close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Saturday’s NBA slate
news

Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Saturday’s NBA slate

Unlike last week, we only have four games this Saturday. That means you can watch more football, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to set up your hoop lineups or a DFS lineup. Anyway, here are some viable bets and streamers for Saturday’s action.

Odds by ESPN BET

Best bets for Saturday

Dyson Daniels MORE THAN 1.5 stolen (-170)

Yes, it’s a bit risky given the odds, but he had seven swipes and 11 steals in the past two games Friday night. He has made at least one appearance in every game this season and two or more in five of his eight games. Chicago is in disarray and will turn the ball over, so this one doesn’t even seem fair.

Cam Thomas OVER 24.5 points (-105)

Thomas went for 31 points and four 3-pointers in 38 minutes against the defensive Celtics on Friday, scoring at least 26 points in five of his first nine games this season. Cleveland is on the verge of losing and while the defense is strong, I don’t see who else can be a consistent scorer for the Nets.

Norman Powell OVER 23.5 points (-110)

Powell is coming off a 31-point game on Friday night when he hit five 3-pointers, and he has scored at least 20 points in eight straight games. He’s also surpassed the magical 24-point mark in six of them and the Raptors are in real disarray. James Harden has decided that Powell is his main man, at least until we see Kawhi Leonard again.

Fantasy streamers for Saturday

Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers

LeVert didn’t exactly tear it up with just eight points, but he also had seven boards, four assists, three steals, a block and two 3-pointers on Friday. The Cavaliers have the best schedule next week, with no back-to-backs and four games, so it makes sense to grab LeVert while he’s hot. Make sure he plays on Saturday night since it’s a back-to-back.

Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs

Champagnie has scored 14, 13 and 21 points in his past three games while averaging 16 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 4.0 three-pointers over that stretch. Devin Vassell’s return on Saturday could hurt Champagnie, but I suspect Stephon Castle is the odd man out. Champagnie’s three-point shooting should not be overlooked as he has hit 12 in the last three games.

Davion Mitchell, Toronto Raptors

While I don’t trust Mitchell any further than I can throw him, he has played very well with Immanuel Quickley sidelined. Especially on Wednesday, when he had 20 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, a steal and 2 three-pointers against his former team in a 122-107 loss. Maybe the revenge angle played a role in that, but he also had thirteen points and eight dimes against the Nuggets on Monday. He’s hot, but Quickley’s return on Saturday could derail those plans. Make sure Quickley is out before you start working on Mitchell. If Mitchell doesn’t play, consider moving to Mike Conley of the Wolves or Ayo Dosunmu of the Bulls.

Projections and injury reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Damage aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET

Players in italics are available in most ESPN leagues


Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
5:00 PM ET

Line: Jazz6.5 (-110) | Tracks -6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Jazz +205 | Tracks -250
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Spurs with 0.9, an increase of 53%, 227.3 points in total.

Injury report:
Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, (OUT – lower leg); Keyonte George, (NA – Voet)
Spurs: Devin Vassell, (NA – Foot); Malaki Branham, (GTD – Single); Tre Jones, (OUT – Single); Jeremy Sochan, (OUT – Thumb)

Jazz projections:

  • Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF: 28.4 FPTS (16.6 pts, 6.0 reb, 2.1 ast)

  • Keyonte George, PG/SG: 28.1 FPTS (15.9 pts, 2.6 reb, 5.4 ast, 14.5 3:00)

  • John Collins, PF: 22.0 FPTS (11.6 pts, 6.3 reb, 2.1 ast)

  • Collin Sexton, PG/SG: 21.6 FPTS (14.2 pts, 2.0 reb, 2.9 ast)

  • Jordan Clarkson, SG: 21.1 FPTS (13.5 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.6 ast)

  • Walker Kessler, C: 19.8 FPTS (9.2 pts, 8.7 reb, 1.3 ast, 2.6 blk)

  • Cody Williams, SG: 15.0 FPTS (7.9 pts, 2.5 reb, 1.6 ast)

Spurs projections:

  • Devin Vassell, SG/SF: 34.9 FPTS (19.4 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.4 ast, 14.0 3:00)

  • Victor Wembanyama, C: 34.4 FPTS (18.6 pts, 8.0 reb, 3.3 ast, 14.0 3pm, 3.2 blk)

  • Chris Paul, PG: 25.6 FPTS (9.4 pts, 3.3 reb, 5.4 ast)

  • Julian Champagnie, SF: 19.3 FPTS (9.0 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.9 3pm)

  • Keldon Johnson, SF: 17.7 FPTS (9.3 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.3 ast)

  • Harrison Barnes, PF: 15.9 FPTS (8.7 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.5 ast)

  • Stephon Castle, PG: 15.2 FPTS (7.7 pts, 2.0 reb, 2.2 ast)


Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks
7:30 PM ET

Line: Bulls 3.5 (-105) | Hawks -3.5 (-115)
Moneyline: Taurus +125 | Hawks -150
Total: 237.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Hawks with 4.1, an increase of 63%, 240.2 points in total.

