ESPN's basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you lock in daily fantasy and betting decisions for that night's games. Here you'll find our top insights for the slate, including players to target for your daily fantasy rosters, along with game-by-game injury reports.
What you need to know for Tuesday
Tuesday's NBA slate features four games, including a matchup between two unbeaten Western Conference teams and a pair of Eastern Conference contenders still searching for their first wins.
The defending champion New York Knicks (0-3) host the Detroit Pistons (3-0), who will be without Jalen Duren and possibly Ausar Thompson. Jalen Brunson has struggled with his shot through three games, but the Knicks have a chance to pick up their first win against a shorthanded Detroit team led by Cade Cunningham.
Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics (1-1) host the winless Brooklyn Nets (0-3), while Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs (1-2) face a Sacramento Kings team that has also started 0-3.
The final game of the night features the Portland Trail Blazers (2-0) visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (3-0). Luka Doncic is coming off a 52-point performance against the Jazz, and the Lakers have scored at least 125 points in all three games. Portland is averaging 126 points per game behind Deni Avdija and an offseason addition in Jrue Holiday.
Let's take a closer look at Tuesday's matchups and some fantasy streamers and betting angles worth considering.
Fantasy stream team
Players available in at least 50% of leagues
Devin Vassell, SG/SF, San Antonio Spurs (rostered in 32.9% of ESPN leagues)
Vassell has struggled offensively, but his contributions in other areas have helped him score at least 20 fantasy points in two of his first three games. He's averaged 33.0 MPG and has a favorable matchup against a Sacramento defense allowing 124 points per game. The Kings also rank near the bottom of the league in defensive rating. Vassell should have opportunities to improve his scoring numbers Tuesday and is worth streaming in points leagues.
Paul Reed, C/PF, Detroit Pistons (18.2%)
Duren is sidelined with a hamstring injury, giving Reed an opportunity for more playing time. Reed finished with 43 fantasy points in 26 minutes against the Miami Heat last Thursday after Duren exited the game. Reed followed that up with 23 fantasy points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Reed has been productive on a per-minute basis and is also worth adding in category leagues for managers who need rebounds and blocks.
Daniss Jenkins, PG, Detroit Pistons (8.2%)
Jenkins started against the 76ers on Sunday and finished with 41 fantasy points in 38 minutes. He also scored 30 fantasy points in 22 minutes against Miami last Thursday. Jenkins can provide points, assists and 3-pointers, but Thompson's availability will determine how much playing time he gets against the Knicks.
Keon Ellis, SG/SF, Brooklyn Nets (4.2%)
Ellis has started all three games for the Nets and has averaged 2.3 SPG. He's especially valuable in category leagues because of his defensive production, ability to contribute triples and low turnovers. Ellis isn't going to score a ton of points, but he can still help managers without needing many shots. He's scored at least 23 fantasy points in two out of three games and worth streaming for anyone looking to improve their steals and 3-pointers.
Moody's bets to make on Tuesday
Jalen Brunson OVER 25.5 points (-117)
The defending champions have started the season 0-3, and Brunson has cleared this line just once. However, his usage remains high at 31.1%, and he's averaged 21.3 field goal attempts per game despite shooting just 39% from the floor. Brunson topped 25.5 points in only one of three games against Detroit last season, but two of those games were blowouts. This matchup should be more competitive, especially with the Pistons missing Duren and potentially Thompson, who's listed as questionable.
Domantas Sabonis UNDER 16.5 points (-111)
Sabonis has averaged just 8.7 field goal attempts per game this season, well below his career average of 11.2. Much of Sacramento's offense has gone through Darius Acuff Jr. (24.3 FGA), Zach LaVine (19.7) and Precious Achiuwa (10.7). Sabonis has scored fewer than 17 points in two of three games despite shooting an unsustainable 80.8% from the floor. Now he faces Wembanyama and a Spurs' defense that's allowed the fewest free throw attempts per game in the league. San Antonio are also huge favorites, raising the possibility of a blowout, while Sacramento is playing the first game of a back-to-back.
Deni Avdija OVER 34.5 points, rebounds and assists (-111)
The Blazers-Lakers matchup has one of the highest totals on Tuesday's slate. While the Lakers have added defensive help on the perimeter, Avdija's combination of size, scoring and playmaking could still cause problems, especially in transition. He also shouldn't have to spend much time defending Doncic or Austin Reaves, with Holiday and Toumani Camara likely drawing those assignments. Avdija has a 28.5% usage rate through two games and is averaging 22 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 5.0 APG. That's 35.5 combined PRA, and he's cleared this line once in two games.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +12.5 (-115) | Celtics -12.5 (-105)
Money line: Nets +455 | Celtics -625
Total: 222.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 14, straight up 85%, 223.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Tyler Bilodeau (OUT)
Celtics: Devin Carter (OUT)
Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons +4.5 (-115) | Knicks -4.5 (-105)
Money line: Pistons +142 | Knicks -170
Total: 219.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 3.7, straight up 61%, 217.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Ausar Thompson (GTD); Isaiah Joe (GTD); Jalen Duren (OUT)
Knicks: Jose Alvarado (OUT)
Sacramento Kings at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +18.5 (-112) | Spurs -18.5 (-108)
Money line: Kings +950 | Spurs -1650
Total: 232.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 21.2, straight up 93%, 230.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Ben Simmons (OFS); Dylan Cardwell (OUT); Keegan Murray (OUT); Maxime Raynaud (OUT)
Spurs: Tobias Harris (OUT); Jayden Quaintance (OUT)
Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers
11 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +1.5 (-105) | Lakers -1.5 (-115)
Money line: Blazers +105 | Lakers -125
Total: 233.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 0.8, straight up 52%, 230.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (OUT); Branden Carlson (GTD); Scoot Henderson (GTD); Chris Youngblood (OUT)
Lakers: Adou Thiero (OUT)