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 | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Monday's games
Happy Monday! We tip off the third week of the NBA season with a nine-game slate, chock full of interesting matchups and opportunities.
The only game of the night featuring two teams with winning records pits the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers for the second time in a week. The Trail Blazers won last week, spoiling Austin Reaves' 41-point effort. But Luka Doncic returned this weekend, making the rematch especially intriguing.
The Memphis Grizzlies get Ja Morant back today after a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. And in his return, Morant and the Grizz will host a Detroit Pistons squad that has won four of its past five games. If both are playing their best, Morant vs. Cade Cunningham pits two of the best point guards in the NBA against one another in a clash of styles that should be fun.
The Houston Rockets will host the Dallas Mavericks in a matchup that introduces 2025 first overall pick Cooper Flagg to this branch of the Texas Triangle. It also pairs Flagg against Amen Thompson in a battle of non-traditional point guards, both of whom project to eventual NBA superstardom.
These storylines, and many more, will be on display Monday night. As always, we'll dig deeper into the matchups to identify some fantasy hoops streaming options and betting angles of interest to get your week started right.
Monday's fantasy stream team
Jake LaRavia, PF, Los Angeles Lakers (Rostered in 15.6% of ESPN Leagues): While Doncic and Reaves have taken turns posting video game numbers this season, teammate LaRavia has made his own impact over the past week. He has scored 25 or more points in two of his last three games, averaging 21.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 2.7 SPG during that three-game stretch.
Quenton Jackson, PG/SG, Indiana Pacers (10.9%): Jackson has stepped up in the face of all of the Pacers' injuries, with 20.0 PPG, 7.0 APG and 5.0 RPG in his past two games. His role should remain steady, perhaps even grow Monday after he posted a 25-10 double-double on Saturday.
Terance Mann, SF/SG, Brooklyn Nets (6.7%): Mann has started all six games for the Nets this season, but in the past week he has stepped into a larger role with three straight double-digit scoring games. In that span, he has dropped 16.7 PPG and 5.3 RPG, and over his past two games, he has totaled 10 assists and four steals.
Mike Conley, PG, Minnesota Timberwolves (2.6%): Conley has gotten a boost in value in the last week with Anthony Edwards sidelined. He has dished six assists in consecutive games and scored double-digit points in two of his past three. In addition, he has upped his value in roto leagues with totals of five steals and 3-pointers each in that three-game span.
Dre's bets for Monday
Julius Randle Over 24.5 total points (-125)
Randle has taken over as the alpha scorer for the Timberwolves with Edwards out, but he was on a scoring binge even before Edwards went down. In his past five games, Randle has averaged 28.8 PPG, scoring at least 26 in four of the five and even notching 24 in the fifth. On Monday, Randle faces a Nets defense that allows 25.0 PPG to opposing power forwards this season, 18th in the NBA.
D'Angelo Russell Over 18.5 total points and assists (-115)
While the Mavericks continue to start Cooper Flagg at point guard, Russell has settled in as a major contributor off the bench, playing point for almost 30 minutes per game. In his past four games, he has averaged 19.5 PPG and 6.0 APG, going over 18.5 points-plus-assists in all four contests.
Jalen Duren Over 26.5 total points and rebounds (-125)
Duren is quietly on the verge of taking a leap in his fourth season. Still only 21 years old, Duren has exploded in the last week with three 20-10 double-doubles in his past four games. In that span, he has averaged 21.5 PPG and 12.0 RPG, including dropping 33 points and 10 boards in his last game Saturday.
Zach LaVine Over 23.5 total points (-115)
This pick comes with the caveat that LaVine (back) is questionable to play on Monday. But if he does get on the court, this line is entirely too low for him. LaVine has scored 30 or more points in five of his six games this season, averaging 29.5 PPG. His opponents, the Denver Nuggets, rank No. 21 in the NBA with 24.1 PPG allowed to opposing shooting guards.
Luka Doncic Over 51.5 total points, assists and rebounds (-110)
Doncic has started off the season stuck in video game cheat mode. Through four games played, he is logging 41.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG and 8.3 APG, or 61.1 total points-plus-rebounds-plus-assists. He is on the second half of a back-to-back, but he's facing a Trail Blazers squad that his teammate Austin Reaves dropped 41 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds against in Doncic's absence just last week.
