Eric MoodyJan 8, 2026, 01:28 PM ET
CloseEric 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.
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
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There are only four games on Thursday’s NBA slate, but a matchup I’m very excited for has the Cleveland Cavaliers going on the road to face the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. This is another matchup that feels like a real measuring-stick game for Minnesota and not just another January matchup.
The Timberwolves have rediscovered their defensive identity, and this is a chance to prove it’s real against a disciplined, physical opponent. Add in the Anthony Edwards/Donovan Mitchell star duel plus the stakes in the standings, and it feels more like a playoff-caliber test than a routine regular-season game.
Let’s break down the action and find some fantasy streamers and betting angles to make the most of tonight’s slate.
Thursday’s fantasy stream team
Matas Buzelis, SF/PF, Chicago Bulls (rostered in 58.3% of ESPN leagues)
Buzelis is in the midst of a breakout season and, if he’s available in your league, he’s worth adding. He has averaged 32.0 fantasy points per game over his last 11 games and is also a strong DFS value at $6,000 against the Heat.
Daniel Gafford, C, Dallas Mavericks (41.0% rostered)
Gafford has averaged 29.6 fantasy points per game over his last five outings and is in a great spot against a Jazz team that has given up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to centers. If you’re looking to save money at center in DFS lineups, he’s an appealing option at just $4,300.
Nikola Jovic, PF, Miami Heat (9.6% rostered)
Jovic has emerged as a vital member of the Heat’s rotation. His streaming value is tied to his ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories. Has played at least 26 minutes and scored at least 20 fantasy points in each of his last three games, including one with 46 fantasy points.
Brandon Williams, PG, Mavericks (6.9% rostered)
Williams has scored at least 26 fantasy points in five straight games. While his minutes have fluctuated during that stretch, he draws a favorable matchup against a Jazz team allowing the most fantasy points per game to point guards this season.
Moody’s bets for Thursday
Tyler Herro OVER 20.5 points (-117)
Herro has missed much of the season, but he has cleared this line in four out of seven games. He has also scored at least 17 points in every appearance, giving him a solid floor. The Bulls are a below-average defensive team and struggle to defend pull-ups and shots inside 10 feet, which account for a large share of Herro’s attempts. Both Miami and Chicago also play at a fast pace, further boosting Herro’s scoring outlook.
Klay Thompson 4+ 3-pointers (+166)
Over half of Thompson’s points this season have come from beyond the arc, and this is the perfect matchup for the Mavericks to exploit that. He has made at least four triples in each of his last three games against the Jazz, including one earlier this season. This game also has the highest total on the slate.
Andrew Nembhard OVER 25.5 points and assists (-123)
Nembhard has cleared this line in six of his last 10 games. He’s in a great spot against a Hornets team that has struggled badly on the defensive end. Bennedict Mathurin is out with a thumb injury, which should boost Nembhard’s usage. He’s cleared this line in six of the seven games that Mathurin has missed.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Anthony Edwards, SG, Timberwolves ($9,500)
Edwards has been producing on both ends of the court, scoring at least 43 fantasy points in four straight games — including one 56-point performance. The matchup between the Timberwolves and Cavaliers projects as a higher-scoring affair.
Editor’s Picks
1 Related
Donovan Mitchell, SG, Cavaliers ($9,100)
Mitchell sat out Tuesday against the Pacers and returns tonight against the Timberwolves. He has averaged 54.5 fantasy points per game over his last three outings and carries a 33.3% usage rate this season, setting him up for a busy night opposite Edwards.
Anthony Davis, PF/C, Mavericks ($9,300)
Davis has struggled to stay on the court this season, but he makes his presence known when he does play. He has averaged 44.0 fantasy points per game and should find success against a Jazz team that ranks last in defensive rating.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Cooper Flagg, SF, Mavericks ($7,500)
Flagg is obviously a strong scorer, but his secondary contributions are giving him an even higher fantasy ceiling. He has averaged 41.5 fantasy points per game over his last seven contests. The Jazz have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to small forwards this season.
Miles Bridges, PF, Charlotte Hornets ($7,300)
Bridges has shown this season that he’s a key scorer for the Hornets alongside LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel. With Miller ruled out tonight due to a knee injury, Bridges should see an even larger role. He’s averaged 34.5 fantasy points per game over his last six outings, and the Pacers have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to power forwards.
Tyler Herro, PG/SG, Heat ($7,200)
Herro finished with 32.2 fantasy points in 29 minutes against the Timberwolves on Tuesday night, his first game since early December. He’s averaging 36.0 fantasy points per game this season and is positioned for success against a Bulls team that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to shooting guards. Plus, both teams rank near the top of the league in pace.
Jusuf Nurkic, C, Utah Jazz ($7,000)
Nurkic has scored at least 48 fantasy points and logged at least 31 minutes in two straight games since returning from a toe injury. He draws a favorable matchup against a Mavericks team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to centers.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Ayo Dosunmu, SG/SF, Bulls ($5,700)
Dosunmu has stepped up for the Bulls with Josh Giddey and Coby White both dealing with injuries, averaging 30.3 fantasy points in 27.5 minutes per game over his last six outings. He’s in a strong spot against the Heat in what should be a fast-paced, high-scoring game.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Indiana Pacers at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +3.5 (-108) | Hornets -3.5 (-112)
Money line: Pacers +140 | Hornets -166
Total: 230.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI projection: Hornets by 4.8, straight up 64%, 231.8 total points.
Injury report:
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson, (OUT – Concussion); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT – Thumb); Obi Toppin, (OUT – Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS – Achilles)
Hornets: Brandon Miller, (GTD – Knee); Ryan Kalkbrenner, (GTD – Elbow); Grant Williams, (OUT – Knee); Mason Plumlee, (OUT – Groin)
Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Heat -7.5 (-105) | Bulls +7.5 (-115)
Money line: Heat -265 | Bulls +215
Total: 239.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Heat by 6.6, straight up 68%, 243.2 total points.
Injury report:
Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr., (GTD – Ankle); Terry Rozier, (OUT – Not Injury Related)
Bulls: Coby White, (GTD – Calf); Jalen Smith, (GTD – Concussion); Zach Collins, (OUT – Toe); Josh Giddey, (OUT – Hamstring); Noa Essengue, (OFS – Shoulder)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +2.5 (-108) | Timberwolves -2.5 (-112)
Money line: Cavaliers +120 | Timberwolves -142
Total: 240.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI projection: Timberwolves by 2.4, straight up 57%, 240.8 total points.
Injury report:
Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson, (GTD – Illness); Larry Nance Jr., (GTD – Calf); Dean Wade, (OUT – Knee); Max Strus, (OUT – Foot)
Timberwolves: Rocco Zikarsky, (OUT – Undisclosed); Terrence Shannon Jr., (OUT – Foot)
Dallas Mavericks at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. ET
Line: Mavericks -7.5 (-105) | Jazz +7.5 (-115)
Money line: Mavericks -258 | Jazz +210
Total: 241.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI projection: Mavericks by 4.1, straight up 62%, 246.9 total points.
Injury report:
Mavericks: Brandon Williams, (GTD – Heel); P.J. Washington, (GTD – Ankle); Kyrie Irving, (OUT – Knee); Dante Exum, (OFS – Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OFS – Foot)
Jazz: Georges Niang, (OUT – Foot); Walker Kessler, (OFS – Shoulder)