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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What you need to know for Wednesday
The next three days will be vital for the disposition of the Emirates NBA Cup. We have a full slate of nine games on Wednesday night, all part of the NBA Cup Group Stage. There are no NBA games tomorrow, then on Friday there are 11 more games that conclude the NBA Cup Group Stage. At that point, we will know which teams make the next round of the Cup.
The most competitive Group in the Cup standings is West Group A, featuring three teams with two wins. The Oklahoma City Thunder is undefeated at 2-0, and tonight faces the 2-1 Minnesota Timberwolves. The Thunder lead all teams with a +63 scoring margin in their two wins, significantly ahead of the +23 margin for the also 2-0 Suns in the group. But the Timberwolves, despite their single loss, have a +53 scoring margin that is second-highest among all West groups. Their matchup with the Thunder, then, will have direct ramifications on who comes out of this group.
Another matchup of interest is in East Group C, where the 2-0 Milwaukee Bucks face off with the 2-1 Miami Heat. The Heat have the larger scoring difference, +47 to +29, but if the Bucks win out it won't matter. But the Heat have won five straight games overall and are currently third in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks have struggled to five straight losses as Giannis Antetokounmpo has struggled with injury. Antetokounmpo is questionable to return tonight, and his presence or absence will likely play a large part in determining the winner.
The Detroit Pistons will strive for their 14th straight win tonight, in a game that is important to East Group B. The Pistons are 2-0 in the Cup, but have a differential of only +27. The Orlando Magic are 3-0, and after their demolition of the Philadelphia 76ers last night, their differential has swollen to +61. Thus, the Pistons need to not only defeat the 1-2 Boston Celtics tonight, but if they can they need to run up the score enough to close the gap with the Magic.
These, and many other storylines, will be on display tonight. So, without further ado, let's identify some fantasy streamers and betting angles of interest for this humpday in a unique week of NBA action.
Wednesday's fantasy stream team
Derik Queen, C, New Orleans Pelicans (Rostered in 48.2% of ESPN leagues): Queen had his lowest scoring output of the season on Monday, scoring only eight points against the Bulls. But that was largely because he played only 17 minutes, his fewest since Nov. 2. He did not start the second half of that game, replaced by Yves Missi in the lineup, but even in attenuated minutes, Queen still contributed 5 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal and a block. If he returns to his typical minutes on Wednesday, Queen has a good chance to return to the level of the 17.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.1 BPG and 1.0 SPG he averaged in the seven contests leading up to Monday.
Bobby Portis, PF, Milwaukee Bucks (42.7%): Portis has stepped up his individual production in the absence of Antetokounmpo, averaging 19.7 PPG and 7.0 RPG in his last three outings. Antetokounmpo is questionable tonight, and if he plays, Portis' role would shrink to his usual levels, but those are still high enough to be fantasy playable. And if Giannis is out again, Portis should stay at his elevated level of production.
T.J. McConnell, PG, Indiana Pacers (37.0%): McConnell has been working himself back into playing form after a long injury absence, and in his most recent games has shown signs of being close to being back to himself. In his last three outings, McConnell has scored in double-figures in all three while averaging 13.3 PPG, 5.7 APG and 3.3 RPG. On Monday, McConnell played a season-high 22 minutes and responded with season highs of 16 points and 3 steals.
Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets (48.3%): Smith is vibing of late, on a streak of seven games scoring in double figures. In that stretch, Smith has filled the stat sheet to the tune of 16.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG and 2.7 3PG. On Monday, Smith turned in his best fantasy defensive day with 2 blocks and 2 steals, the first time this season he has had multiple of both in the same game.
Dre's favorite bets for Wednesday
Anfernee Simons over 13.5 points (-130)
Simons is one of the streakiest scorers in the NBA. When he's off, he's off, but when he's in the zone, he can drop 30 points in any given game. Simons was slumping two weeks ago, making only 7 of 28 field goals over a three-game span. But he seemed to use consecutive games against the Nets last week to break that slump, and his hot shooting continued on Sunday against the Magic. All told, in his last three games Simons has made 21 of his last 31 field goals and he's scored 23 in back-to-back games. On Wednesday, he faces a Pistons defense that ranks in the bottom half of the NBA in allowing 26.3 PPG to opposing point guards.
Kon Knueppel OVER 17.5 total points (-110)
Knueppel has quietly become one of the elite young scorers in the NBA, routinely going far above this line. In his last 11 games, Knueppel has averaged 23.2 PPG while going over 17.5 points in nine of the last 11. He has scored at least 24 points in four straight games and five of his last six. On Wednesday, he faces a Knicks defense that ranks in the bottom-10 in points allowed to opposing shooting guards and last in the NBA in points allowed to opposing small forwards.
Kel'el Ware to record a double double (-130)
Ware has quietly become one of the dominant rebounders in the NBA. He has grabbed double-digit rebounds in nine straight games. He has also stepped up his scoring, notching double-doubles in seven of his last eight games. Overall, in those eight games, he has averaged 15.9 points and 15.1 rebounds. He has stepped even those lofty numbers this week, scoring 20 points in three straight games to average 20.0 points and 16.0 rebounds.
