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 Sunday
Today's seven-game schedule features a highly anticipated cross-conference matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are first in defensive rating by a wide margin. The Lakers lead the league in offensive rating by an even wider gap. Something has to give.
A key element in this Michigan matchup is the status of all-world offensive engine Luka Doncic, listed as questionable due to lower back tightness. Doncic, if you haven't heard, is on quite the scoring bender to open the season, averaging 40.1 points while topping Michael Jordan for the most points through eight games since the merger. If Doncic were to sit, Austin Reaves becomes a building block in DFS lineups and for offensive props.
The Pistons feature fellow MVP candidate Cade Cunningham, although defensive force Ausar Thompson might prove just as critical guarding Doncic and Reaves throughout the game. Even just 10% into the season, this should be a revealing matchup for both teams.
The slate opens with a Midwest matinee as the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Chicago Bulls. Joel Embiid is listed as probable for Philadelphia, while Chicago could be without frontcourt contributors Nic Claxton and Zach Collins. The 76ers are nearly double-digit favorites, part of a larger trend today, as four of the seven games have spreads of at least 9.5 points.
This makes today's closer lines, particularly the Lakers visiting Detroit (-4.5), the Dallas Mavericks (-7.5) against the Brooklyn Nets, and the Pelicans taking on the Clippers (-1.5), especially interesting for the predictability of playing time and workloads in each rotation.
With an eye toward uncovering compelling betting angles and fantasy decisions, let's take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Fantasy stream team
Available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues.
Day'Ron Sharpe, C, Brooklyn Nets (Rostered in 32.6% of leagues)
Arguably the best passer on the Nets, Sharpe is emerging as a triple-double threat from the high post. He has recorded 12 assists over his past two outings and now faces a Dallas team that lacks size in the paint, making him an intriguing do-it-all option at center today.
Nolan Traore, PG, Brooklyn Nets (21.8%)
The Nets trust Traore as a rising prospect. This is somewhat unique for a team that hasn't fully backed draft picks in the past several seasons. With Traore earning freedom to find his own shot and create for others in recent games, he's in a good spot to deliver against a Dallas backcourt that struggles badly at the point of attack defensively.
P.J. Washington, PF/SF, Dallas Mavericks (32.6%)
In this same game against Brooklyn, Washington is a top plug-and-play candidate given his real potential to secure a double-double as a two-way bully for Dallas. Often found around the paint and positioned for rebounds, Washington also brings valuable rim protection to the floor and box scores.
Rui Hachimura, PF/SF, LA Clippers (19.2%)
Surging as a shooter in recent games, Hachimura just set a new career best in assists in his last outing. With a steady rebounding rate and newfound dimension as a playmaker, Hachimura could also thrive as a driver facing a Pelicans team missing starting center and top paint protector Yves Missi.
McCormick's favorite bets for Sunday
Odds by DraftKings
and subject to change.
Rui Hachimura OVER 16.5 points
Sticking with this consistent two-way forward, it's clear Tyronn Lue trusts Hachimura to play big minutes. It helps that Hachimura has seen a 56% leap in field goal volume from last year with the Lakers to his first season with the Clippers. Volume is vital when pursuing scoring overs.
Day'Ron Sharpe OVER 20.5 combined points, assists, and rebounds
Today's waiver warriors also make for ideal prop targets. The market is still a bit soft on Sharpe's ascent as an offensive hub for Brooklyn. Julius Randle is a high-usage point forward, but there's still room for Sharpe given there isn't much creation from the perimeter for Brooklyn past Traore. Given his ability to amass assists in bunches and his already-proven rebounding skill set, Sharpe has multiple paths to getting to this total.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Philadelphia 76ers at Chicago Bulls
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: 76ers -9.5 (-105) | Bulls +9.5 (-115)
Money line: 76ers -405 | Bulls +319
Total: 237.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 9.6, straight up 77%, 234.8 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Ariel Hukporti (OFS); Joel Embiid (GTD); Adem Bona (OUT); Dominick Barlow (OUT)
Bulls: Jalen Smith (GTD); Nic Claxton (GTD); Zach Collins (OUT)
Los Angeles Lakers at Detroit Pistons
6 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Line: Lakers +4.5 (-110) | Pistons -4.5 (-110)
Money line: Lakers +155 | Pistons -185
Total: 221.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 5.5, straight up 67%, 223.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Lakers: Luka Doncic (GTD)
Pistons: Elijah Harkless (GTD); Isaac Jones (GTD); Isaiah Joe (OUT); Jalen Duren (OUT)
Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves
7 p.m. ET
Line: Jazz +11.5 (-114) | Timberwolves -11.5 (-106)
Money line: Jazz +443 | Timberwolves -597
Total: 223.5 (-107 O, -113 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 14.2, straight up 86%, 229.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Jazz: Lauri Markkanen (GTD); Jusuf Nurkic (OUT); Jaren Jackson Jr. (OUT)
Timberwolves: Donte DiVincenzo (OUT); Joan Beringer (GTD); Anthony Edwards (OUT)
Brooklyn Nets at Dallas Mavericks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +7.5 (-104) | Mavericks -7.5 (-117)
Money line: Nets +261 | Mavericks -324
Total: 222.5 (-106 O, -114 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 8.6, straight up 75%, 223.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: Egor Demin (OUT)
Mavericks: Dereck Lively II (OUT); Sergio de Larrea (OUT); Tarik Biberovic (OUT)
Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Celtics -13.5 (-104) | Bucks +13.5 (-117)
Money line: Celtics -790 | Bucks +554
Total: 221.5 (-107 O, -113 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 12.8, straight up 84%, 225.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: None reported
Bucks: None reported
New Orleans Pelicans at LA Clippers
9 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans -1.5 (-110) | Clippers +1.5 (-110)
Money line: Pelicans -121 | Clippers +103
Total: 226.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 0.4, straight up 51%, 235.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Yves Missi (OUT)
Clippers: Jordan Miller (OUT); Brandon Ingram (OUT); Isaiah Jackson (OUT); Yanic Konan Niederhauser (OUT); Bradley Beal (OUT)
Miami Heat at Sacramento Kings
9 p.m. ET
Line: Heat -9.5 (-117) | Kings +9.5 (-104)
Money line: Heat -423 | Kings +331
Total: 237.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 9.8, straight up 78%, 238.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: None reported
Kings: Ben Simmons (OFS); Keegan Murray (GTD); Maxime Raynaud (OUT)