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The ESPN fantasy and betting cheat sheet is your pregame vacation spot for our greatest intel and information that can assist you make good fantasy and wagering selections. NBA recreation odds are supplied by Caesars Sportsbook and fantasy recommendation is predicated on ESPN 10-team leagues.
Soar forward: Game of the night | Picks and props | Analytics edge
What you should know for tonight’s NBA slate
by Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe
Bonus Brothers: Whereas the Knicks are a double-digit underdog to the Sixers, there’s nonetheless nice intrigue round tonight’s first ESPN recreation, given it is James Harden‘s house debut. It is also compelling as a result of Philly’s workforce complete is about at 116.5 factors, whereas they’ve averaged 129 factors within the two video games of the bearded period. Supporting such elite offensive effectivity is the truth that 47% of Philly’s possessions have come within the bonus (league common is 24%).
Inventory Watch: Sticking in South Philly, we discover Matisse Thybulle averaging 9.5 factors within the final two video games serving as a deft off-ball cutter by way of Harden. That is nonetheless a modest scoring clip, but it surely’s sufficient to maintain him on the ground for heavy minutes, serving to these unimaginable inventory (steals + blocks) numbers floor. Rostered in simply 6.6% of leagues, Thybulle has collected six steals throughout the final two video games and faces a Knicks workforce averaging 15 turnovers of the final three.
Belief The Tanking: The Pacers made it clear on the deadline that successful now shouldn’t be a precedence, however Buddy Hield should not have gotten the memo. In his seven video games with Indiana, he is averaging 21.1 factors (49.6% FG), 5.Four rebounds and 5.Zero assists (18 factors, 6 assists and Zero turnovers towards these Magic on Monday). Small pattern, however prolong these averages for a complete season they usually’d all be profession bests.
Rising Solar: Cameron Johnson (84% accessible) turns 26 years outdated tomorrow and will nicely get the celebrating began early towards a Blazers workforce that has been outscored 256-187 over their previous two video games. Johnson is averaging 19.7 PPG post-All-Star Break and has made a minimum of three triples in 4 consecutive video games.
Possible Payne: One other angle from the Suns’ rotation is level guard Cameron Payne being listed as possible to play towards Portland’s porous protection tonight. Posting 19.1 factors, 6.7 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per 36 minutes with Chris Paul off the ground this season, Payne (rostered in 6.2% of leagues) may command an essential scoring and playmaking function with Paul nonetheless weeks away from returning.
Feeling Fultz: On the opposite facet of that recreation is Markelle Fultz (88% accessible, $4,700 on DraftKings) who made his season debut towards the Pacers Monday evening (10 factors and 6 assists in 16 minutes). So long as he’s wholesome, Fultz is an fascinating fantasy/prop wager possibility, particularly towards a bottom-5 workforce when it comes to defensive effectivity.
Recreation of the Night time
Line: Bucks (-4.0)
Moneyline: Bucks (-180), Warmth (+155)
Complete: 226.5 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 220 factors
BPI Win%: Bucks (52.2%)
Key gamers dominated out: Kyle Lowry, Markieff Morris, George Hill, Brook Lopez
Questionable: Caleb Martin (Achilles)
Notable: The Bucks blew out the Hornets on Monday evening and the one-sided nature of that recreation resulted in them snapping a string of eight straight overs.
Greatest wager: Bucks underneath 115.5 factors. The Warmth’s protection has the Bucks’ quantity — particularly Giannis Antetokounmpo. Miami’s zone protection throws a wrinkle into the Bucks’ offensive firepower, and Milwaukee sports activities the sixth lowest offensive effectivity towards the Warmth. — Anita Marks
Greatest wager: Bam Adebayo over 32.5 complete factors+ assists + rebounds. Adebayo has been enjoying at a excessive stage of late, averaging 22.Zero PPG, 10.9 RPG and three.5 APG throughout 11 video games in February. The one thrice he did not go over 32.5 PAR throughout that stretch had been in three blowout wins the place he averaged underneath 25 MPG. But he nonetheless averaged 30.Three PAR even in these restricted minutes. — André Snellings
Breaking down the remainder of the slate
Line: Cavaliers (-3)
Moneyline: Cavaliers (-150), Hornets (+130)
Complete: 218 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 215.5 factors
BPI Win%: Cavaliers (65.2%)
Key gamers dominated out: Rajon Rondo, Caris LeVert
Questionable: Darius Garland (again)
Notable: The Cavaliers are 1-Four outright over their previous 5 video games and have didn’t cowl every of these video games
Fantasy streamer and DFS play: Brandon Goodwin (rostered in 2.5%). Goodwin is of curiosity, pending the standing of Garland. In three video games because the All- Star break with each Garland and LeVert out, Goodwin has averaged 13.Three PPG, 7.7 APG, 4.Three RPG, 1.Three SPG and 1.Three 3PG in 32.Three MPG. However, watch Garland’s standing, as a result of his return probably results in a lot decrease utilization for Goodwin. — Snellings
Line: Magic (-1.5)
Moneyline: Magic (-120), Pacers (+100)
Complete: 232 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 224 factors
BPI Win%: Magic (53.7%)
Key gamers dominated out: none
Questionable: Chris Duarte (toe), Lance Stephenson (ankle)
Notable: Over tickets have come by in 13 of Indiana’s previous 16 video games (they’ve managed to cowl simply 5 of these video games).
