidates tonight, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are sidelined. The Thunder might get Jalen Williams back from a 10-game injury absence, and the Lakers got Austin Reaves back last week. Reaves is rounding into form with averages of 22.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 3.7 APG in only 23.3 MPG in his first three games back.
While the Thunder’s defense makes any game against them difficult, the Lakers are playing at home, are still led by two stars in Reaves and LeBron James, and should be able to at least keep the game competitive against the SGA-less Thunder. ESPN BPI has the Thunder favored, but by a smaller margin than the spread. I’ll take the Lakers with the points.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Jalen Johnson, PF, Hawks ($10,700): Johnson is a walking triple-double right now who has produced more than 60 fantasy points in four straight games.
Cade Cunningham, PG, Pistons ($10,000): Cunningham played only 22 minutes in his last outing, a 28-point blowout win, but before that he had a streak of seven straight games averaging over 52 fantasy points per game.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF, Jazz ($7,600): Jackson joined his new Jazz teammates on Saturday and dropped 37 fantasy points in 25 minutes, continuing his streak of six straight games landing between 33-57 fantasy points. He has a good matchup against a Miami Heat team that ranks 25th in production allowed to opposing power forwards.
Saddiq Bey, SF, New Orleans Pelicans ($6,600): Bey has scored more than 40 fantasy points in seven of his last nine games.
$3,000-$6,000 salaries
Anfernee Simons, SG, Chicago Bulls ($5,600): Simons is back in a bigger role for his new team and has dropped more than 30 fantasy points in each of his first two games with the Bulls.
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG, Denver Nuggets ($5,400): Hardaway is playing well, posting more than 29 fantasy points in consecutive games, and he has a bigger role with Peyton Watson sidelined.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -2.5 (-115) | Hornets +2.5 (-105)
Money line: Pistons -148 | Hornets +124
Total: 222.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 4.2, straight up 63%, 226.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Jalen Duren, (GTD – Knee); Ronald Holland II, (OUT – Personal); Tolu Smith, (OUT – Calf)
Hornets: Malaki Branham, (OUT – Not Injury Related); Coby White, (OUT – Calf)
Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bulls -4.5 (EVEN) | Nets +4.5 (-120)
Money line: Bulls -175 | Nets +145
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 1.4, straight up 54%, 226.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Jalen Smith, (GTD – Calf); Josh Giddey, (GTD – Hamstring); Tre Jones, (GTD – Hamstring); Zach Collins, (OUT – Toe); Noa Essengue, (OFS – Shoulder)
Nets: Michael Porter Jr., (OUT – Knee)
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Jazz +7.5 (-112) | Heat -7.5 (-108)
Money line: Jazz +240 | Heat -298
Total: 239.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 9.5, straight up 76%, 251.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Jazz: Keyonte George, (OUT – Ankle); Elijah Harkless, (OUT – Hamstring); Walker Kessler, (OFS – Shoulder)
Heat: Norman Powell, (GTD – Back); Pelle Larsson, (GTD – Elbow); Tyler Herro, (GTD – Ribs); Terry Rozier, (OUT – Not Injury Related)
Milwaukee Bucks at Orlando Magic
7:30 p.m. ET on Peacock
Line: Bucks +11.5 (-115) | Magic -11.5 (-105)
Money line: Bucks +380 | Magic -500
Total: 219.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 6.6, straight up 69%, 225.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (OUT – Calf); Taurean Prince, (OUT – Neck)
Magic: Franz Wagner, (GTD – Ankle); Colin Castleton, (OUT – Thumb)
Atlanta Hawks at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks +6.5 (-108) | Timberwolves -6.5 (-112)
Money line: Hawks +205 | Timberwolves -250
Total: 239.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 4.3, straight up 63%, 241.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Dyson Daniels, (GTD – Ankle); Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT – Knee)
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr., (GTD – Foot)
Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +7.5 (-105) | Pelicans -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Kings +260 | Pelicans -325
Total: 230.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 7.3, straight up 71%, 237.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Domantas Sabonis, (GTD – Back); Doug McDermott, (GTD – Shoulder); Malik Monk, (OUT – Illness); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Finger); De’Andre Hunter, (OUT – Eye); Keegan Murray, (OUT – Ankle)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT – Achilles)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +1.5 (-120) | Nuggets -1.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Cavaliers -108 | Nuggets -112
Total: 239.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 2.7, straight up 58%, 243.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Dean Wade, (GTD – Ankle); Jaylon Tyson, (GTD – Ankle); Evan Mobley, (OUT – Calf)
Nuggets: Christian Braun, (GTD – Ankle); Jamal Murray, (GTD – Hip); Nikola Jokic, (GTD – Ankle); Spencer Jones, (OUT – Concussion); Aaron Gordon, (OUT – Hamstring); Peyton Watson, (OUT – Hamstring); Tamar Bates, (OUT – Foot)
Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies +8.5 (-102) | Warriors -8.5 (-118)
Money line: Grizzlies +310 | Warriors -395
Total: 221.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 3, straight up 59%, 231.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Walter Clayton Jr., (GTD – Calf); Santi Aldama, (OUT – Knee); Brandon Clarke, (OUT – Calf); Ja Morant, (OUT – Elbow); Zach Edey, (OUT – Ankle)
Warriors: Stephen Curry, (OUT – Knee); Kristaps Porzingis, (OUT – Achilles); Seth Curry, (OUT – Back); Jimmy Butler III, (OFS – Knee)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Lakers
10 p.m. ET on Peacock
Line: Thunder -7.5 (-102) | Lakers +7.5 (-118)
Money line: Thunder -258 | Lakers +210
Total: 223.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 5.6, straight up 66%, 227.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Ajay Mitchell, (OUT – Abdomen); Nikola Topic, (OUT – Illness); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (OUT – Abdomen); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee)
Lakers: Deandre Ayton, (GTD – Knee); Adou Thiero, (OUT – Knee); Luka Doncic, (OUT – Hamstring)
Philadelphia 76ers at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET
Line: 76ers -3.5 (-105) | Blazers +3.5 (-115)
Money line: 76ers -162 | Blazers +136
Total: 228.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 2.2, straight up 57%, 235.2 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Joel Embiid, (GTD – Knee); Paul George, (OUT – Suspension)
Blazers: Deni Avdija, (GTD – Back); Robert Williams III, (GTD – Knee); Scoot Henderson, (GTD – Hamstring); Kris Murray, (OUT – Back); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Knee); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Calf); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles)
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