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Fantasy basketball tips for Saturday – ESPN – ESPN
ESPN’s fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips cheat sheet is your pregame destination for basketball betting predictions and our best intel and data, featuring ESPN’s proprietary Basketball Power Index (BPI) to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. Fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
New this season, ESPN Analytics will also generate daily NBA fantasy projections. By combining historical player and team data and specific game factors ESPN is able to accurately predict player box score stats. Accounting for injuries, trends in playing time, and other factors impacting future performance the statistical models can be used to help NBA fantasy players gain an edge in their league.
A Friday evening filled with technicolor tournament courts delivered some amazing NBA action. Is the tournament incentivizing or motivating players? It’s too early to say, but it was fun to see the Golden State Warriors take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in an epic showdown (sans Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), while the New York Knicks nearly upset the host Milwaukee Bucks thanks to a rousing comeback.
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The fantasy story from Friday focuses on the continued ascents of Malcolm Brogdon and Shaedon Sharpe for the Portland Trail Blazers. Sharpe remains an electric scorer, while Brogdon nearly notched a triple-double in downing the Memphis Grizzlies and is still a free agent in roughly a third of ESPN men’s basketball leagues.
Pivoting to Saturday’s eight-game slate, we begin with a marquee matinee that features the Phoenix Suns visiting the Philadelphia 76ers. The key injury note is, unsurprisingly, the continued absence of Bradley Beal, who is listed as out due to lingering back issues. Devin Booker is also listed as out for Saturday’s game. For the 76ers, it will be an intriguing look at their new-look rotation in the wake of the James Harden blockbuster. The only player the 76ers acquired in that deal listed as out is Nicolas Batum, who remains sidelined with a personal matter. Watch closely for how many minutes Robert Covington logs in a system he fits well.
Looking to the evening, there is a wily veteran forward from the Charlotte Hornets we like for streaming purposes in the section below. They visit the Indiana Pacers in a game that claims an awesome, slate-high total of 238.5 points. You’ll want to find ways to get into this fantasy-friendly contest.
This segment nominates three key streaming options ahead of that day’s action. A streamer, by our standards, is a player available in at least half of ESPN men’s fantasy basketball leagues.
There aren’t many players sustaining two stocks (steals plus blocks) per game while also delivering awesome scoring efficiency, but Johnson is one of them. The Hawks badly needed an athletic scoring forward to emerge in the wake of dealing John Collins and they just might have already found him.
Availability and durability have long been the main concern regarding Hayward, as he’s often productive when active. Guess what? He’s active and healthy and playing more than 32 MPG this season in an effective playmaking role from the wing for a Charlotte team in need of his contributions given the roster’s shallow nature at this position. The lofty point total tonight against a fast Pacers team adds to the upside.
Antics aside, Brooks has been a boon to the Rockets’ rotation thus far. While he’s not going to sustain his white-hot shooting efficiency, the five steals he just collected last time out reveals added value in the two-way sense for tonight’s matchup with the up-tempo Kings.
The Nets still have a large collection of 3-and-D forwards to choose from, yet the recent injury issues Cam Johnson has dealt with adds some clarity to the pecking order.
“DFS” is a trusted name for the coaching staff and should, as he has in every game this season, earn at least 30 minutes of burn against the Celtics tonight.
Fantasy projections powered by ESPN Analytics.* Projections assume all players who are listed as GTD will play. Injury information powered by Rotowire.com. Players available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues are listed in italics.
