Jim McCormickJan 24, 2026, 10:50 AM 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
A seven-game slate tips off in the early afternoon in North Carolina and concludes with a nightcap in Utah. Offensive optimism appears appropriate today, as five of Saturday’s matchups are set with totals of at least 230 points.
An early-afternoon matchup between the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets has blowout potential; the Hornets are nearly 12-point favorites. The rest of the slate, however, features close spreads and encouraging matchup metrics.
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
A highly anticipated matchup airs on ABC this evening, as the Dallas Mavericks host former face of the franchise Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers. You’ll notice Dončić earns an endorsement in the section below.
The finale in Salt Lake City pits the Miami Heat against the Utah Jazz in a contest with a total of 245.5 points, representing an expectation of nearly 10% more scoring than the matchup between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Such gaps can be helpful to recognize when evaluating streaming candidates, DFS lineups, and player props.
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
Max Christie, SG, Dallas Mavericks (rostered in 18.1% of ESPN leagues): The Mavericks have dealt with a series of disappointing outcomes this season, but Christie has been a key positive. Producing efficient scoring lines over the past three outings, Christie is due for a rewarding workload in today’s matchup with his former team.
Brandin Podziemski, SG/PG, Golden State Warriors (35.9%): A savvy combo guard who can deliver diverse statistical lines, “Podz” is going to earn more usage and minutes in the wake of Jimmy Butler III‘s knee injury. The staff clearly trusts Podziemski as a creator, confirmed by his 10 assists in the team’s most recent game.
P.J. Washington, PF/SF, Dallas Mavericks (49.2%): Lost in the shuffle this season due to injury, Washington is back in the mix and offering that unique blend of rim protection and bully-ball offense. With the team needing his size and rebounding, Washington’s minutes are due to rise in the coming games.
Jaylon Tyson, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (27.5%): An absolute breakout for the Cavs this season, Tyson has proven an ability to be a secondary scorer for Cleveland in recent weeks. The 39-point eruption against Philadelphia last week reveals a higher ceiling than expected. Look for big minutes today against a physical Orlando roster.
McCormick’s bets for Saturday
Julius Randle OVER 28.5 total points and assists
With Butler out of the lineup, the Warriors are without their most capable defender for Randle’s game. Draymond Green remains a defensive force, but will be tasked with more than shadowing Randle. Randle’s ability to get to his spots at will could prove rewarding for his numbers, especially as he’s scored at least 24 points in five straight against this opponent.
Luka Doncic OVER 50.5 total points, rebounds, and assists
Yes, this is buying into the revenge narrative. Beyond that, the numbers add up. My projection has Doncic right around 52 total points, boards and dimes, leaving some cushion. Doncic has had his best nights this season when he can consistently get two feet in the paint and score or distribute from those advantage windows. Simply put, Luka is going to Luka.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Jaylen Brown, SF, Boston Celtics ($9,900): A surprising MVP candidate, Brown has taken his game to a new level this season. The Chicago Bulls remain thin at the wing defensively, while Brown could get what he wants throughout this matchup. While Doncic has amazing upside, the gap in price is massive enough to pivot to Brown as a building block.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Anthony Black, PG, Orlando Magic ($7,100): A breakout season has had its ups and downs statistically, with Black struggling in his most recent outing against the Hornets. He should be in a better spot facing a Cavaliers team that struggles at the point of attack.
Naji Marshall, SG/SF, Dallas Mavericks ($6,800): With guard eligibility and a massive spike in usage and overall opportunity rates, Marshall has proven capable of delivering big numbers in such a role. The Lakers don’t offer much defensive resistance for downhill, physical drivers like Marshall.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Brandon Williams, PG, Dallas Mavericks ($4,100): Earning more exposure of late for a team in need of guard play, Williams has been a major DFS value in four of his past five games. The Mavericks are likely to empower Williams to organize the offense for long stretches against the Lakers.
