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.
What you need to know for Sunday
Eight intriguing NBA games are on the menu Sunday. Injuries, even this early into the hoops marathon, play an integral part in most matchups.
The day opens with the Philadelphia 76ers hosting the Miami Heat in a South Philly matinee. The 76ers won't have Joel Embiid or backup center Adem Bona in the lineup, Kelly Oubre Jr. is out and rookie star V.J. Edgecombe is questionable with a calf issue. We know Miami won't have Tyler Herro, among others.
Injuries clearly influence this game; Philadelphia will need to lean even more on perimeter scoring and creation, while the Heat have more license to get into transition. Paul George, a free agent in a quarter of ESPN leagues, becomes a fun DFS and scoring prop candidate given what should be a busy complementary role next to Tyrese Maxey and his Iversonian approach.
Later in the slate, the Portland Trail Blazers have a long injury report in a matchup with the heavily-favored Oklahoma City Thunder. The Trail Blazers currently list six players out, including starters Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe. New names must step up.
The San Antonio Spurs won't have Victor Wembenyama or their duo of lottery guards available in Phoenix this evening, pushing the likes of Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie into relevance, given their projected leaps in minutes, shots and touches.
The goal today is to be nimble. Adjust and adapt based on the information we have. With an eye on finding productive fantasy streamers and betting angles of interest, let's take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Sunday's fantasy stream team
Keldon Johnson, SF/PF, Spurs (rostered in 15.3% of ESPN leagues): Once a key part of the Spurs' young core, Johnson is now a versatile vet who works from the bench. The role usually isn't very rewarding from a statistical context, but with so many high-impact injuries to the rotation, Johnson has become a key scorer and rebounder for San Antonio. We could see another fun line from Johnson.
Collin Gillespie, PG, Phoenix Suns (23.5% rostered): A former Villanova standout who has taken years to earn a steady NBA role, Gillespie brings a rewarding floor game to the rotation for Phoenix. Grayson Allen's absence leaves a large batch of perimeter touches, a role Gillespie has capably filled in recent games.
Caleb Love, SG, Trail Blazers (1.8%): The sample is quite small, but the production in Love's recent offensive opus was impressive enough to trust that he's earned a real role ahead of tonight's matchup with the Thunder. The defensive opponent is tougher, but Love's usage and skills could result in a strong showing.
Jaylon Tyson, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers (9.2%): You might not know his name, but Kenny Atkinson does. Tyson is a rising young wing for the Cavaliers who can become productive when empowered in the starting lineup. In fact, he has started eight times already this season and will see a viable role again today versus a tired Clippers team nearing the end of a long road stretch.
McCormick's bets for Sunday
Jaylon Tyson total points and rebounds OVER 15.5 (-120)
In what should be his ninth start of the season and with Jarrett Allen ruled out, Tyson's athleticism and ability to get around the rim could prove important for his production. The Cavaliers rely on Tyson as an energy source, cutting off the ball and creating opportunities via hustle. The minutes and opportunity rates should be present.
De'Aaron Fox total points and assists OVER 32.5 (-120)
The total for this contest sits at 235.5 points, suggesting plenty of possessions and creation opportunities for Fox to achieve this production goal. Without Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle in the rotation and no Wemby to consume touches, this is the Fox show for San Antonio. Phoenix, meanwhile, is smaller in the backcourt with Gillespie.