1 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia
Injury Report:
Suns: Devin Booker, (OUT – Ankle); Bradley Beal, (OUT – Back); Damion Lee, (OUT – Knee)
76ers: Marcus Morris Sr., (GTD – Undisclosed); Nicolas Batum, (OUT – Personal)
Suns projections:
Kevin Durant, SF/PF: 42.2 FPTS (26.4 pts, 7.2 reb, 5.1 ast)
Jusuf Nurkic, C: 25.2 FPTS (10.4 pts, 8.1 reb, 3.2 ast)
Eric Gordon, SG/SF: 21.0 FPTS (11.7 pts, 1.8 reb, 2.5 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Grayson Allen, SG: 18.4 FPTS (7.7 pts, 3.9 reb, 2.3 ast)
Josh Okogie, SG/SF: 16.6 FPTS (8.8 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.4 ast)
Jordan Goodwin, PG/SG: 14.3 FPTS (6.7 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.7 ast)
76ers projections:
Joel Embiid, C: 47.0 FPTS (27.9 pts, 9.9 reb, 5.1 ast, 2.2 blk)
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG: 45.5 FPTS (24.3 pts, 5.0 reb, 4.7 ast, 3.0 3PM)
Tobias Harris, SF/PF: 29.0 FPTS (15.2 pts, 5.3 reb, 2.1 ast)
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/PF: 26.6 FPTS (15.9 pts, 3.7 reb, 0.9 ast, 1.9 3PM)
De’Anthony Melton, PG/SG: 21.9 FPTS (8.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 3.2 ast)
Marcus Morris Sr., SF/PF: 16.9 FPTS (7.9 pts, 3.0 reb, 1.3 ast)
Kenyon Martin Jr., SF: 15.4 FPTS (8.3 pts, 2.8 reb, 0.9 ast)
7 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Injury Report:
Hornets: Cody Martin, (OUT – Knee); James Bouknight, (OUT – Knee); Miles Bridges, (OUT – Suspension); Frank Ntilikina, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Pacers: None reported
Hornets projections:
Terry Rozier, PG/SG: 40.1 FPTS (21.0 pts, 3.8 reb, 5.4 ast, 2.2 3PM)
LaMelo Ball, PG/SG: 34.9 FPTS (17.3 pts, 5.8 reb, 6.1 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Gordon Hayward, SF: 30.7 FPTS (15.2 pts, 4.5 reb, 5.2 ast)
P.J. Washington, PF: 30.1 FPTS (15.9 pts, 5.7 reb, 2.3 ast)
Mark Williams, C: 21.6 FPTS (10.0 pts, 8.3 reb, 0.8 ast)
Brandon Miller, SG/SF: 18.4 FPTS (9.3 pts, 7.5 reb, 1.0 ast)
Theo Maledon, PG: 15.9 FPTS (7.6 pts, 2.3 reb, 2.0 ast)
Pacers projections:
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG: 44.2 FPTS (20.4 pts, 4.1 reb, 8.6 ast, 2.5 3PM)
Myles Turner, C: 27.2 FPTS (15.7 pts, 7.3 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.7 blk)
Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF: 24.2 FPTS (15.3 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.9 ast)
Bruce Brown, SG/SF: 23.0 FPTS (12.2 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.6 ast)
Buddy Hield, SG/SF: 21.7 FPTS (9.1 pts, 3.0 reb, 3.4 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Jalen Smith, PF/C: 20.3 FPTS (10.0 pts, 6.5 reb, 1.2 ast)
Aaron Nesmith, SF: 19.3 FPTS (10.3 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.0 ast)
7 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando
Injury Report:
Lakers: Taurean Prince, (GTD – Knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (OUT – Knee); Rui Hachimura, (OUT – Concussion); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT – Heel); Gabe Vincent, (OUT – Knee)
Magic: Gary Harris, (GTD – Groin); Markelle Fultz, (GTD – Knee); Wendell Carter Jr., (OUT – Finger)
Lakers projections:
Anthony Davis, PF/C: 49.9 FPTS (27.4 pts, 13.2 reb, 3.6 ast, 2.4 blk)
LeBron James, SF/PF: 47.1 FPTS (26.1 pts, 8.7 reb, 6.6 ast, 2.1 3PM)
D’Angelo Russell, PG/SG: 36.8 FPTS (19.6 pts, 3.9 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Austin Reaves, SG/SF: 28.1 FPTS (16.8 pts, 4.9 reb, 3.3 ast)
Christian Wood, PF/C: 20.5 FPTS (10.6 pts, 7.0 reb, 1.7 ast)
Taurean Prince, SF: 18.3 FPTS (10.3 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.1 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Cam Reddish, SG/SF: 13.9 FPTS (7.6 pts, 3.4 reb, 0.9 ast)
Magic projections:
Franz Wagner, SG/SF/PF: 37.0 FPTS (20.0 pts, 6.1 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Paolo Banchero, SF/PF: 32.1 FPTS (18.0 pts, 7.0 reb, 4.7 ast)
Markelle Fultz, PG/SG: 28.4 FPTS (12.9 pts, 3.8 reb, 4.8 ast)
Jalen Suggs, PG/SG: 24.8 FPTS (12.1 pts, 5.2 reb, 1.9 ast)
Cole Anthony, PG: 23.7 FPTS (12.5 pts, 4.7 reb, 2.4 ast)
Anthony Black, PG/SG: 19.9 FPTS (8.9 pts, 6.8 reb, 2.7 ast)
Gary Harris, SG: 15.7 FPTS (8.1 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.3 ast)
7 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans
Injury Report:
Hawks: Wesley Matthews, (OUT – Calf); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT – Thumb)
Pelicans: Brandon Ingram, (GTD – Knee); Jose Alvarado, (OUT – Ankle); Naji Marshall, (OUT – Knee); Trey Murphy III, (OUT – Knee)
Hawks projections:
Trae Young, PG: 41.8 FPTS (23.9 pts, 2.8 reb, 8.5 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Dejounte Murray, PG/SG: 40.2 FPTS (20.9 pts, 4.8 reb, 5.4 ast)
Clint Capela, C: 25.8 FPTS (10.9 pts, 10.6 reb, 1.0 ast)
De’Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 23.7 FPTS (12.7 pts, 4.4 reb, 1.0 ast)
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF: 22.7 FPTS (10.2 pts, 2.0 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Saddiq Bey, SF/PF: 21.1 FPTS (8.8 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.2 ast)
Jalen Johnson, SF: 18.9 FPTS (9.1 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.5 ast)
Pelicans projections:
CJ McCollum, PG/SG: 43.4 FPTS (23.4 pts, 5.2 reb, 5.6 ast, 3.4 3PM)
Zion Williamson, PF: 36.7 FPTS (25.1 pts, 6.7 reb, 3.7 ast)
Jonas Valanciunas, C: 27.6 FPTS (14.4 pts, 9.7 reb, 1.6 ast)
Herbert Jones, SF/PF: 24.9 FPTS (12.0 pts, 4.7 reb, 2.1 ast)
Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 16.8 FPTS (8.0 pts, 4.2 reb, 1.7 ast)
Larry Nance Jr., PF/C: 14.5 FPTS (5.6 pts, 5.1 reb, 1.3 ast)
Kira Lewis Jr., PG: 11.6 FPTS (6.1 pts, 1.3 reb, 1.0 ast)
8 p.m. Barclays Center, New York
Injury Report:
Celtics: Neemias Queta, (OUT – Foot)
Nets: Nic Claxton, (GTD – Ankle); Cameron Johnson, (OUT – Calf)
Celtics projections:
Jayson Tatum, SF/PF: 51.9 FPTS (30.5 pts, 9.5 reb, 5.0 ast, 3.2 3PM)
Jaylen Brown, SG/SF: 42.9 FPTS (26.4 pts, 6.1 reb, 3.9 ast, 2.9 3PM)
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C: 38.2 FPTS (22.4 pts, 7.9 reb, 2.5 ast, 2.1 3PM, 1.7 blk)
Jrue Holiday, PG/SG: 36.0 FPTS (18.0 pts, 6.2 reb, 5.4 ast)
Al Horford, PF/C: 18.7 FPTS (6.2 pts, 6.1 reb, 2.0 ast)
Payton Pritchard, PG: 14.4 FPTS (6.0 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.2 ast)
Oshae Brissett, PF: 13.6 FPTS (6.2 pts, 4.2 reb, 0.9 ast)
Nets projections:
Mikal Bridges, SG/SF: 34.5 FPTS (20.7 pts, 4.4 reb, 3.4 ast)
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG: 33.1 FPTS (14.8 pts, 3.3 reb, 5.9 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Ben Simmons, PG/PF: 24.7 FPTS (9.2 pts, 6.2 reb, 5.3 ast)
Cam Thomas, SG: 22.0 FPTS (15.4 pts, 2.5 reb, 1.1 ast)
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF: 21.0 FPTS (10.4 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.3 ast, 2.4 3PM)
Royce O’Neale, SF: 15.8 FPTS (5.5 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.8 ast)
Trendon Watford, PF: 15.5 FPTS (7.9 pts, 2.9 reb, 1.9 ast)
8 p.m. Toyota Center, Houston
Injury Report:
Kings: De’Aaron Fox, (OUT – Ankle); Trey Lyles, (OUT – Calf)
Rockets: Tari Eason, (OUT – Lower Leg); Amen Thompson, (OUT – Ankle); Victor Oladipo, (OUT – Knee)
Kings projections:
