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 Monday
The NBA will not have any games on Tuesday due to Election Day, so every team in the league will play on Monday. That's right, today features 15 games and 30 teams in action. Three of those games feature two teams above .500 facing off, starting in Cleveland where the 4-2 Cavaliers host the 4-2 Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams have contending aspirations and are off to good starts, but the Thunder have been beset by early season injury that they are battling to overcome.
The 6-1 Houston Rockets will host the 5-1 Boston Celtics in another Ime Udoka classic, where the head coach of the Rockets faces his former team. This game also gives us a matchup between two of the elite big perimeter forwards in the league in Kevin Durant versus Jayson Tatum.
Finally, in Denver, the 3-2 Nuggets host the 4-1 Portland Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers are off to a surprisingly hot start, including a perfect 3-0 road record that will be tested in the Mile High City.
These, and many other storylines will be on display in tonight's jam-packed slate. As we do, let's dig deeper into the matchups to identify some fantasy streamer options and betting angles of interest.
Fantasy stream team
Players available in at least 50% of leagues
Anthony Black, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (Rostered in 48.0% of ESPN leagues)
Black has started three straight games with teammates Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs sidelined, and in his last two has averaged 20.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 6.5 APG in 32.0 MPG.
Jeremiah Fears, SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans (46.6%)
Fears has been scorching from the field and taking on a larger role as a playmaker in his last couple of outings, putting up 21.0 PPG, 10.0 APG and 6.5 RPG in those two games.
Dillon Brooks, SF/SG, Phoenix Suns (32.3%)
Brooks has ramped up his scoring in every game this season, starting with 10 points in the opener but going up to 15, 19 and 22 in the three games since. He scored the 22 points in only 21 minutes before being ejected from his last game, and was likely on his way to a big night before the disqualification.
Christian Braun, SG/SF, Denver Nuggets (31.2%)
Braun locked in from 3-point range in his last outing, knocking down seven treys on his way to 31 points. But he has been consistently productive to start this season, with three games of 15 or more points in his last four outings and averages of 17.5 PPG, 2.8 SPG and 2.8 3PG in that span.
Paul Reed, C/PF, Detroit Pistons (38.4%)
Reed continues to start with Jalen Duren sidelined and remains a nightly double-double threat. In his last five games, Reed has averaged 15.4 PPG and 7.2 RPG with rounded averages of a steal, a block and a 3-pointer per game.
Dre's bets to make on Monday
Odds by DraftKings
and subject to change.
Cleveland Cavaliers -3.5 Oklahoma City Thunder (-101)
The Thunder started the season 4-0 but have struggled to deal with injuries to several of their key players. With Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso all out for the last two games against the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, the Thunder lost both by a combined 45 points. They will play their third straight road game without those core players on Monday against a Cavaliers squad that has won four of their last five games and is an undefeated 3-0 at home.
Jayson Tatum OVER 6.5 assists (-106)
Tatum has opened this season in a point-forward role where he is the primary distributor for the Celtics. He has dished at least seven assists in five of his six games, with six assists in the other game. Tatum splits his time between the two forward slots, and will be facing a Rockets team that allows the fifth-most assists in the NBA to opposing power forwards.
Anthony Black OVER 14.5 points (-121)
Black is a focal point scorer for the Magic with Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs sidelined, a role that he thrived in last season. He is picking up where he left off, with 17 or more points in three of his first four games of the season including his last two straight. Black is coming off a season-high 23 points in his last outing against the Celtics.
Nikola Jokic Triple-Double, Yes (+109)
Jokic has averaged a triple-double in back-to-back seasons and has notched a triple-double every-other-game this season. He has averaged a triple-double in his first two home games and has dished double-digit assists in four straight. He'll be facing a Trail Blazers defense that has been friendly to opposing centers overall, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to the position.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Oklahoma City Thunder at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET
Line: Thunder +3.5 (-103) | Cavaliers -3.5 (-118)
Money line: Thunder +150 | Cavaliers -179
Total: 229.5 (-106 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 0.4, straight up 51%, 225.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Chet Holmgren (OUT); Cason Wallace (OUT); Jalen Williams (OFS); Alex Caruso (OUT); Nikola Topic (OUT); Thomas Sorber (OUT)
Cavaliers: Peyton Watson (GTD); Jaylon Tyson (OUT)
Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -6.5 (-105) | Hornets +6.5 (-115)
Money line: Pistons -219 | Hornets +182
Total: 209.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 4.8, straight up 65%, 210.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Isaiah Joe (GTD); Jalen Duren (OUT)
Hornets: Grant Williams (OUT); Kon Knueppel (OUT)
Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks -5.5 (-105) | Pacers +5.5 (-115)
Money line: Hawks -199 | Pacers +166
Total: 231.5 (-112 O, -107 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 6.8, straight up 70%, 230.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Henri Veesaar (OFS); Jalen Johnson (GTD); Jock Landale (OUT); Kingston Flemings (OUT); Mouhamed Gueye (OUT)
Pacers: Ben Sheppard (OUT); Johnny Furphy (OUT); Ivica Zubac (GTD); Obi Toppin (GTD); T.J. McConnell (GTD); Tyrese Haliburton (OUT)
Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +14.5 (-106) | Knicks -14.5 (-114)
Money line: Nets +650 | Knicks -980
Total: 218.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 14.5, straight up 86%, 221.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Tyler Bilodeau (OUT); Egor Demin (OUT)
Knicks: Jose Alvarado (GTD)
Washington Wizards at Orlando Magic
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +2.5 (-106) | Magic -2.5 (-114)
Money line: Wizards +130 | Magic -154
Total: 225.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 2.8, straight up 59%, 226.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Justin Champagnie (OUTOUT); Jamir Watkins (OUTOUT); Alex Sarr (GTDGTD); Anthony Gill (GTDGTD); Tristan Vukcevic (OUTOUT)
Magic: Jalen Suggs (OUT); Jonathan Isaac (OUT); Izaiyah Nelson (OUT); Noah Penda (OUT); Paolo Banchero (OUT)
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bulls +10.5 (-113) | 76ers -10.5 (-107)
Money line: Bulls +406 | 76ers -537
Total: 238.5 (-113 O, -107 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 13.9, straight up 85%, 234.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Jalen Smith (GTD); Nic Claxton (GTD)
76ers: Ariel Hukporti (OFS); Joel Embiid (GTD); Dominick Barlow (OUT)
Sacramento Kings at Dallas Mavericks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +10.5 (-111) | Mavericks -10.5 (-108)
Money line: Kings +320 | Mavericks -408
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 12.8, straight up 83%, 232.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Ben Simmons (OFS); Dylan Cardwell (GTD); Zach LaVine (GTD); Keegan Murray (OUT); Maxime Raynaud (OUT)
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving (GTD); Santi Aldama (GTD); Sergio de Larrea (OUT); Dereck Lively II (OUT); Tarik Biberovic (OUT)
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans +5.5 (-110) | Grizzlies -5.5 (-110)
Money line: Pelicans +164 | Grizzlies -196
Total: 233.5 (-113 O, -107 U)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 6.1, straight up 68%, 235.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III (GTD); Jordan Poole (OUT); Yves Missi (OUT)
Grizzlies: Quinten Post (GTD); Scotty Pippen Jr. (GTD)
Milwaukee Bucks at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks +11.5 (-109) | Timberwolves -11.5 (-111)
Money line: Bucks +378 | Timberwolves -493
Total: 234.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 14.9, straight up 87%, 233.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: None reported
Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo (OUT); Anthony Edwards (OUT)
Boston Celtics at Houston Rockets
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Celtics +4.5 (-104) | Rockets -4.5 (-116)
Money line: Celtics +160 | Rockets -191
Total: 218.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 1.9, straight up 56%, 222.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: Devin Carter (OUT)
Rockets: Clint Capela (GTD); Reed Sheppard (GTD); Steven Adams (OUT)
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Jazz +15.5 (-103) | Spurs -15.5 (-117)
Money line: Jazz +740 | Spurs -1180
Total: 229.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 14.5, straight up 86%, 233.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Jazz: Jusuf Nurkic (OUTOUT); Trey Alexander (OUTOUT); Jaren Jackson Jr. (OUTOUT)
Spurs: Tobias Harris (OUTOUT); Jayden Quaintance (OUTOUT)
Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +4.5 (-112) | Nuggets -4.5 (-108)
Money line: Blazers +146 | Nuggets -174
Total: 231.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 3, straight up 59%, 231.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (OUT); Ja Morant (OUT)
Nuggets: Alpha Diallo (GTD); Spencer Jones (OUT); Julian Strawther (OUT)
Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET
Line: Suns +2.5 (-103) | Warriors -2.5 (-117)
Money line: Suns +125 | Warriors -149
Total: 227.5 (-115 O, -106 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 1.7, straight up 55%, 226.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Suns: Mark Williams (OUT)
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III (OUT); Gui Santos (OUT); Kristaps Porzingis (OUT); Moses Moody (OUT)
Toronto Raptors at LA Clippers
10 p.m. ET
Line: Raptors -5.5 (-106) | Clippers +5.5 (-114)
Money line: Raptors -204 | Clippers +170
Total: 220.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 4.1, straight up 63%, 221.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Raptors: Jakob Poeltl (GTDGTD); Kawhi Leonard (OUTOUT)
Clippers: Jordan Miller (OUT); Derrick Jones Jr. (GTD); Bradley Beal (OUT); Brandon Ingram (OUT); Max Strus (OUT); Yanic Konan Niederhauser (OUT)
Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers
10 p.m. ET
Line: Heat +1.5 (-107) | Lakers -1.5 (-113)
Money line: Heat +105 | Lakers -125
Total: 236.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 2.6, straight up 58%, 238.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Tim Hardaway Jr. (GTD)
Lakers: Ziaire Williams (GTD); Adou Thiero (OUT)