LeBron James total points and rebounds OVER 24.5 (-105)
You have likely heard of this guy. The Utah Jazz offer a great matchup for James to get two feet in the paint and get off high-percentage looks. Without Walker Kessler deterring shots, James could go bully mode and pour in points without needing much volume. The rebound angle stems from positioning, as he's more likely around the basket as he roves off ball a bit more aside two other elite shot creators.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Miami Heat at Philadelphia 76ers
1 p.m. ET
Line: Heat +1.5 (-115) | 76ers -1.5 (-105)
Money line: Heat +EVEN | 76ers -120
Total: 240.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 1.9, straight up 56%, 243.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Norman Powell, (GTD - Hip); Andrew Wiggins, (OUT - Hip); Nikola Jovic, (OUT - Hip); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Ankle); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
76ers: VJ Edgecombe, (GTD - Calf); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee); Adem Bona, (OUT - Ankle); Kelly Oubre Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Charlotte Hornets at Atlanta Hawks
6 p.m. ET
Line: Hornets +7.5 (-105) | Hawks -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Hornets +240 | Hawks -290
Total: 230.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 10.5, straight up 79%, 234.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Grant Williams, (GTD - Knee); Josh Green, (GTD - Shoulder); Pat Connaughton, (GTD - Calf); Ryan Kalkbrenner, (GTD - Ankle); Tre Mann, (GTD - Ankle)
Hawks: Keaton Wallace, (GTD - Personal); Onyeka Okongwu, (GTD - Ankle); Trae Young, (OUT - Knee); N'Faly Dante, (OUT - Knee)
Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics
6 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +4.5 (-110) | Celtics -4.5 (-110)
Money line: Magic +150 | Celtics -175
Total: 222.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 1.2, straight up 54%, 220.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Moritz Wagner, (OUT - Knee); Paolo Banchero, (OUT - Groin); Colin Castleton, (OUT - Hand)
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT - Achilles)
LA Clippers at Cleveland Cavaliers
6 p.m. ET
Line: Clippers +8.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -8.5 (-110)
Money line: Clippers +300 | Cavaliers -400
Total: 229.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 8.5, straight up 74%, 230.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Bradley Beal, (OFS - Hip); Bogdan Bogdanovic, (GTD - Hip); Jordan Miller, (GTD - Hamstring); Kawhi Leonard, (GTD - Ankle); Derrick Jones Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Cavaliers: Craig Porter Jr., (OUT - Hamstring); Jarrett Allen, (OUT - Finger); Lonzo Ball, (OUT - Knee); Sam Merrill, (OUT - Hand); Max Strus, (OUT - Foot)
Brooklyn Nets at Toronto Raptors
6 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +12.5 (-110) | Raptors -12.5 (-110)
Money line: Nets +550 | Raptors -900
Total: 228.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 13.6, straight up 85%, 227.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Egor Demin, (GTD - Neck); Nic Claxton, (GTD - Elbow); Ben Saraf, (OUT - Ankle); Cam Thomas, (OUT - Hamstring); Haywood Highsmith, (OUT - Knee)
Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, (GTD - Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT - Rest)
Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder
7 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +15.5 (-110) | Thunder -15.5 (-110)
Money line: Blazers +800 | Thunder -1600
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 18.4, straight up 93%, 234.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Donovan Clingan, (GTD - Ankle); Robert Williams III, (GTD - Knee); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb); Jrue Holiday, (OUT - Calf); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring)
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT - Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS - Knee); Jalen Williams, (OUT - Wrist); Aaron Wiggins, (OUT - Thigh); Kenrich Williams, (OUT - Knee)
San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns
8 p.m. ET
Line: Spurs +2.5 (-110) | Suns -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Spurs +120 | Suns -140
Total: 235.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 2.1, straight up 56%, 233.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Spurs: Jordan McLaughlin, (OUT - Hamstring); Dylan Harper, (OUT - Calf); Stephon Castle, (OUT - Hip); Victor Wembanyama, (OUT - Calf)
Suns: Rasheer Fleming, (GTD - Ankle); Ryan Dunn, (GTD - Wrist); Grayson Allen, (OUT - Quadriceps); Jalen Green, (OUT - Hamstring)
Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz
8 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers -9.5 (-115) | Jazz +9.5 (-105)
Money line: Lakers -425 | Jazz +320
Total: 244.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 13.7, straight up 85%, 241.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: None reported
Jazz: Walker Kessler, (OFS - Shoulder); Georges Niang, (OUT - Foot)