Fantasy basketball tips and NBA betting picks for Saturday - 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 to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds for December 31st are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
Charlotte Shuffle: The Hornets won't have Kelly Oubre Jr. in the rotation tonight due to a hand injury, shifting PJ Washington into a more prominent offensive role. The versatile stretch big just posted an efficient 25 points thanks to a surge in offensive usage and is in a good spot to produce against an undersized Brooklyn frontcourt to close out 2022. Rookie center Mark Williams is also a name to watch, as he tallied 17 points and 13 boards in limited run in a recent win over the Thunder.
With the Quickness: The Knicks are finally unleashing Immanuel Quickley as a major part of the offensive agenda. Mind you, this has happened largely because of injuries to Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett. With Barrett still ruled out for tonight's tilt with the Rockets and Brunson listed as questionable, Quickley, fresh from a 36-point opus, is an ideal fantasy play on Saturday facing a Houston team still quite short on perimeter defense.
Reid the Slate: Saturday's nine-game slate offers some helpful streaming candidates, among them Minnesota's Naz Reid, who is rostered in roughly seven percent of ESPN leagues despite averaging 16.9 points, 7.1 boards, 1.9 combined blocks and steals and two 3-pointers per game. It's not Karl-Anthony Towns caliber production, but it's really impressive, and underrated, play from Reid ahead of a soft matchup with a young Detroit frontcourt on Saturday. For those seeking some value in the backcourt, Minnesota's Jaylen Nowell has produced 30 points across his last two games and could prove busy in a plus spot against the Pistons.
Rui in the New Year: One move to make ahead of tomorrow's slate is to stash Washington's Rui Hachimura. The forward is a free agent in over 90% of ESPN leagues and yet has averaged a clean 20 points across the past week and should be busy for the Wizards in a matchup with the Bucks tomorrow.
-- Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe
Breaking down Saturday's slate
LA Clippers at Indiana Pacers
3 p.m. ET, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Line: Clippers (-3.5)
Money line: Clippers (-165), Pacers (+140)
Total: 230.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 235.6 points
BPI Win%: Clippers (50.6%)
Questionable: Reggie Jackson, Nicolas Batum, Chris Duarte
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: John Wall (rostered in 42.1% of ESPN leagues) is on the streaming radar with Reggie Jackson questionable for Saturday's game with right Achilles soreness. In a timeshare with Jackson, Wall has averaged 23.2 fantasy points per game this season. Wall averages 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 9.7 assists per 40 minutes. The Pacers rank 20th in points allowed per 100 possessions. -- Eric Moody
Best bet: Clippers -3.5. This is an intriguing matchup because the Pacers rank sixth in the league in pace while the Clippers rank 22nd. Los Angeles is 4-1 against the spread in their past five games. Now that the Clippers are healthy, I don't believe the Pacers will be able to contain Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Los Angeles' defense will also pose a challenge to the Pacers. The Clippers rank third in points allowed per 100 possessions. -- Moody
Brooklyn Nets at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET, Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
Line: Nets (-7)
Money line: Nets (-285), Hornets (+228)
Total: 237.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 242.7 points
BPI Win%: Nets (63%)
Questionable: Edmond Sumner, Ben Simmons
Ruled Out: Dennis Smith Jr., Kelly Oubre Jr., Cody Martin
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Best bet: Kevin Durant over 35.5 points + rebounds. Durant has surpassed 35.5 points and rebounds in two consecutive games and has averaged 29.9 points and 6.9 rebounds this season. The Hornets rank 24th in points allowed per 100 possessions. Charlotte also allows opponents an effective field goal percentage of 55.1%. In this matchup, Durant is well-positioned to succeed. -- Moody
Best bet: Nic Claxton over 1.5 assists. In the last two games, Claxton has not registered an assist. Despite this, he had 10 assists in the previous two games. The Hornets' defense allows the sixth most assists per game to centers this season. I'm intrigued by this plus odds bet. -- Moody
Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls
7 p.m. ET, United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Line: Cavaliers (-2.5)
Money line: Cavaliers (-140), Bulls (+118)
Total: 224 points
BPI Projected Total: 232.9 points
BPI Win%: Cavaliers (54.7%)
Probable: Robin Lopez,
Questionable: Cedi Osman, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland
Ruled Out: Derrick Jones Jr.