Projections and Injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Minnesota Timberwolves at Brooklyn Nets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves -8.5 (-115) | Nets +8.5 (-105)
Money line: Timberwolves -400 | Nets +300
Total: 227.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI projection: Timberwolves by 8, straight up 71%, 223.7 total points.
Injury report:
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, (OUT - Hamstring)
Nets: Danny Wolf, (GTD - Ankle); Drake Powell, (GTD - Ankle); Haywood Highsmith, (OUT - Knee)
Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers
7 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks -6.5 (-105) | Pacers +6.5 (-115)
Money line: Bucks -240 | Pacers +200
Total: 234.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI projection: Bucks by 2.5, straight up 58%, 237.2 total points.
Injury report:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Knee); Kevin Porter Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Pacers: Obi Toppin, (OUT - Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS - Achilles); Johnny Furphy, (GTD - Foot); Andrew Nembhard, (OUT - Shoulder); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Toe); Kam Jones, (OUT - Back); T.J. McConnell, (OUT - Hamstring)
Utah Jazz at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Jazz +10.5 (-110) | Celtics -10.5 (-110)
Money line: Jazz +360 | Celtics -500
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Celtics by 12.5, straight up 82%, 227.6 total points.
Injury report:
Jazz: Isaiah Collier, (GTD - Hamstring); Walker Kessler, (GTD - Shoulder); Georges Niang, (OUT - Foot)
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT - Achilles)
Washington Wizards at New York Knicks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +12.5 (-105) | Knicks -12.5 (-115)
Money line: Wizards +500 | Knicks -800
Total: 234.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI projection: Knicks by 15.7, straight up 89%, 235.1 total points.
Injury report:
Wizards: Khris Middleton, (GTD - Elbow)
Knicks: None reported
Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET
Line: Mavericks +12.5 (-105) | Rockets -12.5 (-115)
Money line: Mavericks +500 | Rockets -800
Total: 225.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Rockets by 13.9, straight up 85%, 229.0 total points.
Injury report:
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT - Knee); Anthony Davis, (OUT - Calf); Dante Exum, (OUT - Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OUT - Knee)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Knee); Jabari Smith Jr., (GTD - Ankle); Dorian Finney-Smith, (OUT - Ankle)
Detroit Pistons at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -4.5 (-110) | Grizzlies +4.5 (-110)
Money line: Pistons -190 | Grizzlies +160
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Pistons by 3.7, straight up 61%, 234.0 total points.
Injury report:
Pistons: Tobias Harris, (GTD - Ankle); Marcus Sasser, (OUT - Hip); Jaden Ivey, (OUT - Knee)
Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT - Toe); Ja Morant, (GTD - Suspension); Zach Edey, (OUT - Ankle); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Knee); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Calf)
Sacramento Kings at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +12.5 (-115) | Nuggets -12.5 (-105)
Money line: Kings +475 | Nuggets -750
Total: 235.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI projection: Nuggets by 11.9, straight up 81%, 235.6 total points.
Injury report:
Kings: Dennis Schroder, (GTD - Hip); Devin Carter, (GTD - Knee); Zach LaVine, (GTD - Back); Malik Monk, (OUT - Personal); Keegan Murray, (OUT - Thumb)
Nuggets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD - Shoulder); Jamal Murray, (GTD - Calf)
Los Angeles Lakers at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers +3.5 (-115) | Blazers -3.5 (-105)
Money line: Lakers +130 | Blazers -150
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Blazers by 0.6, straight up 52%, 234.2 total points.
Injury report:
Lakers: Deandre Ayton, (GTD - Back); Maxi Kleber, (OUT - Oblique); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Ankle); Adou Thiero, (OUT - Knee); LeBron James, (OUT - Back)
Blazers: Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Shaedon Sharpe, (GTD - Calf); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb); Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot)
Miami Heat at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Heat +7.5 (-105) | Clippers -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Heat +250 | Clippers -300
Total: 226.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI projection: Clippers by 6.8, straight up 69%, 225.5 total points.
Injury report:
Heat: Kasparas Jakucionis, (GTD - Groin); Norman Powell, (GTD - Groin); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Ankle); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Clippers: Jordan Miller, (OUT - Hamstring); Kobe Sanders, (OUT - Knee)