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ESPN’s fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you set your lineups for that night’s games. Here you’ll read our best advice for the night, including a selection of players you can stream as well as game-by-game injury reports.
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Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Tuesday’s games
There are four games on Tuesday’s NBA slate. The matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs is one of the most intriguing games on the schedule. Los Angeles enters on the second night of a back-to-back, facing a rested San Antonio team that has already beaten them twice this season. With Victor Wembanyama anchoring a top-tier defense and San Antonio ranking among the league’s most efficient teams, the Spurs present a major challenge inside and out.
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The Lakers will need strong performances from LeBron James and Austin Reaves, especially with injuries limiting their depth. Their recent success against the Golden State Warriors showed signs of momentum, but containing San Antonio’s athletic guards and versatile role players remains a major hurdle.
As always, let’s dig deeper into these and the other storylines on display to identify fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS plays of interest on this Tuesday slate.
Tuesday’s fantasy stream team
Tari Eason, SF/PF, Houston Rockets (rostered in 39.1% of ESPN leagues)
Eason has played in just 29 games due to injuries, but he’s averaged 30.8 fantasy points per game over his past six since returning to the starting lineup. He’s played at least 25 minutes in each of those games and should stay busy against the LA Clippers. Eason is also a solid DFS option at $6,400 if you’re looking to save some salary.
Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Dallas Mavericks (11.2%)
Bagley made his Mavericks debut Saturday against the Spurs as the first frontcourt player off the bench. He finished with 47 fantasy points in 24 minutes. The Spurs aren’t an easy matchup defensively, but Bagley has quickly emerged as a key contributor in the Mavericks’ rotation. He’s also a strong value at center in DFS at $4,700.
Moody’s favorite bets for Tuesday
Karl-Anthony Towns 15+ rebounds (+168)
Editor’s Picks
1 Related
Mitchell Robinson has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game due to left ankle injury management, which bodes well for Towns. He’s recorded at least 15 rebounds in each of his past three games without Robinson and has stockpiled at least 21 rebound chances in each of those contests. The Pacers have struggled defensively for most of the season, especially against centers, and Indiana has announced that Ivica Zubac is out through the All-Star break.
Amen Thompson over 6.5 rebounds (-115)
Thompson has showcased his defensive skills and athleticism throughout the season. He’s cleared this line in 15 of his past 20 games, including three of the last five. Thompson’s averaged an impressive 13.5 rebound chances per game this season. He’s also gone over in four of his past five games against the Clippers, including twice this season.
Dillon Brooks over 20.5 points (-108)
Brooks is in the midst of an excellent season and has played especially well at home. He’s cleared this line in eight of nine home games this season with Devin Booker on the court and without Grayson Allen. In those games, Brooks has averaged 20.0 field goal attempts in 32.3 minutes while shooting 50.0% from the floor. The Mavericks are not an elite defensive team, which bodes well for Brooks in this spot.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
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$8,100+ salaries
Kawhi Leonard, SF, LA Clippers ($10,000)
Leonard should continue to be leaned on heavily by the Clippers following the trade of James Harden. He’s scored at least 42 fantasy points in five consecutive games, including at least 56 in each of his past two. The Rockets rank sixth in defensive rating this season, but Leonard is experienced and talented enough to transcend any matchup. He’s posted a 38.0% usage rate in seven games without Harden this season.
Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs ($9,700)
Wembanyama’s minutes will continue to fluctuate, and that’s something you have to be at peace with if you roster him in DFS lineups, but he remains highly efficient when he’s on the court. His ability to contribute in every statistical category is valuable, and the matchup between the Spurs and Lakers has the highest total on the slate. San Antonio is a 7.5-point favorite, but Los Angeles is 6-3 against the spread in their last nine home games. Wembanyama has averaged 25.0 PPG, 12.4 RPG and 3.4 BPG in 16 games in which he’s played at least 30 minutes this season.
Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks ($8,800)
The Knicks have won nine of their last 10 games, and Brunson has averaged 39.9 fantasy points per game during that stretch. The Pacers rank 21st in defensive rating and have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to point guards this season. The Knicks are double-digit favorites, but this game could be closer than the spread suggests. The Pacers are 5-2 against the spread in their last seven games against New York.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Stephon Castle, SG, San Antonio Spurs ($7,400)
Castle contributes in nearly every statistical category and has been phenomenal over the last five games. He’s scored at least 32 fantasy points in each of them, including 84 in his most recent outing. Castle now faces a Lakers team that has struggled defensively for most of the season and ranks 22nd in defensive rating. This is a matchup he should be able to exploit with his athleticism.
Dillon Brooks, SF, Phoenix Suns ($6,600)
Even though Jalen Green continues to work his way back into the rotation, Brooks’ role on the wing remains secure, as he’s in the midst of a career season, averaging 21.1 PPG and 6.9 3-point attempts per game. He also takes things to another level at home, where he’s averaged 25.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1.0 SPG in 31.1 MPG this season. The Mavericks have been a middle-of-the-road team over the last 15 games in defensive rating.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Jarace Walker, SF/PF, Indiana Pacers ($5,500)
Walker has averaged 29.9 fantasy points over his past nine games and has played consistent minutes during that stretch. Johnny Furphy was diagnosed with a torn right ACL on Monday and will miss the remainder of the season, which further solidifies Walker’s role in the Pacers’ rotation. Walker’s ceiling could be even higher if Aaron Nesmith, questionable with a left hand strain, is ruled out against the Knicks.
Daniel Gafford, C, Dallas Mavericks ($4,900)
Gafford has scored at least 32 fantasy points and played at least 25 minutes in three of his last four games. He fouled out and played just 18 minutes in his most recent game against the Spurs last Thursday. Gafford finished with 15 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes against the Suns on Nov. 12. He’s also on the streaming radar if he’s available in your league, rostered in 42.1% of leagues.
Jose Alvarado, PG, New York Knicks ($3,500)
Alvarado is another player, like Castle, who contributes across multiple statistical categories. The Pacers have struggled against point guards all season and rank ninth in pace. He finished with 24 fantasy points in 25 minutes against the Boston Celtics in his Knicks debut, and it’s not out of the question that he plays enough minutes to clear 20 points against Indiana. Alvarado also doubles as a streaming option, as he’s rostered in just 2.7% of leagues.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Pacers +12.5 (-115) | Knicks -12.5 (-105)
Money line: Pacers +440 | Knicks -600
Total: 224.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 12, straight up 81%, 229.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Johnny Furphy, (OFS – Knee); Aaron Nesmith, (GTD – Hand); Ethan Thompson, (GTD – Thumb); Ivica Zubac, (GTD – Ankle); Micah Potter, (GTD – Hip); T.J. McConnell, (GTD – Hamstring); Obi Toppin, (OUT – Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS – Achilles)
Knicks: OG Anunoby, (GTD – Toe); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT – Ankle); Miles McBride, (OUT – Pelvis)
LA Clippers at Houston Rockets
8 p.m. ET
Line: Clippers +7.5 (-105) | Rockets -7.5 (-115)
Money line: Clippers +235 | Rockets -290
Total: 211.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 4.5, straight up 63%, 217.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Darius Garland, (OUT – Toe); Bradley Beal, (OFS – Hip)
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT – Knee); Steven Adams, (OFS – Ankle)
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns
9 p.m. ET
Line: Mavericks +8.5 (-112) | Suns -8.5 (-108)
Money line: Mavericks +260 | Suns -325
Total: 228.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Suns by 2.6, straight up 58%, 232.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, (OUT – Knee); Dereck Lively II, (OFS – Foot)
Suns: Cole Anthony, (OUT – Not Injury Related); Grayson Allen, (OUT – Knee); Isaiah Livers, (OUT – Shoulder)
San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET
Line: Spurs -8.5 (-112) | Lakers +8.5 (-108)
Money line: Spurs -340 | Lakers +270
Total: 227.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 4.1, straight up 62%, 231.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Spurs: Lindy Waters III, (OUT – Knee); David Jones Garcia, (OFS – Ankle)
Lakers: Adou Thiero, (GTD – Knee); Luka Doncic, (GTD – Hamstring)