Anthony Edwards OVER 25.5 total points (-105)
This one is more hunch than numbers. The Thunder are the number one team in the NBA for fewest points allowed to opposing shooting guards, so it makes sense that Edwards' line is lower than his typical numbers. But a few things: Edwards typically scores well above this line. In his last nine outings, Edwards has averaged 29.9 points while scoring 26 or more in seven of those nine games and 30 or more in five of the games. He will be up to face the Thunder, who defeated his Timberwolves in last season's Western Conference Finals. Edwards also has scored 41 or more points in each of his last two games, and is locked-in going into this one.
Dillon Brooks OVER 20.5 total points (-115)
Brooks has been scorching of late, but his scoring tends to fly under the radar. Brooks has scored at least 22 points in five of his last six games, with at least 29 points in three of those games. In that span, he has averaged 25.7 PPG as almost a co-main scoring option next to Devin Booker. On Wednesday, Brooks faces a very friendly Sacramento Kings defense in a game the Phoenix Suns need to win, and win by a lot. Especially if they want to remain undefeated and compete atop their NBA Cup Group in scoring margin with the Thunder, whose +63 scoring margin dwarfs their +23 -- even though both teams are undefeated.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
Detroit Pistons at Boston Celtics
5 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Pistons -2.5 (-115) | Celtics +2.5 (-105)
Money line: Pistons -145 | Celtics +125
Total: 230.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Pistons: Bobi Klintman, (OUT - Ankle); Marcus Sasser, (OUT - Hip)
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT - Achilles); Neemias Queta, (OUT - Ankle)
New York Knicks at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks -6.5 (-115) | Hornets +6.5 (-105)
Money line: Knicks -270 | Hornets +220
Total: 241.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Knicks: Landry Shamet, (OUT - Shoulder); OG Anunoby, (OUT - Hamstring)
Hornets: Pat Connaughton, (OUT - Calf); Grant Williams, (OUT - Knee); Josh Green, (OUT - Shoulder)
Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks +8.5 (-105) | Heat -8.5 (-115)
Money line: Bucks +280 | Heat -360
Total: 237.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Bucks: Taurean Prince, (OUT - Neck); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Thigh); Kevin Porter Jr., (OUT - Knee)
Heat: Andrew Wiggins, (GTD - Hip); Dru Smith, (GTD - Hip); Jaime Jaquez Jr., (GTD - Hip); Nikola Jovic, (GTD - Hip); Norman Powell, (GTD - Groin); Terry Rozier, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Indiana Pacers at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +10.5 (-110) | Raptors -10.5 (-110)
Money line: Pacers +360 | Raptors -500
Total: 234.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Pacers: Obi Toppin, (OUT - Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS - Achilles); Johnny Furphy, (OUT - Ankle); Kam Jones, (OUT - Back); Quenton Jackson, (OUT - Hamstring); Aaron Nesmith, (OUT - Knee)
Raptors: RJ Barrett, (OUT - Knee)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder
7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Timberwolves +10.5 (-115) | Thunder -10.5 (-105)
Money line: Timberwolves +340 | Thunder -450
Total: 228.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: None reported
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT - Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS - Knee); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (GTD - Illness); Jalen Williams, (OUT - Wrist); Aaron Wiggins, (OUT - Thigh)
Memphis Grizzlies at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies -3.5 (-110) | Pelicans +3.5 (-110)
Money line: Grizzlies -155 | Pelicans +135
Total: 235.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT - Toe); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Calf); Zach Edey, (GTD - Head); Ja Morant, (OUT - Calf); Javon Small, (OUT - Toe); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Knee)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT - Achilles); Jordan Poole, (OUT - Quadriceps); Karlo Matkovic, (OUT - Calf); Herbert Jones, (OUT - Calf)
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Rockets +2.5 (-110) | Warriors -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Rockets +125 | Warriors -145
Total: 224.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT - Knee); Dorian Finney-Smith, (OUT - Ankle); Kevin Durant, (OUT - Personal); Steven Adams, (OUT - Ankle); Tari Eason, (OUT - Oblique)
Warriors: Draymond Green, (GTD - Foot); Alex Toohey, (OUT - Knee); Al Horford, (OUT - Back); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Knee); Jonathan Kuminga, (OUT - Knee)
San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET
Line: Spurs +1.5 (-115) | Blazers -1.5 (-105)
Money line: Spurs -105 | Blazers -115
Total: 239.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Spurs: Dylan Harper, (GTD - Calf); Harrison Ingram, (OUT - Undisclosed); Jordan McLaughlin, (OUT - Hamstring); Stephon Castle, (OUT - Hip); Victor Wembanyama, (OUT - Calf)
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles); Shaedon Sharpe, (GTD - Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT - Thumb); Jrue Holiday, (OUT - Calf); Scoot Henderson, (OUT - Hamstring)
Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. ET
Line: Suns -4.5 (-105) | Kings +4.5 (-115)
Money line: Suns -175 | Kings +150
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection:
Injury Report:
Suns: Grayson Allen, (OUT - Quadriceps); Ryan Dunn, (OUT - Wrist); Jalen Green, (OUT - Hamstring)
Kings: Dennis Schroder, (GTD - Shoulder); Domantas Sabonis, (OUT - Knee)