{"id":297735,"date":"2025-11-20T19:51:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T19:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/297735\/"},"modified":"2025-11-20T19:51:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T19:51:14","slug":"fantasy-basketball-picks-and-betting-tips-for-thursdays-nba-games-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/297735\/","title":{"rendered":"Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Thursday’s NBA games"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Eric MoodyNov 20, 2025, 11:53 AM ET<\/p>\n

Close<\/a>Eric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men’s and women’s basketball, and sports betting at ESPN. Eric joined ESPN in 2021 after working as a senior fantasy analyst at Pro Football Network. Prior to that, he spent much of his career as a manager at a Fortune 100 financial services company.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

What you need to know for Thursday<\/p>\n

The NBA features four games on Thursday’s slate. The matchup I have my eye on has the LA Clippers<\/a>, winners of just two of their last 10, traveling to Orlando to face a Magic<\/a> team coming off a huge home win against the Golden State Warriors<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Paolo Banchero<\/a> is out for this game, and the Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard<\/a> as he deals with an ankle injury. The Clippers’ season already feels like it’s hanging by a thread in a competitive Western Conference, especially with Bradley Beal<\/a> done for the year because of a hip injury. A win over the Magic on their home court won’t be easy. Orlando started the season slow but has won seven of its last 10 games.<\/p>\n

Let’s break down the action and find some fantasy streamers and betting angles to make the most of tonight’s slate.<\/p>\n

Thursday’s fantasy stream team<\/p>\n

Zach Edey<\/a>, C, Memphis Grizzlies<\/a> (rostered in 36.2% of ESPN leagues)<\/p>\n

Edey has played just two games this season, but he has averaged 10.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 2.0 BPG in 25.0 MPG in those games. He should operate as the primary big for the Grizzlies with Jaren Jackson Jr<\/a>. doubtful to play. This is a favorable matchup for Edey, as the Sacramento Kings<\/a> have been getting crushed by centers all season and rank inside the top eight in fantasy points per game allowed to the position.<\/p>\n

Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n

2 Related<\/p>\n

Harrison Barnes<\/a>, PF, San Antonio Spurs<\/a> (16.3% rostered)<\/p>\n

Barnes has played at least 30 minutes and scored 40 or more fantasy points in consecutive games for a Spurs team without Victor Wembanyama<\/a> and Stephon Castle<\/a>. He primarily provides points but can chip in a few rebounds and assists. Barnes has a history of stepping up when his team needs him, and the 13-year veteran is in a good spot against the Atlanta Hawks<\/a> on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Tristan da Silva<\/a>, SF, Magic (7.8%)<\/p>\n

Da Silva has averaged 34 FPPG and 33.6 MPG over his last three outings with Banchero sidelined by a groin injury and should continue to play a major role in the rotation against the Clippers on Thursday night with Banchero already ruled out. The Clippers rank near the bottom of the league in points allowed per 100 possessions, which sets up another strong spot for da Silva.<\/p>\n

Vince Williams Jr<\/a>., SG\/PG, Grizzlies (5.5%)<\/p>\n

Ja Morant<\/a> is expected to be out for a while, which positions Williams as an excellent streamer in the interim. He played a season-high 30 minutes against the Spurs on Tuesday night and posted a season-high 36 fantasy points in his second start of the season. He’s in a good spot against a Kings team that ranks near the bottom of the league in points allowed per 100 possessions and is in the top eight in fantasy points per game allowed to point guards.<\/p>\n

Moody’s bets for Thursday<\/p>\n

James Harden<\/a> to go OVER 26.5 points (-110)<\/a><\/p>\n

Harden has cleared this line in four of his last five games, averaging 22.0 FGA in 38.9 MPG over that stretch, and is in a great spot against the Magic with Leonard ruled out. Orlando is a solid defensive team and ranks 14th in defensive rating while limiting assists by reducing the number of open shots they allow, but this matchup still favors Harden because of how dangerous he is in isolation. Harden scored 25 against the Oklahoma City Thunder<\/a>‘s elite defense on November 4, so it’s reasonable to trust him to get 27 against the Magic.<\/p>\n

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Zach Edey to record a double-double (+120)<\/a><\/p>\n

