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 Wednesday's games
We have a full slate, with 12 games putting 24 teams in play. There will be action all over the place, including three games in which both teams enter with winning records.
The Detroit Pistons, who currently hold the best record in the Eastern Conference, host the Chicago Bulls, who were in that spot just a week ago. The big question is if Josh Giddey's ankle will be healthy enough to play.
The Los Angeles Lakers, sporting an 8-3 record despite the continued absence of LeBron James, travel to Oklahoma City to face the defending NBA champion and 11-1 Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are on a back-to-back, but blew out the Golden State Warriors last night with enough ease for their starters to still be rested for Wednesday's game.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat, both 7-4 and near the top of the Eastern Conference, play for the second time this week after giving us an overtime thriller with a buzzer-beater on Monday.
These and many other storylines are in play tonight. As always, let's dig further into the matchups to identify fantasy hoops streaming options and betting angles of interest.
Wednesday's fantasy stream team
Kon Knueppel, SG, Charlotte Hornets (rostered in 47.5% of ESPN leagues): Knueppel continued his string of strong play with a near triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists) on Monday. Over his last four games, each coming with LaMelo Ball sidelined, Knueppel has averaged 23.3 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.8 RPG and 3.5 3PG with at least 19 points in all four games.
Tre Jones (44.6%) and Kevin Huerter (18.1%), Chicago Bulls: Jones and Huerter have been playing well for several games, but they could be in for an even larger role on Wednesday if Josh Giddey (questionable, ankle) is unable to play. With Giddey out on Monday, Jones scored 20 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists, following two straight strong games in which he averaged 17.0, 5.5 and 4.0 while playing with Giddey. Similarly, Huerter dropped 23, 5 and 5 on Monday for his fourth straight game scoring in double figures.
Kel'el Ware, C, Miami Heat (46.2%): Ware pulled down a career-high 20 rebounds on Monday to go with 14 points for the double-double, his second in his past four games. He is starting and getting major minutes with Bam Adebayo sidelined with a toe injury, and is currently a nightly double-double threat with strong defensive numbers who can knock down the trey. In his last five outings, he has averaged 11.8 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 1.4 SPG and 1.0 3PG.
Reed Sheppard, SG, Houston Rockets (43.4%): In his last couple of games, Sheppard has been quietly stepping up in a larger role on the Rockets' second unit. He scored 16 points in each of those two games while also averaging 4.0 APG, 2.5 SPG and 4.0 3PG in 27.5 MPG.
Dre's favorite bets for Wednesday
Jalen Duren OVER 33.5 total points and rebounds (-125)
Duren is probable to play on Wednesday despite an ankle issue, which means he is likely to play at a normal level -- and right now, his level is incredibly high. In his last seven games, Duren has averaged 22.9 PPG and 13.6 RPG (36.5 total P+R) with at least 37 P+R in five of the seven games. On Wednesday, he faces a Bulls defense that allows the most points (27.4 PPG) in the NBA to opposing centers and is just outside of the bottom 10 in giving up 14.6 RPG to the position.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. OVER 27.5 total points, assists and rebounds (-120)
Jaquez has stepped up his production in a major way with Bam Adebayo out, particularly on the boards. In those three games without Adebayo, who is also out on Wednesday, Jaquez has averaged 18.0 PPG, 11.0 RPG and 7.7 APG (36.7 PAR) in 31.7 MPG with at least 33 PAR in all three games. Against the Cavs on Monday, Jaquez notched 22 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists in 33 minutes off the bench.
Shaedon Sharpe OVER 20.5 points (-105)
Sharpe dropped a season-high 31 points on Monday on the road against a solid Magic defense. This capped a four-game stretch in which he averaged 23.3 PPG with at least 21 points scored in three of the four. Sharpe is a young, talented scorer who seems to be settling into his role as a primary scoring option for the Trail Blazers. On Wednesday, he faces a porous Pelicans defense that allows 27.2 PPG to opposing shooting guards, the third-worst mark in the NBA.
