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 Friday
Shoutout to the WNBA. On Saturday, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will give us the two best words in sports: Game 7. This will be the first Game 7 in the Finals in WNBA history and will crown this season's champion.
In the NBA, Friday delivers us another full slate with 10 games on the docket. Several of the games are rematches of games from the first week-plus of the season. The marquee matchup pits the New York Knicks against the Philadelphia 76ers, a rematch of their opening-night tilt that the 76ers won over the defending champs. The Houston Rockets travel north to give the Dallas Mavericks a do-over after blowing them out on opening night. Similar situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, who travel to visit a Golden State Warriors squad that they handled comfortably in the opener.
These and many other storylines will be on display tonight. As we always do in this space, let's take a closer look at the matchups, highlighting a few fantasy streamers and betting angles worth considering.
Fantasy stream team
Available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues
Paul Reed, C/PF, Detroit Pistons (rostered in 38.5% of ESPN leagues)
Reed moved into the starting lineup for the Pistons when Jalen Duren went down, and he has continued to play well. In the past four games, including three starts, Reed has averaged 16.3 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 28.3 MGP.
Ja'Kobe Walter, SG, Toronto Raptors (18.8%)
Walter moved into the starting lineup earlier this week with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined and has proceeded to score in double figures in each game, with averages of 18.0 PPG and 4.0 3PG in 29.5 MPG. Walter is still widely available in ESPN leagues.
Dillon Brooks, SF/SG, Phoenix Suns (31.0%)
Brooks is a solid scorer and strong 3-and-D option for the Suns. He has scored in double figures every game this season, ramping up his scoring in each game up to 19 points in his last outing Monday.
Terrence Shannon Jr., SF/SG, Minnesota Timberwolves (31.0%)
Shannon has scored in double figures off the bench in all five games this season, but his role got a bit larger with Anthony Edwards sidelined. On Wednesday, in Edwards' first game out, Shannon scored 19 points and posted six assists in 27 minutes.
Dre's best bets for the day
Philadelphia 76ers +1.5 (-105) vs. New York Knicks
These two teams played in New York on opening night, the same night the Knicks celebrated winning last season's championship. The 76ers won by six points and the Knicks started the season in a bit of a funk. New York lost its first three games of the season before turning it around and winning the past two. But the 76ers have been strong all season, coming in at 4-1, with wins in all four games that Joel Embiid has played. Playing at home and getting a point in the spread are nice tiebreakers for the 76ers in a matchup between two strong teams.
Ayo Dosunmu 15+ points (-143)
Dosunmu moved into the starting lineup on Wednesday with Edwards out and dropped 17 points in 32 minutes. Last season, Dosunmu averaged 17.7 PPG as a starter. Tonight, he faces an LA Clippers team that ranks in the bottom third in the NBA in points allowed to opposing shooting guards.
Houston Rockets -6.5 (-108) vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Rockets have opened the season playing the best basketball in the Association. At 5-0, they are one of two undefeated teams remaining, and they lead the league in average scoring margin at +14.2 PPG. They have already faced the Mavericks once this season, defeating them by 18 points on opening night. The Rockets have won every game except one by at least seven points, the exception being a four-point road victory over the San Antonio Spurs a week ago.
Walker Kessler OVER 14.5 points (-105)
Kessler's Friday opponents, the Warriors, don't have any answer for his size inside. Kessler is a legit 7-footer, while the Warriors start 6-foot-6 Draymond Green at center and 6-foot-7 Gui Santos (doubtful) at power forward. If Santos can't go, their backup power forward is 6-foot-6 Georges Niang. Kessler faced the Lakers on opening night and dropped a season-high 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting from the field.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Charlotte Hornets at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. ET
Line: Hornets +1.5 (-115) | Wizards -1.5 (-105)
Money line: Hornets +100 | Wizards -120
Total: 219.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Wizards by 0.9, straight up 53%, 224.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Dennis Schroder (GTD); Coby White (OUT); Grant Williams (OUT); Kon Knueppel (OUT)
Wizards: Justin Champagnie (OUTOUT); Jamir Watkins (OUTOUT); Tre Johnson (GTDGTD); Tristan Vukcevic (OUTOUT)
Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bulls +15.5 (-115) | Celtics -15.5 (-105)
Money line: Bulls +625 | Celtics -950
Total: 235.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 15.1, straight up 87%, 237.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Jalen Smith (GTD); Patrick Williams (GTD); Nic Claxton (OUT)
Celtics: Devin Carter (OUT)
Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -8.5 (-105) | Nets +8.5 (-115)
Money line: Pistons -325 | Nets +260
Total: 223.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 6.9, straight up 71%, 222.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Isaiah Joe (GTD); Jalen Duren (OUT)
Nets: Tyler Bilodeau (OUT); Egor Demin (OUT)
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Line: Knicks -1.5 (-115) | 76ers +1.5 (-105)
Money line: Knicks -125 | 76ers +105
Total: 227.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 2, straight up 56%, 224.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Jose Alvarado (OUT)
76ers: Ariel Hukporti (OFS); Jaylen Brown (GTD); Jabari Walker (OUT); Dominick Barlow (OUT); Tacko Fall (OUT)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +5.5 (-105) | Raptors -5.5 (-115)
Money line: Magic +180 | Raptors -218
Total: 226.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 1.5, straight up 55%, 223.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Jalen Suggs (OUT); Jonathan Isaac (OUT); Izaiyah Nelson (OUT); Noah Penda (OUT); Paolo Banchero (OUT)
Raptors: Kawhi Leonard (OUTOUT)
Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +8.5 (-105) | Heat -8.5 (-115)
Money line: Pacers +260 | Heat -325
Total: 237.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 8.2, straight up 74%, 234.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Ben Sheppard (OUT); Aaron Nesmith (GTD); Andrew Nembhard (GTD); Ivica Zubac (OUT); T.J. McConnell (OUT); Tyrese Haliburton (OUT)
Heat: Simone Fontecchio (GTD)
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Rockets -6.5 (-108) | Mavericks +6.5 (-112)
Money line: Rockets -238 | Mavericks +195
Total: 224.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 4.5, straight up 64%, 224.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Alperen Sengun (GTD); Marcus Smart (GTD); Reed Sheppard (OUT); Steven Adams (OUT)
Mavericks: Naji Marshall (GTD); Santi Aldama (GTD); Tarik Biberovic (GTD); Dereck Lively II (OUT); Sergio de Larrea (OUT)
LA Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Line: Clippers +6.5 (-102) | Timberwolves -6.5 (-118)
Money line: Clippers +225 | Timberwolves -278
Total: 223.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 11.5, straight up 81%, 225.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Jordan Miller (OUT); Rui Hachimura (GTD); Bradley Beal (OUT); Brandon Ingram (OUT); Max Strus (OUT); Yanic Konan Niederhauser (OUT)
Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo (OUT); Anthony Edwards (OUT)
Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Line: Lakers -2.5 (-115) | Warriors +2.5 (-105)
Money line: Lakers -142 | Warriors +120
Total: 234.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 4.4, straight up 63%, 231.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Ziaire Williams (GTD); Adou Thiero (OUT); Cameron Carr (OUT)
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III (OUT); Gui Santos (GTD); Kristaps Porzingis (OUT); Moses Moody (OUT)
Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets -4.5 (-105) | Suns +4.5 (-115)
Money line: Nuggets -180 | Suns +150
Total: 231.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 1.3, straight up 54%, 230.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Alpha Diallo (GTD); Cameron Johnson (GTD); Spencer Jones (OUT); Julian Strawther (OUT)
Suns: Mark Williams (OUT); Oso Ighodaro (GTD)