André SnellingsDec 29, 2025, 11:48 AM ET
CloseDr. André Snellings is a senior writer for men’s and women’s fantasy basketball and sports betting at ESPN. André has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Michigan. He joined ESPN in 2017 after a 16-year career as a neural engineer, during which time he was also a writer and analyst for Rotowire.
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.
Jump ahead
Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Monday’s games
The NBA has a packed schedule on this final Monday of 2025, with 11 games and 22 teams in play. Only three of those games feature two winning teams facing off, but all of them feature storylines galore.
The Denver Nuggets travel to the Miami Heat, meaning we once again have the chance to see Nikola Jokic do something we may have never seen before. Last Thursday, he became the only player in NBA history to drop a 55/15/15 triple-double. Will today be another storytelling day for Jokic, or might another player on the court draw the eye?
Play the No. 1 fantasy game for free
Create or join a fantasy basketball league on ESPN. Your championship run starts today!
The Orlando Magic go north of the border to face the Toronto Raptors. They are within a half-game of one another in the standings, and the winner will move into the No. 4 slot in the Eastern Conference. The Magic should have a size advantage, but the Raptors own the athleticism edge with Scottie Barnes starting at center.
Down in Texas, the San Antonio Spurs will host the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, but have not been able to overcome their injuries to find that same winning pace this season. The Spurs have planted their flags as contenders by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder three straight times over the last two weeks, but are coming off a loss to the Utah Jazz that proves they are still human. Who steps up tonight?
These and many other storylines are in play on Monday. As always, we’ll dig deeper into the action to identify fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS plays of interest.
Monday’s fantasy stream team
Anthony Black, PG/SG, Magic (rostered in 43.5% of ESPN leagues): Black may be in the midst of taking “the leap.” He has averaged 24.1 PPG over his last six outings, and is fast becoming one of the bigger impact players on the Orlando roster.
Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns (48.5%): Gillespie is a consistent fixture on this list, because he just keeps producing. He has been metronome consistent of late, scoring 16 points in four straight games before deviating by scoring 17 in his last outing. He remains a strong shooter-scorer, but has also averaged eight assists in his last three games as well.
Sandro Mamukelashvili, PF, Raptors (16.6%): When Mamukelashvili plays at least 21 minutes, he scores in double figures. He has three straight games of at least 22 minutes, whether starting or coming off the bench because Jakob Poeltl is out. In those three games, he has averaged 13.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 2.3 stocks (steals + blocks).
Pelle Larsson, SG, Heat (4.2%): Larsson returned from a five-game layoff and immediately slotted into the starting lineup for the Heat. In his last two games in that role, he has averaged 18.5 PPG, 6.0 APG and 5.0 RPG.
Snellings’ favorite bets for MondayEditor’s Picks
1 Related
Jamal Murray OVER 26.5 points (-113)
I was tempted to pick a Jokic prop because he’s been in “video game mode” lately, but his teammate Murray has been so consistent and tends to fly below the radar. Murray has scored at least 27 points in five of his last seven games and has averaged 29.1 PPG over his last 11 outings. On Monday, he faces a Heat defense that ranks 24th in the NBA in points allowed to opposing point guards.
Wendell Carter Jr. OVER 20.5 total points and rebounds (-123)
Over his last six games, Carter has averaged 16.2 PPG and 7.3 RPG. That’s 23.5 points and rebounds and he’s gone over the 20.5 threshold in five of those six games. He should have a good chance to do it again tonight, facing an undersized Raptors frontline starting Barnes at center.
Spurs -2.5 over Cavaliers (-115)
The Spurs were upset in their last game, but had won five straight prior to that defeat and have won eight of 10 overall. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have lost two straight and five of their last seven overall. In addition, Victor Wembanyama returned to the starting lineup last game after coming off the bench in the previous six. He responded with a dominant 32-point, 5-block performance that bodes very well for the Spurs moving forward.
Josh Giddey double-double, YES (-125)
Giddey is averaging 19.5 PPG, 9.2 APG and 9.1 RPG on the season, so every night he is both a double-double and a triple-double threat. In his last six games, he has notched double-digit assists four times and double-digit rebounds twice, leading to four double-doubles and two triple-doubles over that span. The over-under in this game is 242.5 points, one of the highest of the night, so expect many points and assists to be available for Giddey in this contest.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
Play Daily Fantasy NBA at DraftKings
$8,100-plus salary
Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets ($13,000)
Jokic is the highest-priced player in the game, but he is still often priced for value. He averages 68.6 FP/G on the season, but has notched more than 82 fantasy points four times in the past month, including in both of his last two games.
Josh Giddey, PG, Chicago Bulls ($8,900)
Giddey is a nightly triple-double threat, and is the primary offense-creator for the Bulls in what should be a high-scoring matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. J
Jamal Murray, PG, Nuggets ($8,500)
Murray is averaging 29.1 PPG over his last 11 games and faces a Heat squad that is vulnerable to scoring point guards.
$6,100-$8,000 salary
Anthony Black, PG, Magic ($7,100)
Black has scored more than 40 fantasy points in three straight games, including a season-high 60 FP in his last outing.
Kel’el Ware, C, Heat ($6,700)
Ware has scored more than 32 fantasy points in five of his last six games, including three games of more than 48 fantasy points and two over 50 in that span.