Noah Penda, SF/PF, Orlando Magic ($4,000): A bruising forward who throws his weight around, Penda has earned real run in recent games. This matchup with the Cavaliers will likely demand more minutes from Penda, given the Cavaliers affinity for running out their duo of bigs.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Washington Wizards at Charlotte Hornets
Noon ET
Line: Wizards +11.5 (-108) | Hornets -11.5 (-112)
Money line: Wizards +390 | Hornets -520
Total: 233.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Hornets by 13.6, straight up 84%, 231.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Khris Middleton, (GTD – Foot); AJ Johnson, (OUT – Illness); Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT – Back); Marvin Bagley III, (OUT – Back); Tristan Vukcevic, (OUT – Hamstring); Trae Young, (OUT – Knee); Cam Whitmore, (OFS – Shoulder)
Hornets: Brandon Miller, (GTD – Ankle); Ryan Kalkbrenner, (GTD – Wrist); KJ Simpson, (OUT – Hip); Mason Plumlee, (OUT – Groin)
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers
3 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks +1.5 (-115) | 76ers -1.5 (-105)
Money line: Knicks -105 | 76ers -115
Total: 227.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 2.8, straight up 58%, 236.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns, (GTD – Back)
76ers: Joel Embiid, (GTD – Ankle); Paul George, (GTD – Knee)
Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves
5:30 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors +5.5 (-102) | Timberwolves -5.5 (-118)
Money line: Warriors +190 | Timberwolves -230
Total: 237.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 4.9, straight up 64%, 233.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT – Knee); Seth Curry, (OUT – Back); Jimmy Butler III, (OFS – Knee)
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr., (OUT – Foot)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Orlando Magic
7 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +1.5 (EVEN) | Magic -1.5 (-120)
Money line: Cavaliers +114 | Magic -135
Total: 227.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 1.1, straight up 53%, 237.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Chris Livingston, (GTD – Wrist); Sam Merrill, (GTD – Hand); Darius Garland, (OUT – Toe); Max Strus, (OUT – Foot)
Magic: Jalen Suggs, (GTD – Knee); Colin Castleton, (OUT – Thumb); Franz Wagner, (OUT – Ankle)
Boston Celtics at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Celtics +1.5 (-115) | Bulls -1.5 (-105)
Money line: Celtics +102 | Bulls -122
Total: 230.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 6.4, straight up 68%, 233.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: Josh Minott, (GTD – Ankle); Jayson Tatum, (OUT – Achilles)
Bulls: Josh Giddey, (GTD – Hamstring); Lachlan Olbrich, (GTD – Back); Noa Essengue, (OFS – Shoulder)
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers -3.5 (-112) | Mavericks +3.5 (-108)
Money line: Lakers -175 | Mavericks +145
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 1.9, straight up 56%, 233.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Austin Reaves, (OUT – Calf); Adou Thiero, (OUT – Knee)
Mavericks: Daniel Gafford, (GTD – Ankle); Moussa Cisse, (GTD – Illness); Kyrie Irving, (OUT – Knee); Anthony Davis, (OUT – Finger); Dante Exum, (OFS – Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OFS – Foot)
Miami Heat at Utah Jazz
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Heat -5.5 (-115) | Jazz +5.5 (-105)
Money line: Heat -230 | Jazz +190
Total: 245.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 7.1, straight up 70%, 251.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Davion Mitchell, (GTD – Shoulder); Norman Powell, (GTD – Back); Pelle Larsson, (GTD – Finger); Kel’el Ware, (OUT – Hamstring); Tyler Herro, (OUT – Ribs); Terry Rozier, (OUT – Not Injury Related)
Jazz: Jusuf Nurkic, (GTD – Illness); Lauri Markkanen, (GTD – Illness); Oscar Tshiebwe, (GTD – Undisclosed); Elijah Harkless, (OUT – Hamstring); Georges Niang, (OUT – Foot); Kevin Love, (OUT – Knee); Walker Kessler, (OFS – Shoulder)