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Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Wednesday

Shaedon Sharpe of the Portland Trail Blazers is available in half of ESPN leagues. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Tonight's midweek nine-game slate is headlined by a massive showdown between two championship contenders, as the reigning champion Boston Celtics host the Oklahoma City Thunder. In a battle of top teams from the East and West, the Celtics (+180) and Thunder (+200) are the current title favorites and tonight's results are likely to impact these odds.

Streaming fantasy options from these deep, well-balanced rosters won't be easy, but the rest of the slate offers plenty of opportunities. The Utah Jazz are one of the best spots for fantasy upside, as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a game with a sky-high total north of 245 points. With both teams pushing the pace and dealing with injuries, there are solid streaming options available.

After the Celtics-Thunder showdown, ESPN's nightcap features another battle of contenders as the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokić and Anthony Edwards take center stage in a matchup that could influence playoff positioning in the West.

Beyond the marquee games, the rest of tonight's action features intriguing betting angles and fantasy plays.

Wednesday's Stream Team

Naji Marshall, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks (Rostered in 35.1% of ESPN leagues): Every season gives us some surprising statistical stars. Marshall has become a fantasy force as a leading playmaker on offense and a bully on the boards for an undersized and depleted rotation. Having just posted a strong line against the Spurs, this rubber match appears promising.

Quentin Grimes, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (32.1%): Add this shooting guard in any and all formats ahead of tonight's tilt with the Raptors. Much like the Mavs, a wave of injuries swept the Philly roster this season. With eyes on lottery odds, this game is important for positioning among bad teams. This said, Grimes is a bucket with unique freedom to shoot.

Shaedon Sharpe, SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers (47.1%): Sharpe is a smart play given a rise in not just in his usage, but also his assist production. Adding depth to his profile changes Sharpe from a specialist to a dynamic and emergent option at the wing..

Miles McBride, PG, New York Knicks (7.1%): The Knicks run a tight rotation but once you crack it, the minutes are bankable. With the trust of his coaching staff, McBride is handling rewarding work in recent games. While more of a specialist in the shooting and scoring sense, McBride can help your fantasy team in tonight's matchup with the Trail Blazers.

McCormick's Bets for Wednesday

Jrue Holiday over 8.5 points (-130)

We should see the full Boston rotation surface today, but it's not clear the team's tandem of two-way wings are at full strength. Holiday is not only going to be busy helping slow Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he's also going to help at keeping SGA honest on defense with his own scoring gravity. This line is low because Holiday hasn't been scoring much this season. The premise is that floor-spacing work could reasonably translate to success from deep.

Jaden McDaniels over 7.5 total assists and rebounds (-140)

We've witnessed a great rise in McDaniels' game in recent weeks; leaping from part-time offensive contributor to a capable scoring valve. The other key has been his success in smaller lineups where he can work the boards and also act as a passer from the post. There are new angles to McDaniels' game that should surface against Denver.

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


Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Hornets 8.5 (-110) | Hawks -8.5 (-110)
Money line: Hornets +270 | Hawks -340
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 4.3, straight up 64%, 229.5 total points.

Injury Report:
Hornets: Jusuf Nurkic, (GTD - Lower Leg); Josh Okogie, (OUT - Hamstring); Brandon Miller, (OUT - Wrist); Grant Williams, (OUT - Knee); Tre Mann, (OUT - Back)
Hawks: Caris LeVert, (GTD - Finger); Trae Young, (GTD - Quadriceps); Daeqwon Plowden, (OUT - Elbow); Larry Nance Jr., (OUT - Knee); Jalen Johnson, (OUT - Shoulder); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT - Shoulder)

Hornets projections:

Hawks projections:


Oklahoma City Thunder at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Thunder 2.5 (-110) | Celtics -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Thunder +115 | Celtics -135
Total: 229.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 3.4, straight up 61%, 227.5 total points.

Injury Report:
Thunder: Jalen Williams, (OUT - Hip); Ajay Mitchell, (OUT - Toe); Nikola Topic, (OUT - Knee)
Celtics: Drew Peterson, (GTD - Thigh); Jaylen Brown, (GTD - Knee); Jayson Tatum, (GTD - Knee); Kristaps Porzingis, (GTD - Illness)

Thunder projections:

Celtics projections:

  • Jayson Tatum, SF/PF: 51.9 FPTS (28.9 pts, 8.4 reb, 6.4 ast, 3.7 3PM)

  • Jaylen Brown, SG/SF: 42.9 FPTS (24.1 pts, 5.8 reb, 5.1 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Derrick White, PG/SG: 33.1 FPTS (15.9 pts, 4.0 reb, 4.6 ast, 3.3 3PM)

  • Jrue Holiday, PG/SG: 22.9 FPTS (10.1 pts, 3.8 reb, 3.0 ast)

  • Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C: 21.1 FPTS (11.3 pts, 4.7 reb, 1.5 ast)

  • Al Horford, PF/C: 19.4 FPTS (7.9 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.6 ast)

  • Luke Kornet, C: 15.7 FPTS (6.0 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.6 ast, 1.2 blk)


Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: 76ers 3.5 (-115) | Raptors -3.5 (-105)
Money line: 76ers +135 | Raptors -155
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 8.9, straight up 77%, 222.9 total points.

