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 Wednesday
The NBA has another massive slate scheduled with 12 games. As always, with this much action, there should be plenty of interesting storylines and matchups to look into.
Let's start in Atlanta, where the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Miami Heat will look to get their first win of the season against a rising Atlanta Hawks squad.
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers pit their currently perfect home record on the line against a Washington Wizards team that would love to see the NBA debut of number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa (questionable, ankle).
The only game today featuring two teams both over .500 has the surprising 3-1 Charlotte Hornets headed to the Motor City to face the 3-1 Detroit Pistons.
The Philadelphia 76ers should have their full starting lineup intact tonight after splitting their most recent back-to-back, with LeBron James sitting one half and Joel Embiid sitting the other. They'll travel to Indiana to face a Pacers team that has four of their five starters are on the injury report.
And in Dallas, Cooper Flagg leads his Mavericks in an attempt to knock the Oklahoma City Thunder from the ranks of the unbeaten.
All of these storylines, and many more, will be on display tonight. As always, let's dig a bit deeper into the matchups to identify some potential fantasy streamers and betting angles of interest.
Fantasy stream team
Players available in at least 50% of leagues
Terrence Shannon Jr., SG, Minnesota Timberwolves (rostered in 9.3% of ESPN leagues)
With the news that Anthony Edwards will be out for the next couple of months, Shannon immediately becomes a fantasy player of interest. He has scored in double figures in every game this season, grabbed 12 total rebounds over the last three games, and dished eight total assists in the last two in a 22-ish minute role off the bench. He likely remains a reserve but could get more time and opportunity moving forward.
Jared McCain, PG/SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (37.6%)
McCain's role expanded Monday with two teammates injured, and he turned in 18 points and four 3-pointers in 30 minutes of action. His role could be even larger Wednesday if a third teammate, Ajay Mitchell (questionable, ankle), is unable to go.
Anthony Black, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (40.0%)
Black had a breakout campaign last season, and with teammate Jalen Suggs sidelined it's Black that stepped in and produced 18 points, five boards and two steals in his season debut. Black missed Wednesday's morning shootaround for personal reasons and is listed as questionable on the injury report, but is reportedly expected to be back and available before tipoff.
Mo Bamba, C, Utah Jazz (6.3%)
Bamba is one of the last healthy big man options on the Jazz, and he took advantage of his expanded role to drop 14 points, seven boards and four blocks in his season debut on Monday. He could be a viable big man streamer for as long as he continues to get starter minutes.
Dre's bets to make on Wednesday
Odds by DraftKings
and subject to change.
Philadelphia 76ers -5.5 (-108) at Indiana Pacers
The 76ers are road favorites Wednesday, but there are still good reasons to expect them to cover. They have won both games this season in which their full starting lineup played, each by six or more points, against two elite teams in the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pacers, on the other hand, will be without starting center Ivica Zubac (out, ankle) and sixth man T.J. McConnell (out, hamstring) and may not have Tyrese Haliburton (questionable, hamstring) or Andrew Nembhard (questionable, neck).
Trae Young 10+ assists (-148)
Young is back to his high-volume, distributing ways. After leading the NBA with 11.6 APG two seasons ago, he struggled with injury and an in-season trade last season. He has opened this campaign with four straight games of at least nine assists and three games in double figures, averaging 11.0 APG on the season.
