Thursday is the last day of games before the All-Star Break begins. As such, be aware that player performances will have more variability than usual. It's somewhat similar to the end of the season, when veteran players get more rest and unsung players off the bench may get more opportunity. But because teams are just going on break, and not preparing for the playoffs, it isn't quite as easy to predict who may or may not sit.
The level of variability is an effect that is worth considering as you set fantasy lineups and make betting selections for the night
Thursday's Stream Team
Max Christie, Dallas Mavericks (Available in 80.3% of ESPN leagues)
Christie moved into the starting lineup for the Mavericks on Wednesday and continued to produce. He had 17 points, five boards, four assists, a steal and a 3-pointer. Those numbers are eerily similar to what he has averaged over his five games with the Mavs (17.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.4 3PG, 0.8 SPG). With Dallas on the second half of a back-to-back, it's possible that Christie could get even more responsibility if veterans like Kyrie Irving or Klay Thompson don't play their typical minutes.
Rob Dillingham, Minnesota Timberwolves (94.0% available)
The Timberwolves played a grueling game against Milwaukee on Wednesday night, with all five starters playing between 33 and 39 minutes. Minnesota faces the juggernaut Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, with Chet Holmgren likely back in the lineup (Holmgren sat Wednesday for rest purposes). There is blowout potential in this game, and also a possibility of the Timberwolves giving their starters more rest. Dillingham has played the best ball of his rookie season of late. He has averaged 13.0 PPG, 6.0 APG and 1.5 3PG in 23.5 MPG in the four games he has played at least 20 minutes in over the past month.
Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz (70.0% available)
Clarkson moved into the starting lineup for the Jazz last weekend and has averaged 23.0 PPG, 4.8 APG and 4.3 3PG in 31.3 MPG in the four games since. He faces a Clippers team that he just dropped 24 points and six 3-pointers against last Saturday.
Dre's bets for Thursday
Amen Thompson to record a double-double (-122)
Thompson plays a team without a strong interior presence for the second night in a row in a game the Rockets need to win. Thompson dropped an 18-point, 11-assist, 10-rebound triple-double Wednesday night against the Suns and faces an older Warriors team also on the second half of a back-to-back Thursday. His athleticism and motor make him likely to grab double-digit boards for the third game in a row.
Max Christie over 14.5 points (-110)
Christie has scored at least 15 points in all five games he has played for the Mavericks and has averaged 18.3 PPG over his past three. If the Mavs decide to rest or limit Irving or Thompson, expect Christie to surpass this number.
Trey Murphy III over 23.5 total points (-125)
With Zion Williamson unlikely to play on the second night of a back-to-back, Murphy should get some more playing time. He has averaged 25.5 PPG during the past 13 games without Williamson in the lineup, including over 23.5 points in three of the past four instances. The Pelicans face a Kings team on Thursday that is tied for the fourth-most PPG allowed to opposing small forwards (22.2 PPG).
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Players in italics are available in a majority of ESPN Leagues
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors +6.5 (-120) | Rockets -6.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Warriors +195 | Rockets -230
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 1.2, straight up 54%, 221.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT - Ankle)
Rockets: Cody Zeller, (GTD - Personal); Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Ankle); Jabari Smith Jr., (OUT - Hand); Steven Adams, (OUT - Ankle); Tari Eason, (OUT - Lower Leg)
Warriors projections:
Stephen Curry, PG: 43.4 FPTS (24.3 pts, 4.2 reb, 6.4 ast, 4.2 3PM)
Jimmy Butler, SG/SF/PF: 34.1 FPTS (17.9 pts, 4.8 reb, 5.2 ast)
Draymond Green, PF/C: 26.7 FPTS (10.0 pts, 5.4 reb, 5.4 ast)
Brandin Podziemski, PG/SG: 21.9 FPTS (9.6 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.9 ast)
Buddy Hield, SG/SF: 20.4 FPTS (10.0 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.9 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Moses Moody, SG/SF: 18.7 FPTS (11.2 pts, 2.4 reb, 1.5 ast)
Quinten Post, C: 16.5 FPTS (7.3 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.9 ast)
Rockets projections:
Alperen Sengun, C: 40.3 FPTS (20.8 pts, 10.1 reb, 5.3 ast)
Jalen Green, SG: 37.2 FPTS (22.8 pts, 4.3 reb, 4.0 ast, 2.8 3PM)
Amen Thompson, SG/SF/PF: 34.7 FPTS (15.8 pts, 8.4 reb, 5.5 ast, 1.3 blk)
Dillon Brooks, SG/SF: 24.6 FPTS (14.6 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.8 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Cam Whitmore, SF: 21.9 FPTS (12.9 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.3 ast)
Jeff Green, PF: 14.8 FPTS (8.5 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.6 ast)
Aaron Holiday, PG: 13.3 FPTS (6.9 pts, 1.5 reb, 2.0 ast)
Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Kings -8.5 (-105) | Pelicans +8.5 (-115)
Money line: Kings -340 | Pelicans +270
Total: 234.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Kings by 4.4, straight up 64%, 234.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: None reported
Pelicans: Brandon Boston, (GTD - Ankle); Jamal Cain, (GTD - Illness); Kelly Olynyk, (GTD - Not Injury Related); Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Herbert Jones, (OUT - Shoulder)
Kings projections:
Domantas Sabonis, PF/C: 43.1 FPTS (20.0 pts, 12.7 reb, 6.6 ast)
DeMar DeRozan, SF/PF: 36.7 FPTS (23.6 pts, 3.5 reb, 4.1 ast)
Malik Monk, SG/SF: 34.6 FPTS (17.9 pts, 3.4 reb, 5.8 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Zach LaVine, SG/SF: 34.2 FPTS (20.6 pts, 4.1 reb, 4.7 ast, 2.8 3PM)
Keegan Murray, SF/PF: 25.1 FPTS (12.5 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Keon Ellis, SG: 17.9 FPTS (7.7 pts, 2.6 reb, 1.6 ast)
Jonas Valanciunas, C: 16.9 FPTS (8.2 pts, 5.6 reb, 2.1 ast)
Pelicans projections:
Trey Murphy III, SG/SF: 35.9 FPTS (19.1 pts, 4.8 reb, 4.3 ast, 3.3 3PM)
Zion Williamson, PF: 33.9 FPTS (21.2 pts, 6.4 reb, 4.3 ast)
CJ McCollum, PG/SG: 32.7 FPTS (20.5 pts, 3.4 reb, 3.6 ast, 3.0 3PM)
Jose Alvarado, PG: 25.4 FPTS (11.3 pts, 2.4 reb, 4.0 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Yves Missi, C: 16.7 FPTS (7.8 pts, 7.4 reb, 1.3 ast)
Bruce Brown, SG/SF: 16.5 FPTS (8.1 pts, 3.3 reb, 1.7 ast)
Brandon Boston, SG/SF: 16.4 FPTS (7.9 pts, 2.3 reb, 1.7 ast)
Miami Heat at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Heat -1.5 (-105) | Mavericks +1.5 (-115)
Money line: Heat -120 | Mavericks (EVEN)
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 1.3, straight up 54%, 222.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Duncan Robinson, (GTD - Illness); Kevin Love, (GTD - Personal); Terry Rozier, (GTD - Illness); Dru Smith, (OUT - Achilles)
Mavericks: Dante Exum, (GTD - Achilles); Caleb Martin, (OUT - Hip); Dwight Powell, (OUT - Hip); P.J. Washington, (OUT - Ankle); Daniel Gafford, (OUT - Knee); Anthony Davis, (OUT - Thigh); Dereck Lively II, (OUT - Ankle)
Heat projections:
Tyler Herro, PG/SG: 41.2 FPTS (22.9 pts, 5.3 reb, 6.3 ast, 3.4 3PM)
Bam Adebayo, PF/C: 40.5 FPTS (20.5 pts, 10.5 reb, 4.4 ast)
Andrew Wiggins, SF/PF: 29.4 FPTS (17.7 pts, 4.2 reb, 2.8 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Terry Rozier, PG/SG: 22.0 FPTS (12.4 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.6 ast)
Nikola Jovic, PF: 20.4 FPTS (10.3 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.7 ast)
Kel'el Ware, C: 19.0 FPTS (8.0 pts, 7.4 reb, 1.3 ast)
Davion Mitchell, PG: 16.7 FPTS (8.2 pts, 1.7 reb, 3.6 ast)
Mavericks projections:
Kyrie Irving, PG/SG: 44.8 FPTS (26.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 5.4 ast, 2.8 3PM)
Max Christie, SG: 19.6 FPTS (9.2 pts, 3.8 reb, 2.4 ast)
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG: 19.0 FPTS (9.2 pts, 1.8 reb, 3.1 ast)
Klay Thompson, SG/SF: 18.5 FPTS (8.5 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Naji Marshall, SF/PF: 18.4 FPTS (9.3 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.3 ast)
Jaden Hardy, SG: 17.0 FPTS (10.8 pts, 1.9 reb, 1.8 ast)
Dante Exum, SG: 15.3 FPTS (7.3 pts, 1.6 reb, 3.1 ast)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves
8:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Line: Thunder -7.5 (-115) | Timberwolves +7.5 (-105)
Money line: Thunder -320 | Timberwolves +260
Total: 221.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 8.5, straight up 76%, 219.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Alex Caruso, (OUT - Hip); Cason Wallace, (GTD - Shoulder); Ousmane Dieng, (GTD - Calf); Ajay Mitchell, (OUT - Toe); Nikola Topic, (OUT - Knee)
Timberwolves: Jesse Edwards, (GTD - Undisclosed); Mike Conley, (GTD - Finger); Donte DiVincenzo, (OUT - Toe); Julius Randle, (OUT - Thigh)
Thunder projections:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG: 50.5 FPTS (30.2 pts, 4.3 reb, 6.0 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Jalen Williams, SF/PF/C: 36.1 FPTS (19.2 pts, 4.6 reb, 4.9 ast)
Isaiah Hartenstein, C: 21.7 FPTS (7.8 pts, 8.7 reb, 3.1 ast)
Chet Holmgren, C: 20.4 FPTS (12.0 pts, 5.3 reb, 1.8 ast, 2.2 blk)
Luguentz Dort, SG/SF: 20.1 FPTS (10.1 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.6 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Aaron Wiggins, SG: 19.6 FPTS (9.7 pts, 4.7 reb, 1.7 ast)
Isaiah Joe, SG: 17.0 FPTS (9.2 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.5 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Timberwolves projections:
Anthony Edwards, SG/SF: 48.2 FPTS (31.1 pts, 5.7 reb, 5.1 ast, 3.9 3PM)
Naz Reid, PF/C: 29.4 FPTS (15.2 pts, 6.4 reb, 2.8 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Rudy Gobert, C: 27.5 FPTS (13.3 pts, 10.0 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.4 blk)
Jaden McDaniels, SF: 26.3 FPTS (12.3 pts, 6.1 reb, 2.3 ast)
Mike Conley, PG: 21.4 FPTS (8.1 pts, 2.2 reb, 4.0 ast)
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG: 17.3 FPTS (7.9 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.5 ast)
Rob Dillingham, PG: 12.3 FPTS (5.8 pts, 1.6 reb, 2.4 ast)