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 week resumes tonight after taking Election Day off with a whopping 14 games on the schedule. With 28 of the 30 teams in action, this will be another day replete with big games and fun storylines.
The Houston Rockets enter the night tied for the best record (7-1) and the best scoring margin (+12.9) in the NBA and will host the Minnesota Timberwolves, who still maintain the fourth-best scoring margin in the league (+11.4) despite Anthony Edwards being sidelined with injury.
The 7-1 Philadelphia 76ers travel to Detroit with a chance to avenge their only loss of the season against the 6-1 Pistons. The winner of this game will be in first place in the Eastern Conference at the end of the night.
Out West, the San Antonio Spurs host a Texas Triangle rematch against the Dallas Mavericks. The Spurs won their first matchup by 16 points, but the Mavericks were without both Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving in that game.
These, and many other storylines will be on display in tonight's overstuffed slate. As always, 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
Duncan Robinson, SF/SG, Detroit Pistons (rostered in 41.0% of ESPN leagues)
Robinson has been raining from 3-point range all season, with at least two 3-pointers in every game and at least five 3-pointers in four of seven games. The treys go hand-in-hand with points, and Robinson has scored double-digit points in every game with at least 17 points in four of seven.
Jeremiah Fears, SG/PG, New Orleans Pelicans (48.3%)
Fears was cold from the field on Monday but continued to lean in as a distributor, dropping 12 points with 7 assists. Including that game, Fears is still sporting three-game averages of 18.0 PPG, 9.0 APG and 5.7 RPG in 32.7 MPG.
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Sacramento Kings (27.6%)
Achiuwa has scored 12+ points and/or grabbed 10+ rebounds in five of seven games this season, with his only real stinker coming in a blowout loss against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. Outside of facing Wemby, Achiuwa is a nightly double-double threat against most terrestrial opponents.
Christian Braun, SG/SF, Denver Nuggets (41.2%)
Braun is a 3-and-D fantasy impact player this season. In his last five outings, he is averaging 16.8 PPG, 2.4 3PG and 2.6 SPG with at least two steals in all five games.
Dre's bets to make on Wednesday
Odds by DraftKings
and subject to change.
Houston Rockets -7.5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (-108)
The Timberwolves still have an excellent +11.4 point scoring margin on the season, but that mark was fueled by their incredible start led by star Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves started the season 3-0 with a +23.3 scoring margin. In their last five games, four of which without Edwards, the TImberwolves are 2-3 with a +5.4 scoring margin heavily influenced by two double-digit wins over teams tied for the worst record in the league (Milwaukee Bucks and LA Clippers). The Rockets, meanwhile, have established their league-best +12.9 scoring average despite one of the toughest early season schedules in the NBA. The Rockets are at home and healthy, which should help them maintain their winning ways against the Edwards-less Timberwolves.
Tyrese Maxey OVER 23.5 points (-113)
Maxey enters this game averaging 29.1 PPG, but his scoring average is admittedly higher in the two games Joel Embiid has sat (33.5 PPG) than in the seven games Embiid has played (27.7 PPG). When Maxey dropped 29 points in his first matchup against the Pistons, Embiid was out. However, this line seems to over-correct for Embiid's presence, because even playing next to the big fella, Maxey has dropped at least 26 points in every game this season. Maxey is getting the best looks of his career this season with opposing teammates unable to focus on him, and if he plays as he has all season he has a good chance to top the 23.5 points threshold yet again.
Ty Jerome OVER 22.5 points (-111)
Will the real Jerome stand up? Through the first three games of the season, Jerome led the NBA with a scoring average of 34.7 PPG. Then, in his next three games, that average plummeted to 12.5 PPG in two games and a DNP in the third due to a back issue. But on Monday, after three nights without a game, Jerome exploded for 40 points, his second 40-plus point effort in his first six games. With the thought that his cold stretch coincided with him playing the second half of a back-to-back in one game and struggling with the back issues, and that he now seems fresh and recovered, I look for Jerome to play closer to his newly-established level tonight. All told, Jerome has four games of at least 28 points in his six outings.
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.