Injury Report:
76ers: Andre Drummond, (GTD - Illness); Kelly Oubre Jr., (GTD - Ankle); Kyle Lowry, (OUT - Hip); Paul George, (OUT - Groin); Tyrese Maxey, (OUT - Back); Eric Gordon, (OUT - Wrist); Jared McCain, (OUT - Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee)
Raptors: Jamison Battle, (GTD - Nose); Ochai Agbaji, (GTD - Ankle); Scottie Barnes, (GTD - Hand); Ja'Kobe Walter, (OUT - Hip); Jonathan Mogbo, (OUT - Nose); RJ Barrett, (OUT - Personal); Gradey Dick, (OUT - Knee); Brandon Ingram, (OUT - Ankle); Ulrich Chomche, (OUT - Knee)

76ers projections:

Raptors projections:


LA Clippers at Miami Heat
8 p.m. ET

Line: Clippers 2.5 (-115) | Heat -2.5 (-105)
Money line: Clippers +110 | Heat -130
Total: 206.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 0.9, straight up 53%, 214.4 total points.

Injury Report:
Clippers: Kai Jones, (OUT - Quadriceps); Drew Eubanks, (GTD - Hip); Norman Powell, (OUT - Hamstring)
Heat: Alec Burks, (GTD - Back); Terry Rozier, (GTD - Illness); Nikola Jovic, (OUT - Hand); Dru Smith, (OUT - Achilles)

Clippers projections:

Heat projections:


Phoenix Suns at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET

Line: Suns 4.5 (-110) | Rockets -4.5 (-110)
Money line: Suns +150 | Rockets -175
Total: 228.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 2.6, straight up 59%, 226.8 total points.

Injury Report:
Suns: Monte Morris, (GTD - Back)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (GTD - Ankle); N'Faly Dante, (GTD - Suspension); Amen Thompson, (OUT - Ankle); Reed Sheppard, (OUT - Thumb)

Suns projections:

  • Devin Booker, PG/SG: 44.1 FPTS (28.0 pts, 3.8 reb, 6.7 ast, 2.6 3PM)

  • Kevin Durant, PF: 42.0 FPTS (27.7 pts, 6.0 reb, 5.1 ast, 2.4 3PM)

  • Bradley Beal, SG/SF: 28.0 FPTS (15.9 pts, 3.3 reb, 4.1 ast)

  • Tyus Jones, PG: 21.8 FPTS (9.2 pts, 2.0 reb, 4.7 ast)

  • Royce O'Neale, SF: 18.5 FPTS (7.0 pts, 4.1 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Nick Richards, C: 17.1 FPTS (8.5 pts, 8.1 reb, 1.3 ast)

  • Bol Bol, PF/C: 16.0 FPTS (8.8 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.1 ast)

Rockets projections:


Utah Jazz at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. ET

Line: Jazz 12.5 (-120) | Grizzlies -12.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Jazz +500 | Grizzlies -800
Total: 246.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 8.6, straight up 76%, 247.0 total points.

Injury Report:
Jazz: Jordan Clarkson, (GTD - Foot); Keyonte George, (GTD - Foot); Lauri Markkanen, (GTD - Back); Oscar Tshiebwe, (GTD - Illness); Taylor Hendricks, (OUT - Lower Leg)
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, (GTD - Knee); Zach Edey, (GTD - Ankle); Santi Aldama, (OUT - Calf); Jaren Jackson Jr., (OUT - Ankle)

Jazz projections:

Grizzlies projections:


Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET

Line: Mavericks 6.5 (-115) | Spurs -6.5 (-105)
Money line: Mavericks +210 | Spurs -250
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 3.7, straight up 62%, 231.4 total points.

Injury Report:
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT - Knee); Brandon Williams, (GTD - Hamstring); Dante Exum, (GTD - Hamstring); P.J. Washington, (GTD - Ankle); Jaden Hardy, (OUT - Ankle); Anthony Davis, (OUT - Thigh); Daniel Gafford, (OUT - Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OUT - Ankle); Olivier-Maxence Prosper, (OUT - Wrist)
Spurs: Devin Vassell, (GTD - Wrist); Jeremy Sochan, (GTD - Calf); Charles Bassey, (OUT - Knee); Riley Minix, (OUT - Shoulder); Victor Wembanyama, (OUT - Shoulder)

Mavericks projections:

Spurs projections:


Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets
10 p.m. ET

Line: Timberwolves 3.5 (-105) | Nuggets -3.5 (-115)
Money line: Timberwolves +140 | Nuggets -165
Total: 234.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 0.1, straight up 50%, 235.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Rudy Gobert, (GTD - Back)
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, (GTD - Calf); Jamal Murray, (GTD - Ankle); Nikola Jokic, (GTD - Elbow); Julian Strawther, (OUT - Knee); DaRon Holmes II, (OUT - Achilles)

Timberwolves projections:

Nuggets projections:


New York Knicks at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET

Line: Knicks -4.5 (-105) | Blazers 4.5 (-115)
Money line: Knicks -175 | Blazers +150
Total: 227.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 5.1, straight up 66%, 230.3 total points.

Injury Report:
Knicks: Jalen Brunson, (OUT - Ankle); Ariel Hukporti, (OUT - Knee)
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD - Knee); Matisse Thybulle, (GTD - Ankle); Robert Williams III, (GTD - Knee); Deandre Ayton, (OUT - Calf)

Knicks projections:

Blazers projections: