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
The league starts off this week with a nine-game slate, putting the majority of the league in play for this Monday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers travel south to face the Miami Heat in one of only two games tonight in which both teams have a winning record. The Cavaliers have won four straight, and are getting stronger with Darius Garland returning to health. The Heat are more of a surprise, and have continued to win despite Bam Adebayo being sidelined by a toe injury, so Monday's game will be a big test for them. But both teams feature strong offenses, as evidenced by the 247.5 point total on ESPN BET that is by-far the highest of the day.
The other game where both teams sport winning records pits the San Antonio Spurs, currently the second seed in the West, against the upstart Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have lost consecutive games and three of four overall, all on the road against playoff teams that are contenders in the East this season. But they are undefeated at home, and will look to stay that way against a Spurs squad that went 2-0 this weekend after suffering their only two losses last week. They also welcomed De'Aaron Fox back, who made his season debut on Saturday after returning from a hamstring injury. This is another game where offense is expected, with the 236.5 point line as the second-highest of the day.
The third-highest line, 235.5 points, is for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Orlando Magic. The Magic are on the second half of a back-to-back, having split two weekend games against Boston. The traveling Trail Blazers didn't play on Sunday, but on Saturday they had a track meet against Miami that led to 267 total points.
These storylines, and many more, will be on display Monday night.
Monday's fantasy stream team
Kon Knueppel, SG, Charlotte Hornets (rostered in 35.9% of ESPN leagues): Knueppel's role has surged in the last week with LaMelo Ball (ankle) sidelined, and the rookie is showing why he was a top-5 pick in this year's NBA draft. Kneuppel has scored 20-plus points in the last three games, including dropping his first 30-point game as a pro on Friday. In that stretch, he has averaged 24.7 PPG, 8.7 RPG and 4.0 3PG.
Zaccharie Risacher, SF, Atlanta Hawks (15.6%): Risacher, the top overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has picked up his scoring in the last week with Trae Young sidelined. He has scored at least 16 points in each of his past three games, averaging 18.7 PPG, 2.3 3PG and 1.7 SPG during that span.
Kel'el Ware, C, Miami Heat (42.7%): Ware has stepped up his play of late, and with Bam Adebayo out he is getting more opportunity as well. In his past four outings, two of which with Adebayo sidelined, Ware has been a nightly double-double and defensive threat with averages of 11.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.3 BPG and 1.5 SPG. Ware can also stretch the floor, averaging 1.3 3PG in that stretch.
Dre's bets for Monday
Shaedon Sharpe Over 23.5 points and rebounds (-105)
Sharpe is in the midst of his best stretch of play as both a scorer and a rebounder. In the last three games he has averaged 20.7 PPG and 7.3 RPG (28 total points+rebounds), which would put him in play for both his scoring line (over 18.5 points, -125) and his rebounding line (over 4.5 rebounds, +120). The rebound line is worth paying attention to because it is plus money, and he has surpassed that mark in each of his past three games.
Jalen Duren Over 20.5 points (-105)
Duren has been on a heater, scoring 21 or more points in five of his past six games with an average of 23.5 PPG in that span. He has been consistently dominant in the paint, and this was with backup Isaiah Stewart also putting up good numbers alongside him. Stewart is doubtful to play on Monday, and Duren will be facing a Washington Wizards squad that gives up 26.7 PPG to opposing centers, the second-worst mark in the NBA.
Donovan Mitchell Over 25.5 points (-115)
Mitchell has scored at least 29 points in six of the nine games he has played this season, including three of his past four. He has been scorching in this stretch, averaging 34.0 PPG in 33.0 MPG while shooting 52.3% from the field. The only game in that stretch he didn't drop at least 29 points was in a 33-point blowout win over the Wizards where he scored 24 points in only 26 minutes. On Monday, he faces a Heat squad that should provide more resistance than the Wizards, and thus allow him to stay on the court long enough to surpass this scoring line.
Spurs -3.5 points vs. Bulls (-110)
The Bulls have been one of the better teams in the league to start the season, but a lot of that has been on the strength of the stellar play of Josh Giddey, who is questionable to play on Monday after spraining his ankle in his last outing. Meanwhile, the Spurs have been one of the better teams in the league even without star point guard Fox, who returned this past weekend. He dropped 24 points in 31 minutes in his season debut, and didn't seem to have much rust to work off. With their combo of now elite perimeter play at both ends of the court and the ever-present dominance of Victor Wembanyama in the middle, this Spurs team should be too much for a Bulls squad that may not be at full strength.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Los Angeles Lakers at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers -7.5 (-115) | Hornets +7.5 (-105)
Money line: Lakers -300 | Hornets +250
Total: 229.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 4.7, straight up 64%, 228.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Austin Reaves, (GTD - Groin); Adou Thiero, (OUT - Knee); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Ankle); LeBron James, (OUT - Back)
Hornets: Miles Bridges, (GTD - Back); Grant Williams, (OUT - Knee); Josh Green, (OUT - Shoulder); LaMelo Ball, (OUT - Ankle); Drew Peterson, (OUT - Calf); Brandon Miller, (OUT - Shoulder)
Washington Wizards at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +12.5 (-115) | Pistons -12.5 (-105)
Money line: Wizards +475 | Pistons -750
Total: 235.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 14.8, straight up 87%, 234.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT - Calf)
Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, (GTD - Ankle); Tobias Harris, (GTD - Ankle); Jaden Ivey, (OUT - Knee); Marcus Sasser, (OUT - Hip)
Portland Trail Blazers at Orlando Magic
7 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +2.5 (-115) | Magic -2.5 (-105)
Money line: Blazers +110 | Magic -130
Total: 235.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 5.3, straight up 65%, 232.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb)
Magic: Moritz Wagner, (GTD - Knee)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers -7.5 (-110) | Heat +7.5 (-110)
Money line: Cavaliers -290 | Heat +240
Total: 247.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 3.8, straight up 61%, 243.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Max Strus, (OUT - Foot)
Heat: Dru Smith, (GTD - Knee); Bam Adebayo, (OUT - Toe); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Ankle); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Spurs -3.5 (-110) | Bulls +3.5 (-110)
Money line: Spurs -165 | Bulls +140
Total: 236.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 2.4, straight up 57%, 235.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Spurs: David Jones Garcia, (GTD - Undisclosed); Luke Kornet, (GTD - Ankle); Dylan Harper, (OUT - Calf)
Bulls: Josh Giddey, (GTD - Ankle); Patrick Williams, (GTD - Finger); Zach Collins, (OUT - Wrist); Coby White, (OUT - Calf)
Milwaukee Bucks at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks -2.5 (-105) | Mavericks +2.5 (-115)
Money line: Bucks -130 | Mavericks +110
Total: 230.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bucks by 2.5, straight up 58%, 229.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Taurean Prince, (GTD - Neck); Kevin Porter Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT - Knee); Anthony Davis, (GTD - Calf); Daniel Gafford, (GTD - Ankle); Dereck Lively II, (GTD - Knee); Dante Exum, (OUT - Knee)
New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns
9 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans +8.5 (-110) | Suns -8.5 (-110)
Money line: Pelicans +270 | Suns -340
Total: 227.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Suns by 6.9, straight up 69%, 234.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Yves Missi, (GTD - Illness); Zion Williamson, (OUT - Hamstring); Jordan Poole, (OUT - Quadriceps)
Suns: Jalen Green, (OUT - Hamstring)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves -7.5 (-110) | Jazz +7.5 (-110)
Money line: Timberwolves -290 | Jazz +240
Total: 234.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 8.1, straight up 72%, 233.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr., (GTD - Foot)
Jazz: Walker Kessler, (OFS - Shoulder); Georges Niang, (OUT - Foot)
Atlanta Hawks at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks +4.5 (-105) | Clippers -4.5 (-115)
Money line: Hawks +155 | Clippers -185
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 1.9, straight up 56%, 223.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Jalen Johnson, (GTD - Quadriceps); Nickeil Alexander-Walker, (GTD - Back); Trae Young, (OUT - Knee)
Clippers: Bradley Beal, (GTD - Hip); Jordan Miller, (GTD - Hamstring); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Ankle)