Domantas Sabonis, PF/C: 42.3 FPTS (18.7 pts, 12.9 reb, 5.5 ast)
Keegan Murray, SF/PF: 28.9 FPTS (13.8 pts, 6.7 reb, 1.6 ast, 2.6 3PM)
Malik Monk, SG/SF: 27.4 FPTS (14.5 pts, 2.9 reb, 4.0 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Harrison Barnes, SF/PF: 25.6 FPTS (13.5 pts, 3.4 reb, 1.4 ast)
Kevin Huerter, SG/SF: 23.7 FPTS (11.5 pts, 4.4 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Sasha Vezenkov, PF: 20.9 FPTS (11.8 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.4 ast, 1.9 3PM)
JaVale McGee, C: 12.0 FPTS (6.0 pts, 3.1 reb, 0.8 ast)
Rockets projections:
Fred VanVleet, PG: 40.8 FPTS (19.6 pts, 3.4 reb, 6.8 ast, 2.9 3PM)
Alperen Sengun, C: 38.0 FPTS (18.0 pts, 9.7 reb, 5.3 ast)
Jalen Green, SG: 31.9 FPTS (21.0 pts, 4.1 reb, 3.2 ast)
Jabari Smith Jr., PF/C: 23.1 FPTS (12.2 pts, 6.3 reb, 1.6 ast)
Dillon Brooks, SG/SF: 19.8 FPTS (10.9 pts, 3.0 reb, 2.1 ast)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, PF/C: 14.4 FPTS (6.5 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.1 ast)
Jae’Sean Tate, SF/PF: 13.8 FPTS (6.3 pts, 3.3 reb, 1.4 ast)
8 p.m. Target Center, Minneapolis
Injury Report:
Jazz: None reported
Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark, (OUT – Achilles)
Jazz projections:
Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF: 40.7 FPTS (23.1 pts, 9.1 reb, 2.1 ast, 3.4 3PM)
Jordan Clarkson, SG: 26.4 FPTS (15.2 pts, 4.1 reb, 4.7 ast, 1.8 3PM)
John Collins, PF: 24.9 FPTS (13.3 pts, 7.2 reb, 1.3 ast)
Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF: 23.3 FPTS (11.7 pts, 3.5 reb, 4.7 ast)
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C: 20.4 FPTS (8.3 pts, 6.3 reb, 3.9 ast)
Walker Kessler, C: 18.3 FPTS (9.0 pts, 7.3 reb, 1.2 ast, 1.5 blk)
Collin Sexton, PG/SG: 18.0 FPTS (11.5 pts, 2.2 reb, 2.4 ast)
Timberwolves projections:
Anthony Edwards, SG/SF: 42.3 FPTS (24.5 pts, 6.1 reb, 4.8 ast, 2.5 3PM)
Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C: 37.9 FPTS (20.9 pts, 9.4 reb, 3.1 ast)
Rudy Gobert, C: 30.6 FPTS (14.5 pts, 11.5 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.4 blk)
Mike Conley, PG: 26.1 FPTS (12.0 pts, 3.2 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Naz Reid, PF/C: 21.4 FPTS (12.5 pts, 4.3 reb, 1.1 ast)
Kyle Anderson, SF/PF: 19.1 FPTS (6.9 pts, 3.8 reb, 3.6 ast)
Jaden McDaniels, SF: 16.5 FPTS (8.2 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.3 ast)
9 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
Injury Report:
Bulls: Lonzo Ball, (OUT – Knee); Ayo Dosunmu, (OUT – Illness)
Nuggets: None reported
Bulls projections:
DeMar DeRozan, SG/SF: 38.3 FPTS (23.0 pts, 4.0 reb, 4.1 ast)
Zach LaVine, SG/SF: 37.7 FPTS (25.2 pts, 4.4 reb, 3.0 ast, 3.0 3PM)
Nikola Vucevic, C: 32.0 FPTS (15.5 pts, 9.1 reb, 2.5 ast)
Coby White, PG/SG: 25.0 FPTS (11.6 pts, 3.4 reb, 3.6 ast)
Alex Caruso, PG/SG: 18.5 FPTS (6.2 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.5 ast)
Andre Drummond, C: 15.8 FPTS (7.1 pts, 4.9 reb, 0.9 ast)
Torrey Craig, SF/PF: 15.7 FPTS (6.8 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.1 ast)
Nuggets projections:
Nikola Jokic, C: 49.8 FPTS (24.6 pts, 11.8 reb, 7.3 ast)
Jamal Murray, PG: 37.4 FPTS (20.4 pts, 3.5 reb, 6.5 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Aaron Gordon, PF: 26.2 FPTS (13.7 pts, 5.1 reb, 3.0 ast)
Michael Porter Jr., SF: 25.2 FPTS (11.8 pts, 7.4 reb, 1.6 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG/SF: 21.4 FPTS (10.3 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.4 ast)
Christian Braun, SG: 16.1 FPTS (7.6 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.8 ast)
Reggie Jackson, PG: 14.4 FPTS (5.8 pts, 1.7 reb, 3.0 ast)
