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 Saturday's games
A seven-game Saturday slate opens this afternoon in Charlotte and finishes in Denver later in the evening. One theme from today's games is large lines, as four of the seven contests claim spreads of at least eight points.
Big spreads can prove challenging given the potential for important players from both rotations to see fewer minutes in a blowout scenario. This doesn't mean to outright fade games with big spreads; rather, you'll just want to navigate such games with an eye on potential risks.
That first game of the day features the Charlotte Hornets hosting the LA Clippers as just slight home favorites. The big news from this one is the return of Brandon Miller to the Hornets' rotation; the Alabama product has been out nearly a month with a shoulder injury. Available in free agency in more than a third of ESPN leagues, Miller is a name to watch on Saturday. The Detroit Pistons are also getting back an important part of their rotation, as you'll read below.
Another game of interest has the Orlando Magic hosting the New York Knicks in a meeting of potential conference contenders. The Knicks have cut through Eastern competition for much of the season, save for when Orlando drubbed them in the Garden recently. We won't see OG Anunoby or Paolo Banchero due to respective injuries, while the presence of Jalen Suggs for the Magic could be key for both the Magic and fantasy managers.
The contest with the most optimistic offensive ceiling of the day features the Chicago Bulls hosting the Washington Wizards. The total for this is well north of 240 points, signaling there's room for many rotation players to surface in the box score.
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.
Saturday's fantasy stream team
Derik Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans (rostered in 32.5% of ESPN leagues): The notorious draft deal that landed Queen in New Orleans gets a lot of attention, but another story is developing with how he's played in recent weeks. Queen's floor game is evolving, as he's been running offense out of the high post with real success. On a team that lacks creation, Queen could be busy against the Atlanta frontcourt today.
Jeremiah Fears, SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans (20.4%): The other top pick of the Pelicans this past June, Fears is a fearless scorer gaining some traction as a playmaker. Queen is likely the better distributor at this point, while Fears and his irrational shooting confidence can result in some really fun scoring showings.
Ayo Dosunmu, SG, Chicago Bulls (19.2%): A glue guy of sorts, Dosumnu can fill different roles for the Bulls in the same game. At times, he's asked to defend and run in transition, while other moments ask for on-ball creation and scoring. This game against the Wizards has such impressive offensive upside, aiding Dosumnu's case to thrive against a porous Washington defense.
Jaden Ivey, SG/PG, Detroit Pistons (18.4%): Set to make his season debut today, Ivey is looking to build on what was a quietly stellar 2024-2025 season for the combo guard. He showed he could score and create in primary and secondary roles last year, working off-ball in lineups with Cade Cunningham. This could be an important arrival for both real and fantasy outcomes.
McCormick's bets for Saturday
Dyson Daniels OVER 5.5 assists (-130) 
The Pelicans are 26th in defensive rating and prove particularly weak at the point-of-attack and in pick-and-roll scenarios. Daniels, a former New Orleans pick, is going to have the ball in his hands, empowered to get downhill and distribute to several shooters in the Atlanta lineup.
Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 24.5 total points and assists (-125)
A trend this year has been Towns outperforming expectations in matchups against top 10 defenses. Maybe it's that he's a bit overqualified to be a secondary offensive option and some growth is expected when top schemes target Jalen Brunson. Whatever the motivation, there's momentum for Towns as both a scorer and passer, especially given he's not going to chase Banchero around all game.
Josh Giddey OVER 9.5 rebounds (-140)
The Wizards are securing just 46.5% of potential rebounds, the third-lowest rate in the NBA. They corral defensive rebounds at the second-lowest clip. With Giddey's size and ability to get two feet in the paint at will, his potential rebounding rate could look like that of a center in tonight's matchup. Opportunities and matchup metrics seem to align here.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
LA Clippers at Charlotte Hornets
1 p.m. ET
Line: Clippers -1.5 (-105) | Hornets +1.5 (-115)
Money line: Clippers -120 | Hornets +EVEN
Total: 227.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Hornets by 0.7, straight up 52%, 225.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Bradley Beal, (OFS - Hip); Jordan Miller, (OUT - Hamstring); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Ankle); Derrick Jones Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Hornets: Sion James, (GTD - Groin); Tre Mann, (GTD - Ankle); Grant Williams, (OUT - Knee); Josh Green, (OUT - Shoulder)
New York Knicks at Orlando Magic
5 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks +1.5 (-110) | Magic -1.5 (-110)
Money line: Knicks +105 | Magic -125
Total: 230.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 1.7, straight up 55%, 227.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Jalen Brunson, (GTD - Ankle); Kevin McCullar Jr., (GTD - Back); OG Anunoby, (OUT - Hamstring)
Magic: Paolo Banchero, (OUT - Groin); Moritz Wagner, (OUT - Knee); Colin Castleton, (OUT - Hand)
Atlanta Hawks at New Orleans Pelicans
7 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks -8.5 (-115) | Pelicans +8.5 (-105)
Money line: Hawks -400 | Pelicans +300
Total: 230.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 8.8, straight up 75%, 236.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu, (GTD - Ankle); Trae Young, (OUT - Knee); N'Faly Dante, (OUT - Knee)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Jordan Poole, (GTD - Quadriceps); Karlo Matkovic, (GTD - Calf); Zion Williamson, (GTD - Hamstring)
Washington Wizards at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +12.5 (-110) | Bulls -12.5 (-110)
Money line: Wizards +500 | Bulls -800
Total: 243.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 12.8, straight up 84%, 247.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: AJ Johnson, (GTD - Ankle); Alex Sarr, (GTD - Toe); Marvin Bagley III, (GTD - Hip)
Bulls: Isaac Okoro, (GTD - Back); Trentyn Flowers, (GTD - Illness); Zach Collins, (OUT - Wrist)
Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -7.5 (-115) | Bucks +7.5 (-105)
Money line: Pistons -360 | Bucks +280
Total: 223.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 7.4, straight up 71%, 231.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Jaden Ivey, (GTD - Knee); Tobias Harris, (GTD - Ankle); Bobi Klintman, (OUT - Ankle); Marcus Sasser, (OUT - Hip)
Bucks: Taurean Prince, (OUT - Neck); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (OUT - Thigh); Kevin Porter Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies +1.5 (-110) | Mavericks -1.5 (-110)
Money line: Grizzlies -105 | Mavericks -115
Total: 228.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 0.2, straight up 51%, 231.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT - Toe); Jaren Jackson Jr., (GTD - Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Calf); Ja Morant, (OUT - Calf); Javon Small, (OUT - Toe); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Knee)
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT - Knee); Dante Exum, (OFS - Knee); D'Angelo Russell, (GTD - Illness); Dereck Lively II, (GTD - Knee); Anthony Davis, (OUT - Calf)
Sacramento Kings at Denver Nuggets
10 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +10.5 (-105) | Nuggets -10.5 (-115)
Money line: Kings +425 | Nuggets -650
Total: 236.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 14.9, straight up 88%, 237.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Domantas Sabonis, (OUT - Knee)
Nuggets: Christian Braun, (OUT - Ankle); Julian Strawther, (GTD - Back); Aaron Gordon, (OUT - Hamstring)