Line: 76ers (-10.5)
Moneyline: 76ers (-600), Knicks (+435)
Complete: 222.5 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 211 factors
BPI Win%: 76ers (79.9%)
Key gamers dominated out: Derrick Rose
Notable: Two video games into the James Harden period, the 76ers are +37 when it comes to scoring differential towards the unfold, averaging 129 factors within the course of.
Greatest wager: Harden over 10.5 assists. James Harden and Joel Embiid are the brand new energy couple within the NBA and tonight is Harden’s Philly debut so anticipate some further love. Quick pattern measurement, however in two video games, Harden has averaged 29 factors and 14 assists. The 76ers tempo of play will increase with Harden on the court docket and the Knicks allowed Philly to attain 125 factors a couple of days in the past. The Knicks’ protection shouldn’t be good within the publish, so anticipate Harden to feed Embiid within the paint rather a lot tonight. — Marks
Greatest wager: Tobias Harris underneath 15.5 factors. The 76ers appear to have fashioned a brand new Massive Three in Harden, Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Within the small pattern of two video games, Harris has been the odd man out, averaging solely 9.Zero factors on 9.Zero photographs with utilization charges nicely under his season averages. Harris is an effective sufficient shooter/scorer that he ought to ultimately bounce again to some extent, however through the acclimation course of his numbers could also be decrease than normal as he is additional down the utilization pecking order. — Snellings
Line: Jazz (-12.5)
Moneyline: Jazz (-900), Rockets (+600)
Complete: 232.5 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 230.5 factors
BPI Win%: Jazz (83.7%)
Key gamers dominated out: none
Notable: Of their previous 11 street video games, the Jazz are 3-7-1 ATS with overs going 8-Three in these contests.
Line: Pelicans (-5)
Moneyline: Pelicans (-210), Kings (+175)
Complete: 235 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 222.5 factors
BPI Win%: Pelicans (67.1%)
Key gamers dominated out: Terence Davis
Questionable: Richaun Holmes (again)
Notable: The Kings are looking for a 3rd straight cowl, a streak that might match their longest run of ATS success this season.
Line: Nuggets (-13.5)
Moneyline: Nuggets (-1000), Thunder (+650)
Complete: 225.5 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 214 factors
BPI Win%: (93.4%)
Key gamers dominated out: Aaron Wiggins, Luguentz Dort, Josh Giddey
Notable: The skinny air of Denver hasn’t slowed the scoring output not too long ago… overs are 10-2 previously 12 Nugget house video games.
Greatest wager: Nikola Jokic triple-double (+140). The Thunder are coping with plenty of accidents — Aaron Wiggins and Josh Giddey being the 2 most vital. OKC is not going to have a solution for Jokic — who missed a triple-double by two factors the final time these groups met as a result of he sat the final 15 minutes of the sport. — Marks
Fantasy streamer and DFS play: Tre Mann (rostered in 10.0%). Mann has performed nicely of late, getting further alternative whereas Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giddey coping with accidents. In his final 5 video games, Mann has averaged 19.6 PPG, 4.Zero RPG, 3.Eight APG, 2.Four 3PG and 1.6 SPG. — Snellings
Line: Suns (-13)
Moneyline: Suns (-1000), Path Blazers (+650)
Complete: 227.5 factors
BPI Projected Complete: 221.5 factors
BPI Win%: Suns (86.4%)
Key gamers dominated out: Chris Paul, Jusuf Nurkic, Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow
Notable: The Suns have dropped 4 of their previous 5 ATS (this coming after a powerful 10-5-1 stretch towards the quantity).
Greatest wager: Devin Booker over 6.5 assists. Portland had a hearth sale on the commerce deadline and now are coping with a plethora of accidents. They’ve misplaced their final two video games by a minimal of 32 factors, and I anticipate the Suns to have a discipline day towards them tonight. The Suns are nonetheless with out Chris Paul, which suggests Booker is the facilitator. He’s averaging eight APG — so soar on this line proper now at 6.5. — Marks
Fantasy streamer and DFS play: The absence of Paul has led to a number of calmly rostered Suns having expanded manufacturing alternatives. As talked about above, Cameron Johnson (rostered in 18.3% of leagues) has performed nicely to the tune of 19.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.7 3PG and three.Zero RPG because the All-Star break. Jae Crowder (rostered in 16.8% of leagues) has averaged 15.Zero PPG, 4.Three RPG, 3.Three APG, 2.7 3PG and a pair of.Three SPG. Cameron Payne (6.6% rostered) hasn’t performed, has posted nice numbers with Paul off the ground this season. — Snellings
Analytics Edge
BPI highest projected totals
1. Utah Jazz (121 factors)
2. Phoenix Suns (116.7 factors)
3. Denver Nuggets (115.2 factors)
BPI lowest projected totals
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (98.7 factors)
2. New York Knicks (101 factors)
3. Portland Trail Blazers (104.6 factors)
BPI prime likelihood to win (straight up)
1. Denver Nuggets (93.4%)
2. Phoenix Suns (86.4%)
3. Utah Jazz (83.7%)
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