Naz Reid OVER 26.5 points + rebounds (-119)
Reid has been over this mark in three of four games this season and is averaging 19.5 PPG and 9.5 RPG (29.0 P+R) on the season. Tonight, he'll face a Pistons team without starting center Jalen Duren, giving him a good chance to continue his strong play.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks
7 p.m. ET
Line: Heat +2.5 (-118) | Hawks -2.5 (-102)
Money line: Heat +110 | Hawks -130
Total: 241.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 5.3, straight up 66%, 236.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Pelle Larsson (GTD); Simone Fontecchio (GTD)
Hawks: Henri Veesaar (OFS); Aaron Wiggins (GTD); Mouhamed Gueye (OUT)
Washington Wizards at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +10.5 (-115) | Cavaliers -10.5 (-105)
Money line: Wizards +310 | Cavaliers -395
Total: 239.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 9.1, straight up 76%, 240.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Jamir Watkins (OUTOUT); AJ Dybantsa (GTDGTD); Justin Champagnie (OUTOUT); Tristan Vukcevic (OUTOUT)
Cavaliers: None reported
Charlotte Hornets at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET
Line: Hornets +7.5 (-105) | Pistons -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Hornets +235 | Pistons -290
Total: 213.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 5.9, straight up 68%, 216.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Coby White (OUT); Grant Williams (OUT); Kon Knueppel (OUT)
Pistons: Isaiah Joe (GTD); Jalen Duren (OUT)
Philadelphia 76ers at Indiana Pacers
7 p.m. ET
Line: 76ers -5.5 (-108) | Pacers +5.5 (-112)
Money line: 76ers -198 | Pacers +164
Total: 236.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 9.1, straight up 76%, 230.9 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Ariel Hukporti (OFS); Jabari Walker (OUT); Dominick Barlow (OUT); Tacko Fall (OUT)
Pacers: Aaron Nesmith (GTD); Andrew Nembhard (GTD); Obi Toppin (GTD); Tyrese Haliburton (GTD); Ivica Zubac (OUT); T.J. McConnell (OUT); Ben Sheppard (OUT)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +4.5 (-110) | Raptors -4.5 (-110)
Money line: Magic +160 | Raptors -192
Total: 224.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 1, straight up 53%, 224.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Jonathan Isaac (OUT); Jalen Suggs (OUT); Izaiyah Nelson (OUT); Noah Penda (OUT); Paolo Banchero (OUT)
Raptors: Kawhi Leonard (OUTOUT)
New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks -7.5 (-105) | Bulls +7.5 (-115)
Money line: Knicks -278 | Bulls +225
Total: 233.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 9.8, straight up 77%, 230.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Jose Alvarado (GTD)
Bulls: Patrick Williams (GTD); Nic Claxton (OUT)
Houston Rockets at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Rockets -8.5 (-105) | Bucks +8.5 (-115)
Money line: Rockets -340 | Bucks +270
Total: 226.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 7.8, straight up 73%, 229.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Marcus Smart (GTD); Alperen Sengun (OUT); Steven Adams (OUT)
Bucks: None reported
Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors +4.5 (-115) | Timberwolves -4.5 (-105)
Money line: Warriors +142 | Timberwolves -170
Total: 227.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 8.5, straight up 74%, 227.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III (OUT); Yaxel Lendeborg (GTD); Kristaps Porzingis (OUT); Moses Moody (OUT)
Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo (OUT); Anthony Edwards (OUT)
Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets -4.5 (-110) | Pelicans +4.5 (-110)
Money line: Nuggets -198 | Pelicans +164
Total: 240.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 4.2, straight up 63%, 243.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Cameron Johnson (GTD); Alpha Diallo (OUT); Spencer Jones (OUT); Julian Strawther (OUT)
Pelicans: Jordan Poole (GTD); Yves Missi (OUT)
San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
9 p.m. ET
Line: Spurs -13.5 (-105) | Jazz +13.5 (-115)
Money line: Spurs -650 | Jazz +470
Total: 233.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 12, straight up 82%, 233.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Spurs: Tobias Harris (GTD); Jayden Quaintance (OUT)
Jazz: Jaxson Hayes (GTD); Lauri Markkanen (GTD); Jusuf Nurkic (OUT); Trey Alexander (OUT); Jaren Jackson Jr. (OUT)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Dallas Mavericks
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Thunder -5.5 (-115) | Mavericks +5.5 (-105)
Money line: Thunder -230 | Mavericks +190
Total: 228.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 9.2, straight up 76%, 219.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Cason Wallace (OUT); Jalen Williams (OUT); Ajay Mitchell (GTD); Alex Caruso (OUT); Chet Holmgren (OUT); Nikola Topic (OUT); Thomas Sorber (OUT)
Mavericks: Caleb Martin (GTD); Kyrie Irving (GTD); Naji Marshall (GTD); Santi Aldama (GTD); Tarik Biberovic (GTD); Sergio de Larrea (OUT); Dereck Lively II (OUT)
Los Angeles Lakers at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers -4.5 (-110) | Clippers +4.5 (-110)
Money line: Lakers -192 | Clippers +160
Total: 229.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 5.3, straight up 66%, 232.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Adou Thiero (GTD); Cameron Carr (GTD)
Clippers: Jordan Miller (OUT); Rui Hachimura (OUT); Bradley Beal (OUT); Brandon Ingram (OUT); Max Strus (OUT); Yanic Konan Niederhauser (OUT)