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 Sunday's games
Today's eight-games slate offers fantasy managers and bettors plenty of choices. A theme of the schedule is unfamiliar foes, as half of today's contests feature teams from opposing conferences.
Two of the most compelling matchups of the day come from this subset: a competitive Utah Jazz club hosting the Chicago Bulls in a game with a tight spread and robust point total. In the streaming section, we discuss a rookie in Salt Lake City who is starting to take off.
The Atlanta Hawks make their annual stop in Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns. The Suns have impressed in both record and playing style, as they are nearly top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating. A vocal wing from Phoenix earns an endorsement below.
Of the conference showdowns today, the San Antonio Spurs are sizable favorites over the Sacramento Kings, with a total approaching 240 points. This total is the highest of the day and speaks to the offensive ceiling in the contest.
The New Orleans Pelicans are double-digit home underdogs to the Golden State Warriors. This isn't what makes the game notable, but rather that Zion Williamson has been elevated to questionable after missing several games with a dreaded hamstring issue. This could be an important moment for Williamson and his fantasy investors ahead of a new week.
With an eye on identifying rewarding streaming candidates and savvy betting angles, let's take a look at Sunday's series of matchups.
Sunday's fantasy stream team
Naji Marshall, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks (rostered in 12.6% of ESPN leagues): The Mavericks are still seeking an identity on offense. An identity other than inept. To this end, Marshall is getting more touches and freedom on the offensive end. The team is desperate for shot creation, and Marshall has at least 28 points in two of his past four outings. Such momentum should earn him Marshall meaningful work today against Portland.
Ace Bailey, SF/PF, Jazz (35.0% rostered): It's not only fun to recognize Bailey's recent surge in scoring, but also the growth in trust from his coaching staff. Minutes and responsibilities on a team that really tries to compete each night are revealing why Bailey was such a coveted prospect out of Rutgers. This could be a fun game, featuring an ascending rookie in Bailey.
Jeremiah Fears, SG/PG, Pelicans (17.1%): Speaking of rising rookies, Fears has, well, no fears when it comes to shooting. He's also been larcenous on defense, swiping seven steals in his last outing. The shot isn't consistent yet, but Fears could be a fun play against Stephen Curry and company this evening.
Dillon Brooks, SF/SG, Suns (39.8%): Volatility defines his interactions with foes and with his offensive efficiency, making Brooks entertaining in several contexts. Hot from the floor of late and with extended minutes given injuries to Grayson Allen and Jalen Green, Brooks is due for a large workload in a challenging matchup with Dyson Daniels and the Hawks this evening.
Jabari Smith Jr., PF/C, Houston Rockets (44.6%): The Rockets miss not only Fred VanVleet's creation as a passer, but his volume shooting. With Tari Eason and a few other wings sitting today for Houston, Smith's shooting and scoring workload are likely to rise in today's matchup against the Orlando Magic. Eligibility at center only adds to the value for Smith.
McCormick's bets for Sunday
Kyshawn George to go OVER 18.5 points + assists (-110)
A gifted passer from the wing for Washington, George brings a unique skill set to the floor for a team that badly needs offensive organization. George gets to run sets and develop actions in certain lineups, confirmed by 15 dimes over the past two games. The Nets are the single team in the league worse on defense than Washington. This could be a fun game for George.
Ayo Dosunmu to go OVER 19.5 points + rebounds + and assists (-115)
Another combined prop is inspired by the injury report just as much as by Dosunmu. With Tre Jones and Coby White questionable with injuries, it's possible Dosunmu takes on a larger role in a game that could prove fast in regards to possessions played. When he tops 25 minutes, Dosumnu often delivers a strong and diverse line. Utah, meanwhile, has some of the weakest point-of-attack defense from the backcourt.
Cooper Flagg to go OVER 22.5 points + rebounds (-120)
Interest in both Flagg and Marshall at their current scoring and rebounding tallies is driven by how reasonable the numbers prove given respective opportunity rates. Which is to say, Flagg sees a rich blend of shots and potential rebounds in most outings. This matchup could prove inviting given Flagg's advantages in size and length. As for Marshall, his usage is spiking just in time for this type of prop play.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
LA Clippers at Boston Celtics
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: Clippers +5.5 (-110) | Celtics -5.5 (-110)
Money line: Clippers +180 | Celtics -215
Total: 219.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 8, straight up 72%, 217.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Bradley Beal, (OFS - Hip); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Ankle)
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT - Achilles)
Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs
4 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +8.5 (-115) | Spurs -8.5 (-105)
Money line: Kings +260 | Spurs -320
Total: 240.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 10.5, straight up 79%, 235.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Domantas Sabonis, (GTD - Ribs); Keegan Murray, (OUT - Thumb)
Spurs: Victor Wembanyama, (GTD - Calf); Dylan Harper, (OUT - Calf)
Brooklyn Nets at Washington Wizards
6 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +2.5 (-110) | Wizards -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Nets +120 | Wizards -140
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Wizards by 4.5, straight up 63%, 234.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Cam Thomas, (OUT - Hamstring); Haywood Highsmith, (OUT - Knee)
Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly, (GTD - Calf); Jamir Watkins, (GTD - Shoulder)
Orlando Magic at Houston Rockets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +7.5 (-105) | Rockets -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Magic +250 | Rockets -300
Total: 225.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 7.5, straight up 71%, 227.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Moritz Wagner, (OUT - Knee); Paolo Banchero, (OUT - Groin)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Knee); Dorian Finney-Smith, (OUT - Ankle); Tari Eason, (OUT - Hip)
Golden State Warriors at New Orleans Pelicans
7 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors -10.5 (-105) | Pelicans +10.5 (-115)
Money line: Warriors -550 | Pelicans +380
Total: 226.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 8.1, straight up 73%, 229.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Alex Toohey, (GTD - Knee); Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT - Knee); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Knee)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Zion Williamson, (GTD - Hamstring); Jordan Poole, (OUT - Quadriceps)
Portland Trail Blazers at Dallas Mavericks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers -3.5 (-115) | Mavericks +3.5 (-105)
Money line: Blazers -165 | Mavericks +140
Total: 236.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 0.8, straight up 52%, 236.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb)
Mavericks: Anthony Davis, (GTD - Calf); P.J. Washington, (GTD - Shoulder); Dante Exum, (OUT - Knee)
Atlanta Hawks at Phoenix Suns
8 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks -1.5 (-110) | Suns +1.5 (-110)
Money line: Hawks -125 | Suns +105
Total: 228.5 (-105 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 4.2, straight up 62%, 236.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Trae Young, (OUT - Knee)
Suns: Grayson Allen, (OUT - Quadriceps); Jalen Green, (OUT - Hamstring)
Chicago Bulls at Utah Jazz
8 p.m. ET
Line: Bulls -4.5 (-110) | Jazz +4.5 (-110)
Money line: Bulls -175 | Jazz +150
Total: 243.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 3.8, straight up 61%, 241.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Coby White, (GTD - Calf); Josh Giddey, (GTD - Ankle); Tre Jones, (GTD - Ankle); Zach Collins, (OUT - Wrist)
Jazz: Walker Kessler, (OFS - Shoulder); Kyle Anderson, (GTD - Back); Taylor Hendricks, (OUT - Hamstring); Georges Niang, (OUT - Foot)