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 | DFS picks | Odds & injury report
What you need to know for Saturday's games
The NBA Cup semifinals tip off today in Las Vegas. With a smaller pool of games and players to choose from for fantasy, DFS, and wagering decisions, we'll want to dive deep into the four teams in action on Saturday.
The Orlando Magic and New York Knicks meet for the fourth time this season. That's an amazing amount of tape to compile just seven weeks into the year. Familiarity will be key in this matchup, but so will adaptation, as the Magic are without star wing Franz Wagner for multiple weeks.
Can Orlando sustain a recent surge in offense without their All-Star-caliber forward? Will Paolo Banchero keep the ball moving in Orlando's quicker, new-look offense, or will increased usage invite more isolation possessions? We'll learn a lot about Orlando in this one.
The Knicks have won eight of their last nine games and are only missing Miles McBride from the rotation. Orlando's top-five defense will be put to the test against a New York team ranked second in the league in offensive rating over the past five games.
The nightcap features the seemingly indomitable Oklahoma City Thunder against a San Antonio Spurs roster welcoming back Victor Wembanyama to the lineup. Even with the weight of Wembanyama's return and the team's success without him in recent weeks factored in, the Thunder are double-digit favorites.
Seeing how the Spurs' rotation and usage patterns shift with their superstar center back will prove telling. The Thunder will be without Isaiah Joe, but otherwise run out a full rotation. If the Spurs intend to contend, they'll have to prove it to the Thunder and the league in Nevada tonight.
With the spotlight on the tournament in Las Vegas and an eye toward uncovering productive fantasy streamers and betting angles, let's take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Saturday's fantasy stream team
Anthony Black, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (rostered in 26.1% of ESPN leagues): The absence of Wagner opens up more on-ball creation touches for Black. This former lottery pick has become a key secondary playmaker for Orlando this season, confirmed by posting at least five dimes in three of his past four games. Black just produced a double-double against New York last week, while his role is only expected to expand in today's game
Dylan Harper, PG/SG, San Antonio Spurs (35.4%): This special rookie guard has a unique ability to get both feet in the paint at will. His playing time is often capped, which limits his fantasy appeal to merely a streaming option at this stage. Today's limited market vaults Harper into the meaningful tier given his ability to put up a strong line in limited playing time. There's also the big spread to consider; a blowout could potentially earn the rookie more playing time and usage. This will be interesting either way.
Tristan da Silva, SF, Orlando Magic (3.4%): With Wagner sidelined, da Silva shifts into a bigger role in the rotation. It's a small sample, but da Silva just posted 18 combined points and rebounds in nearly 30 minutes against the Miami Heat. He doesn't have much of a track record of production against the Knicks, but the minutes should be there tonight.
Cason Wallace, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (16.5%): An incredible nine steals in his past two games signals just how active and destructive Wallace can prove on defense. The absence of Joe could see Wallace earn a few more minutes. Scoring and playmaking aren't part of the box score just yet, but rebounds and steals at atypically high rates help Wallace's case.
McCormick's bets for Saturday
Jalen Williams OVER 5.5 assists (+102): A career season in creation success could continue for Williams in Las Vegas tonight. With at least five assists in every game since returning to the floor and with the Spurs' jumbo defensive guards likely to blitz Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when possible, Williams' ability to create offense could prove important.
Desmond Bane OVER 20.5 points (-125): Even at this higher price, Bane's scoring prop appears attractive given he has a team-high five percent leap in usage with Wagner off the court this season. Expect more touches, more time on ball and more scoring opportunities for Bane in this matchup with the rival Knicks.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
Play Daily Fantasy NBA at DraftKings
$8100+ salaries
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder ($10,400): Coming in nearly $2,000 more than Jalen Brunson as the top guard in today's two-game tournaments, "SGA" is the top choice for a reason. This superstar has delivered at least 48 DraftKings points in eight of nine outings. Even with the aforementioned attention from the Spurs' big guards, Gilgeous-Alexander's uncanny scoring craft surfaces in even the toughest of matchups.
$6100-$8000 salaries
Desmond Bane, SG, Orlando Magic ($7,300): The start to Bane's Orlando career hasn't always been smooth, although it has had some fun peaks. With a recent pattern of big games and with more usage and touches now that Wagner is healing, Bane becomes a high-ceiling scoring guard with some playmaking upside as a bonus.
Mikal Bridges, SF, New York Knicks ($6,600): Finding consistency can prove difficult in DFS hoops. This is especially true among the 3-and-D tier of wings. Brides bucks this trend in that he's been a steady hand statistically for much of the season. With a predictable pattern for playing time and shot diet, Bridges is a bankable play that allows for more volatile or risky plays in your lineups.
$3500-$6000 salaries
Anthony Black, PG/SG, Orlando Magic ($5,400): Opportunity knocks for Black. It's not just the surface stats like shot attempts and assists that rise with Wagner out of the rotation, it's touches, pick-and-roll duties, rebounding chances, potential assists and drives that all leap in such scenarios.
Jordan Clarkson, SG/SF, New York Knicks ($4,200): Following a long line of microwaves such as Jamal Crawford and Lou Williams, Clarkson loves to score in bunches off the bench. This role isn't always present for Clarkson, as McBride has become the primary bench scorer for the Knicks. With McBride out, however, Clarkson's minutes and shots should grow.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
New York Knicks at Orlando Magic
5:30 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks (-4.5) | Magic (+4.5)
Total: 224.5
BPI Projection: Knicks by 4, straight up 62%, 230.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Pacome Dadiet, (GTD - Ankle); Miles McBride, (OUT - Ankle); Landry Shamet, (OUT - Shoulder)
Magic: Moritz Wagner, (OUT - Knee); Franz Wagner, (OUT - Ankle)
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
9 p.m. ET
Line: Spurs (+10.5) | Thunder (-10.5)
Total: 232.5
BPI Projection: Thunder by 11.4, straight up 80%, 233.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Spurs: Blake Wesley, (OUT - Foot); Victor Wembanyama, (GTD - Calf); Malaki Branham, (GTD - Thumb)
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT - Groin); Isaiah Joe, (OUT - Knee)