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Kevin Love (rostered in 11.9% of ESPN leagues) Love is a solid streamer for fantasy managers in deeper formats with Evan Mobley is questionable for tonight's game. He has scored 20 or more fantasy points in three of the past five games. -- Moody
Best bet: Over 224.0. The Cavaliers average 111.5 PPG while the Bulls average 114.1 PPG. Chicago plays at an up-tempo pace and has an impressive 54.7% effective field goal percentage. The totals have gone over in four of the Bulls' past five games. The Cavaliers have gone over the total in five consecutive games. -- Moody
New York Knicks at Houston Rockets
7 p.m. ET, Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Line: Knicks (-4.5)
Money line: Knicks (-190), Rockets (+158)
Total: 223.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 232.9 points
BPI Win%: Knicks (64.8%)
Questionable: Jalen Brunson,
Ruled Out: Jae'Sean Tate, RJ Barrett, Obi Toppin
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Immanuel Quickley (rostered in 8.8% of ESPN leagues) is still a good streamer whether Jalen Brunson is active or not because RJ Barrett has already been ruled out due to a finger injury. In three of his last five games, Quickley has scored 30 or more fantasy points. The Rockets rank 28th in points allowed per 100 possessions. -- Moody
Best bet: Rockets +4.5. Against the Rockets, the Knicks' injury report will be difficult to overcome. Trevor Keels, RJ Barrett, and Obi Toppin will not play, and Jalen Brunson is questionable. Rebounding is one of the Rockets' few strengths, so they should be able to keep this game close or win outright. The Knicks are 1-4 in their last five games against the spread. -Eric Moody
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
7 p.m. ET, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
Line: Mavericks (-7.5)
Money line: Mavericks (-305), Spurs (+240)
Total: 231 points
BPI Projected Total: 237.1 points
BPI Win%: Mavericks (63.9%)
Questionable: Devin Vassell, Luka Doncic
Ruled Out: Josh Green, Dorian Finney-Smith, Maxi Kleber
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Tim Hardaway Jr. (rostered in 15.2% of ESPN leagues) continues to be a viable streamer. Due to Hardaway Jr.'s reliance on scoring, his fantasy value can fluctuate. In two of his last three games, he scored 30 or more fantasy points. The Spurs are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. -- Moody
Fantasy streamer: Romeo Langford (rostered in 0.1% of ESPN leagues) is a solid streamer for fantasy managers in deeper formats with Devin Vassell doubtful for Saturday's game due to left knee soreness. In Thursday's game against the Knicks, Langford scored 43 fantasy points. -- Moody
Best bet: Tre Jones over 5.5 assists. With an effective field goal percentage of 54.6% allowed to opponents, the Mavericks rank near the bottom of the league. Jones should be able to capitalize on this. In eight of his last nine games, he has had five or more assists. -- Moody
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. ET, FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Line: Grizzlies (-6)
Money line: Grizzlies (-250), Pelicans (+205)
Total: 234.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 238.9 points
BPI Win%: Grizzlies (68.2%)
Questionable: Santi Aldama
Ruled Out: Larry Nance Jr., Brandon Ingram
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Detroit Pistons at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Line: Timberwolves (-6.5)
Money line: Timberwolves (-260), Pistons (+210)
Total: 233 points
BPI Projected Total: 241.8 points
BPI Win%: Timberwolves (72.6%)
Questionable: Hamidou Diallo, Killian Hayes,
Ruled Out: Rudy Gobert, Taurean Prince, Jordan McLaughlin, Karl-Anthony Towns
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Jalen McDaniels (rostered in 7.1% of ESPN leagues) McDaniels still on the streaming radar with Kelly Oubre Jr. ruled out for Saturday. McDaniels should see additional minutes off the bench for a Hornets team in need of scoring. He has scored 22 or more fantasy points in four of his past five games. -- Moody
Fantasy streamer: Isaiah Stewart (rostered in 17.2% of ESPN leagues) Stewart continues to be a viable streamer along with Jalen Duren (rostered in 18.9% of ESPN leagues). Stewart has averaged 24.3 fantasy points per game this season and scored 39 or more points in two of the past three games. -- Moody
Philadelphia 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. ET, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Line: 76ers (-4.5)
Money line: 76ers (-190), Thunder (+158)
Total: 228.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 233.7 points
BPI Win%: 76ers (72.5%)
Ruled Out: Aleksej Pokusevski, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Chet Holmgren
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: De'Anthony Melton (rostered in 43.8% of ESPN leagues) Even with Tyrese Maxey returning, Melton remained in the starting lineup, providing managers with a balanced stat line. He scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds, had four assists, two steals, and two blocks against the Pelicans Friday night. Maxey only played 19 minutes and should continue to be eased into the lineup for the 76ers, meaning more action for Melton. -- Moody
Miami Heat at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. ET, Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Line: Jazz (-3.5)
Money line: Jazz (-170), Heat (+143)
Total: 225.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 233.7 points
BPI Win%: Jazz (50.6%)
Ruled Out: Victor Oladipo, Caleb Martin, Dewayne Dedmon
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
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