Dallas Mavericks +12.5 at San Antonio Spurs (-112)
The Spurs won their first matchup of the season with the Mavericks by 16 points, in Dallas. But the Mavericks were without both Flagg and Irving, the only game this season that both have missed. And the Mavericks have relied heavily upon both of their stars this season. The Mavericks are 4-1, including wins over both the Rockets and the Oklahoma City Thunder, when both Flagg and Irving have played but are 0-2 with both losses by 15 or more points with Flagg and/or Irving out. Both Flagg and Irving are available tonight, and at full strength the Mavericks are too good a team to give 12.5 points to regardless of opponent.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Philadelphia 76ers at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET
Line: 76ers +2.5 (-106) | Pistons -2.5 (-114)
Money line: 76ers +114 | Pistons -135
Total: 219.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 1.2, straight up 54%, 217.7 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Ariel Hukporti (OFS); Dominick Barlow (OUT)
Pistons: Isaiah Joe (OUT); Jalen Duren (OUT)
Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. ET
Line: Hawks -3.5 (-104) | Wizards +3.5 (-117)
Money line: Hawks -154 | Wizards +130
Total: 230.5 (-113 O, -107 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 1.6, straight up 55%, 229.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Henri Veesaar (OFS); Jalen Johnson (GTD); Jock Landale (OUT); Mouhamed Gueye (OUT)
Wizards: Justin Champagnie (OUTOUT); Jamir Watkins (OUTOUT); Alex Sarr (GTDGTD); Anthony Gill (GTDGTD); Tristan Vukcevic (OUTOUT); Reece Beekman (OUTOUT)
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks +10.5 (-108) | Celtics -10.5 (-112)
Money line: Bucks +360 | Celtics -467
Total: 221.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 14.8, straight up 87%, 228.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: None reported
Celtics: Payton Pritchard (GTD); Devin Carter (OUT)
Charlotte Hornets at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Hornets -3.5 (-115) | Nets +3.5 (-106)
Money line: Hornets -169 | Nets +142
Total: 212.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hornets by 0.6, straight up 52%, 215.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Hornets: Coby White (GTD); Kon Knueppel (GTD); Grant Williams (OUT)
Nets: Tyler Bilodeau (OUT); Egor Demin (OUT)
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Bulls +12.5 (-117) | Knicks -12.5 (-103)
Money line: Bulls +443 | Knicks -597
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 14.2, straight up 86%, 229.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Jalen Smith (GTD); Nic Claxton (GTD)
Knicks: Josh Hart (GTD)
Indiana Pacers at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +5.5 (-103) | Grizzlies -5.5 (-117)
Money line: Pacers +184 | Grizzlies -222
Total: 228.5 (-106 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 8.4, straight up 74%, 229.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Ben Sheppard (OUT); Johnny Furphy (OUT); Ivica Zubac (GTD); Kelly Oubre Jr. (GTD); Obi Toppin (GTD); T.J. McConnell (OUT); Tyrese Haliburton (OUT)
Grizzlies: Quinten Post (GTD); Scotty Pippen Jr. (OUT)
Utah Jazz at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. ET
Line: Jazz +4.5 (-101) | Pelicans -4.5 (-119)
Money line: Jazz +180 | Pelicans -216
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 1, straight up 53%, 240.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Jazz: Mo Bamba (GTDGTD); Trey Alexander (OUTOUT); Jusuf Nurkic (OUTOUT); Jaren Jackson Jr. (OUTOUT)
Pelicans: Jordan Poole (GTD); Trey Murphy III (GTD); Yves Missi (OUT)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +3.5 (-107) | Thunder -3.5 (-113)
Money line: Cavaliers +136 | Thunder -161
Total: 226.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 3.9, straight up 62%, 225.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson (OUT); Peyton Watson (OUT)
Thunder: Chet Holmgren (OUT); Cason Wallace (OUT); Jalen Williams (OFS); Jaylin Williams (GTD); Nikola Topic (OUT); Thomas Sorber (OUT)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves +7.5 (-111) | Rockets -7.5 (-108)
Money line: Timberwolves +227 | Rockets -278
Total: 218.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 3.2, straight up 60%, 223.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo (OUT); Terrence Shannon Jr. (GTD); Anthony Edwards (OUT)
Rockets: Clint Capela (GTD); Steven Adams (OUT)
Toronto Raptors at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. ET
Line: Raptors +4.5 (-108) | Nuggets -4.5 (-112)
Money line: Raptors +160 | Nuggets -191
Total: 231.5 (-107 O, -113 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 5.4, straight up 66%, 230.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Raptors: Jakob Poeltl (GTDGTD); Kawhi Leonard (OUTOUT)
Nuggets: Alpha Diallo (GTD); Cameron Johnson (GTD); Spencer Jones (OUT); Julian Strawther (OUT)
Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns
9 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers -3.5 (-103) | Suns +3.5 (-117)
Money line: Blazers -156 | Suns +131
Total: 227.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Blazers by 3.3, straight up 60%, 224.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe (OUT); Ja Morant (OUT)
Suns: Mark Williams (OUT); Jordan Goodwin (GTD); Rasheer Fleming (GTD)
Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Mavericks +12.5 (-112) | Spurs -12.5 (-108)
Money line: Mavericks +458 | Spurs -620
Total: 226.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 12.3, straight up 83%, 225.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Mavericks: Santi Aldama (GTD); Max Christie (OUT); Sergio de Larrea (OUT); Dereck Lively II (OUT); Tarik Biberovic (OUT)
Spurs: Tobias Harris (OUTOUT); Jayden Quaintance (OUTOUT)
Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. ET
Line: Lakers -12.5 (-105) | Kings +12.5 (-115)
Money line: Lakers -620 | Kings +455
Total: 233.5 (-113 O, -107 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 12.7, straight up 83%, 234.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Adou Thiero (OUT)
Kings: Ben Simmons (OFS); Precious Achiuwa (GTD); Keegan Murray (OUT); Maxime Raynaud (OUTOUT)
Miami Heat at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Heat -5.5 (-111) | Clippers +5.5 (-109)
Money line: Heat -204 | Clippers +170
Total: 233.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 2.7, straight up 58%, 233.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Giannis Antetokounmpo (GTD); Myron Gardner (GTD)
Clippers: Jordan Miller (OUT); Bradley Beal (OUT); Brandon Ingram (OUT); Yanic Konan Niederhauser (OUT)