Oklahoma City Thunder -7.5 points over the Los Angeles Lakers (-105):
After starting off their season relatively "slow" -- in the sense that four of their first five games were won by seven points or less -- the Thunder have picked it up of late. All six of their most recent wins have been by at least 14 points, including their 24-point drubbing of the Warriors on Tuesday. While the Lakers are playing very well, the Thunder are in one of those stretches where even solid opposition seems to get worn down and eventually blown out by the fourth quarter. According to our BPI game predictor, the Thunder should actually be favored by 10.1 points in this matchup.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks -5.5 (-110) | Hornets +5.5 (-110)
Money line: Bucks -210 | Hornets +175
Total: 231.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bucks by 4.5, straight up 64%, 230.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Knee); Kevin Porter Jr., (OUT - Knee); Taurean Prince, (OUT - Neck)
Hornets: Collin Sexton, (GTD - Ankle); KJ Simpson, (GTD - Shoulder); Pat Connaughton, (GTD - Illness); Drew Peterson, (OUT - Calf); LaMelo Ball, (OUT - Ankle); Grant Williams, (OUT - Knee); Josh Green, (OUT - Shoulder); Brandon Miller, (OUT - Shoulder)
Chicago Bulls at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET
Line: Bulls -1.5 (-105) | Pistons +1.5 (-115)
Money line: Bulls -120 | Pistons EVEN
Total: 234.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 6.5, straight up 69%, 235.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Josh Giddey, (GTD - Ankle); Zach Collins, (OUT - Wrist); Coby White, (OUT - Calf)
Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, (GTD - Ankle); Jalen Duren, (GTD - Ankle)
Orlando Magic at New York Knicks
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Magic +4.5 (-110) | Knicks -4.5 (-110)
Money line: Magic +160 | Knicks -190
Total: 226.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 5.3, straight up 66%, 226.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Moritz Wagner, (OUT - Knee)
Knicks: Kevin McCullar Jr., (GTD - Back); Mitchell Robinson, (GTD - Ankle)
Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies +6.5 (-110) | Celtics -6.5 (-110)
Money line: Grizzlies +215 | Celtics -260
Total: 230.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 6.6, straight up 70%, 225.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT - Toe); Javon Small, (GTD - Toe); Zach Edey, (GTD - Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Calf); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Knee)
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT - Achilles)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +5.5 (-105) | Heat -5.5 (-115)
Money line: Cavaliers +175 | Heat -210
Total: 238.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 0.9, straight up 53%, 244.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Darius Garland, (OUT - Toe); Donovan Mitchell, (OUT - Rest); Evan Mobley, (OUT - Rest); Jaylon Tyson, (OUT - Concussion); Max Strus, (OUT - Foot)
Heat: Bam Adebayo, (OUT - Toe); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Ankle); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Washington Wizards at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +16.5 (-110) | Rockets -16.5 (-115)
Money line: Wizards +900 | Rockets -1800
Total: 235.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 20.8, straight up 93%, 239.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT - Calf)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Knee); Dorian Finney-Smith, (OUT - Ankle)
Portland Trail Blazers at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers -8.5 (-105) | Pelicans +8.5 (-115)
Money line: Blazers -340 | Pelicans +270
Total: 229.5 (-115 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Blazers by 4.3, straight up 63%, 236.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Zion Williamson, (OUT - Hamstring); Jordan Poole, (OUT - Quadriceps)
Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors +4.5 (-105) | Spurs -4.5 (-115)
Money line: Warriors +145 | Spurs -170
Total: 231.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 4.7, straight up 64%, 228.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Alex Toohey, (GTD - Knee); Al Horford, (GTD - Toe); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Knee)
Spurs: Dylan Harper, (OUT - Calf)
Phoenix Suns at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Suns -1.5 (-105) | Mavericks +1.5 (-115)
Money line: Suns -125 | Mavericks +105
Total: 227.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 1.7, straight up 55%, 230.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Suns: Jalen Green, (OUT - Hamstring)
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT - Knee); Anthony Davis, (GTD - Calf); Dereck Lively II, (GTD - Knee); Dante Exum, (OUT - Knee)
Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Lakers +6.5 (-105) | Thunder -6.5 (-115)
Money line: Lakers +215 | Thunder -260
Total: 231.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 10.1, straight up 78%, 229.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Adou Thiero, (OUT - Knee); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Ankle); LeBron James, (OUT - Back)
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT - Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS - Knee); Aaron Wiggins, (GTD - Thigh); Jalen Williams, (GTD - Wrist); Luguentz Dort, (GTD - Shoulder); Kenrich Williams, (OUT - Knee)
Atlanta Hawks at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks -3.5 (-110) | Kings +3.5 (-110)
Money line: Hawks -165 | Kings +140
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 4.7, straight up 65%, 237.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, (GTD - Back); Trae Young, (OUT - Knee)
Kings: Devin Carter, (GTD - Illness); Keegan Murray, (OUT - Thumb)
Denver Nuggets at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets -3.5 (-105) | Clippers +3.5 (-115)
Money line: Nuggets -150 | Clippers +130
Total: 225.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 6.1, straight up 68%, 223.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: None reported
Clippers: Bradley Beal, (OUT - Hip); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Ankle)