$3,500-$6,000 salary
Moussa Diabate, PF, Charlotte Hornets ($5,300)
Diabate has been strong since moving into the Hornets’ starting lineup as an injury sub. He is averaging more than 35 FP/game in his last three outings.
Bilal Coulibaly, SG, Washington Wizards ($5,200)
Coulibaly returned strong after a one-game layoff, totaling 35 points and 16 rebounds in a pair of contests over the weekend.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks -3.5 (-102) | Hornets +3.5 (-118)
Money line: Bucks -155 | Hornets +130
Total: 228.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Bucks by 0, straight up 50%, 231.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Taurean Prince, (OUT – Neck); Gary Trent Jr., (GTD – Calf)
Hornets: Grant Williams, (OUT – Knee); Sion James, (GTD – Illness); Kon Knueppel, (OUT – Ankle); Mason Plumlee, (OUT – Groin); Ryan Kalkbrenner, (OUT – Elbow)
Phoenix Suns at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. ET
Line: Suns -10.5 (-110) | Wizards +10.5 (-110)
Money line: Suns -500 | Wizards +380
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Suns by 8, straight up 71%, 235.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Suns: Jalen Green, (OUT – Hamstring); Ryan Dunn, (GTD – Knee); Grayson Allen, (OUT – Knee); , (OUT – Suspension)
Wizards: Cam Whitmore, (OUT – Shoulder); Corey Kispert, (GTD – Hamstring); Kyshawn George, (GTD – Hip)
Golden State Warriors at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors -4.5 (-110) | Nets +4.5 (-110)
Money line: Warriors -180 | Nets +150
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 5.7, straight up 66%, 219.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Seth Curry, (OUT – Back); De’Anthony Melton, (GTD – Knee); Al Horford, (OUT – Rest)
Nets: Haywood Highsmith, (OUT – Knee)
Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets -2.5 (-105) | Heat +2.5 (-115)
Money line: Nuggets -135 | Heat +114
Total: 244.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 2.8, straight up 58%, 247.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, (OUT – Hamstring); Christian Braun, (OUT – Ankle); Cameron Johnson, (OUT – Knee); Tamar Bates, (OUT – Foot)
Heat: Tyler Herro, (OUT – Toe); Terry Rozier, (OUT – Not Injury Related); Bam Adebayo, (GTD – Back)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Magic -1.5 (-105) | Raptors +1.5 (-115)
Money line: Magic -122 | Raptors +102
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 0.6, straight up 52%, 225.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Franz Wagner, (OUT – Ankle); Moritz Wagner, (OUT – Knee); Colin Castleton, (GTD – Hand); Goga Bitadze, (GTD – Knee); Jalen Suggs, (GTD – Hip)
Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, (GTD – Illness); Jakob Poeltl, (GTD – Back)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves -6.5 (-105) | Bulls +6.5 (-115)
Money line: Timberwolves -238 | Bulls +195
Total: 240.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 6, straight up 66%, 240.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr., (OUT – Foot)
Bulls: Noa Essengue, (OFS – Shoulder); Josh Giddey, (GTD – Ankle); Lachlan Olbrich, (GTD – Ankle); Zach Collins, (OUT – Toe)
Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +15.5 (-118) | Rockets -15.5 (-102)
Money line: Pacers +675 | Rockets -1050
Total: 221.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 15.4, straight up 88%, 228.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Obi Toppin, (OUT – Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS – Achilles); Ben Sheppard, (GTD – Calf); Jay Huff, (GTD – Ankle); , (GTD – Hamstring); Isaiah Jackson, (OUT – Concussion)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT – Knee); Alperen Sengun, (GTD – Calf)
New York Knicks at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks -8.5 (-108) | Pelicans +8.5 (-112)
Money line: Knicks -360 | Pelicans +285
Total: 246.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 9.3, straight up 74%, 239.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Josh Hart, (OUT – Ankle); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Shoulder); Miles McBride, (GTD – Ankle); Mitchell Robinson, (GTD – Ankle)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT – Achilles); Jose Alvarado, (OUT – Suspension); Herbert Jones, (OUT – Ankle)
Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks +16.5 (-110) | Thunder -16.5 (-110)
Money line: Hawks +700 | Thunder -1100
Total: 235.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 13.6, straight up 84%, 235.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: N’Faly Dante, (OFS – Knee); Trae Young, (GTD – Quadriceps); , (OUT – Illness); Kristaps Porzingis, (OUT – Illness)
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT – Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee); Ajay Mitchell, (GTD – Ankle); Isaiah Hartenstein, (GTD – Ankle); Isaiah Joe, (GTD – Neck); Jaylin Williams, (GTD – Heel); Ousmane Dieng, (GTD – Calf)
Cleveland Cavaliers at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +2.5 (-105) | Spurs -2.5 (-115)
Money line: Cavaliers +124 | Spurs -148
Total: 241.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 3.2, straight up 59%, 241.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: None reported
Spurs: De’Aaron Fox, (GTD – Thigh)
Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Mavericks +2.5 (-110) | Blazers -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Mavericks +110 | Blazers -130
Total: 232.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Blazers by 0.9, straight up 53%, 236.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT – Knee); Dante Exum, (OFS – Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OFS – Foot); Anthony Davis, (GTD – Thigh); Brandon Williams, (GTD – Calf)
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT – Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles); Jerami Grant, (GTD – Achilles); Jrue Holiday, (GTD – Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (GTD – Thumb); Scoot Henderson, (GTD – Hamstring)