Edey should see similar usage against the Kings as he did in his first two games this season. Sacramento is horrendous defensively and ranks near the bottom of the league in defensive rating. The Kings also struggle against centers and give up the third-most RPG to the position. Edey has averaged 9.3 PPG and 8.3 RPG in 21.6 MPG so far in his career. Considering his role and the matchup, I like his chances of posting a double-double here.<\/p>\n

Tyrese Maxey<\/a> to go OVER 35.5 points + assists (-120)<\/a><\/p>\n

The stage is set for Maxey to have another big game as the Philadelphia 76ers<\/a>‘ primary scorer and facilitator, regardless of whether Joel Embiid<\/a> plays tonight. The narrow spread suggests a competitive matchup. Maxey’s 32.7% usage rate is the highest of his career, and he has cleared this line in 71% of his 14 games this season. The matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks<\/a> is also favorable, as they have allowed the seventh-most PPG and ninth-most APG to point guards this year.<\/p>\n

Projections and injury reports<\/p>\n

Basketball Power Index<\/a> by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET<\/a><\/p>\n

LA Clippers<\/a> at Orlando Magic<\/a>
7 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Line: Clippers +5.5 (-105) | Magic -5.5 (-115)
Money line: Clippers +175 | Magic -210
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 6.5, straight up 70%, 219.5 total points.<\/p>\n

Injury Report:<\/p>\n

Clippers: Bradley Beal<\/a>, (OFS – Hip); Jordan Miller<\/a>, (OUT – Hamstring); Kawhi Leonard<\/a>, (OUT – Ankle); Derrick Jones Jr.<\/a>, (OUT – Knee)<\/p>\n

Magic: Paolo Banchero<\/a>, (OUT – Groin); Moritz Wagner<\/a>, (OUT – Knee)<\/p>\n

Sacramento Kings<\/a> at Memphis Grizzlies<\/a>
8 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Line: Kings +2.5 (-110) | Grizzlies -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Kings +125 | Grizzlies -145
Total: 234.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 3.5, straight up 61%, 234.9 total points.<\/p>\n

Injury Report:<\/p>\n

Kings: Domantas Sabonis<\/a>, (GTD – Knee); Keegan Murray<\/a>, (GTD – Thumb)<\/p>\n

Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr.<\/a>, (OUT – Toe); Jaren Jackson Jr.<\/a>, (GTD – Ankle); Ty Jerome<\/a>, (OUT – Calf); Ja Morant<\/a>, (OUT – Calf); Javon Small<\/a>, (OUT – Toe); Brandon Clarke<\/a>, (OUT – Knee)<\/p>\n

Philadelphia 76ers<\/a> at Milwaukee Bucks<\/a>
8 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Line: 76ers -2.5 (-110) | Bucks +2.5 (-110)
Money line: 76ers -140 | Bucks +120
Total: 224.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 1.2, straight up 54%, 234.2 total points.<\/p>\n

Injury Report:<\/p>\n

76ers: Joel Embiid<\/a>, (GTD – Knee); Paul George<\/a>, (GTD – Knee); Adem Bona<\/a>, (OUT – Ankle); Kelly Oubre Jr.<\/a>, (OUT – Knee)<\/p>\n

Bucks: Taurean Prince<\/a>, (OUT – Neck); Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a>, (OUT – Groin); Kevin Porter Jr.<\/a>, (OUT – Knee)<\/p>\n

Atlanta Hawks<\/a> at San Antonio Spurs<\/a>
8 p.m. ET on NBA TV<\/p>\n

Line: Hawks +1.5 (-125) | Spurs -1.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Hawks -115 | Spurs -105
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 1.4, straight up 54%, 233.3 total points.<\/p>\n

Injury Report:<\/p>\n

Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis<\/a>, (GTD – Knee); Zaccharie Risacher<\/a>, (GTD – Hip); Trae Young<\/a>, (OUT – Knee); N’Faly Dante<\/a>, (OUT – Knee)<\/p>\n

Spurs: Dylan Harper<\/a>, (OUT – Calf); Jordan McLaughlin<\/a>, (OUT – Hamstring); Stephon Castle<\/a>, (OUT – Hip); Victor Wembanyama<\/a>, (OUT – Calf)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eric MoodyNov 20, 2025, 11:53 AM ET CloseEric Moody is a writer for fantasy football, men’s and women’s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":297736,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[557],"tags":[64,63,590,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-297735","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-nba","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=297735"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297735\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/297736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=297735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=297735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=297735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}