Injury report:
Bulls: Jalen Smith, (GTD – Knee); Torrey Craig, (GTD – Disease)
Hawks: De’Andre Hunter, (OUT – Knee); Seth Lundy, (GTD – Ankle); Cody Zeller, (OUT – Personal); Vit Krejci, (OUT – Thigh); Bogdan Bogdanovic, (OUT – Hamstring); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT – Shoulder)

Bulls projections:

  • Nikola Vucevic, C: 35.9 FPTS (19.2 pts, 9.5 reb, 3.4 ast)

  • Coby White, PG/SG: 34.5 FPTS (19.9 pts, 3.3 reb, 4.8 ast, 14.9 3:00)

  • Josh Giddey, SG/SF: 28.0 FPTS (14.0 pts, 5.3 reb, 4.8 ast)

  • Ayo Dosunmu, SG: 24.2 FPTS (12.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 3.4 ast)

  • Zach LaVine, SG/SF: 19.3 FPTS (12.5 pts, 1.9 reb, 1.9 ast, 14.0 3pm)

  • Patrick Williams, PF: 18.9 FPTS (9.9 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.8 ast)

  • Languages ​​Horton-Tucker, SG/SF: 16.6 FPTS (8.5 pts, 2.3 reb, 2.4 ast)

Hawks projections:

  • Trae Young, PG: 48.6 FPTS (25.7 pts, 4.0 reb, 9.4 ast, 14.9 3:00)

  • Jalen Johnson, PF: 42.6 FPTS (20.8 pts, 10.4 reb, 5.8 ast)

  • Zaccharie Risacher, PF/SF: 23.3 FPTS (14.3 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.5 ast)

  • Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 22.1 FPTS (10.2 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.2 ast)

  • Garrison Mathews, SG/SF: 20.5 FPTS (12.3 pts, 2.0 reb, 1.4 ast, 14.9 3pm)

  • Clint Capela, C: 19.2 FPTS (10.0 pts, 6.7 reb, 1.1 ast)

  • De’Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 14.4 FPTS (6.2 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.9 ast)


Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers
7:30 PM ET

Line: Nets 13.5 (-120) | Cavaliers -13.5 (EVEN)
Moneyline: Nets +600 | Cavaliers -1000
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI projection: Cavaliers with 13.3, up 86%, 225.7 points total.

Injury report:
Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic, (OUT – Foot); Ben Simmons, (NA – Back); Trendon Watford, (OUT – Hamstring); Day’Ron Sharpe, (OUT – Hamstring)
Cavaliers: Emoni Bates, (OUT – Knee); Max Strus, (OFF – Single)

Nets projections:

  • Dennis Schroder, PG: 38.3 FPTS (19.5 pts, 3.6 reb, 6.8 ast, 14.6 3:00)

  • Cam Thomas, SG: 37.2 FPTS (25.7 pts, 3.5 reb, 3.1 ast, 14.5 3pm)

  • Cameron Johnson, SF/PF: 30.0 FPTS (15.9 pts, 4.5 reb, 3.1 ast, 14.7 3:00)

  • Ben Simmons, PG/PF: 21.5 FPTS (6.7 pts, 6.3 reb, 4.8 ast)

  • Nic Claxton, C: 20.7 FPTS (8.7 pts, 7.5 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.3 blk)

  • Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF: 20.5 FPTS (9.1 pts, 5.1 reb, 1.7 ast, 1.8 3:00)

  • Ziaire Williams, SF: 19.8 FPTS (9.4 pts, 4.5 reb, 2.1 ast)

Cavaliers projections:

  • Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG: 40.2 FPTS (24.9 pts, 4.2 reb, 4.2 ast, 14.7 3:00)

  • Darius Garland, PG: 33.8 FPTS (18.7 pts, 2.3 reb, 5.5 ast, 14.6 3:00)

  • Jarrett Allen, C: 31.2 FPTS (15.2 pts, 12.0 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.3 blk)

  • Evan Mobley, PF/C: 27.8 FPTS (15.4 pts, 7.8 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.7 blk)

  • Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 25.5 FPTS (12.5 pts, 3.4 reb, 3.6 ast)

  • Dean Wade, PF: 17.8 FPTS (7.0 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.7 ast)

  • Sam Merrill, SG: 15.7 FPTS (7.9 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.5 ast, 14.0 3pm)


Toronto Raptors at LA Clippers
10:30 PM ET

Line: Birds of Prey 6.5 (-120) | Hair clipper -6.5 (EVEN)
Moneyline: Birds of Prey +200 | Hair clippers -240
Total: 225.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI projection: Clippers with 8.1, an increase of 75%, 227.5 points total.

Injury report:
Raptors: Garrett Temple, (GTD – Back); Immanuel Quickley, (GTD – Pelvis); Jonathan Mogbo, (GTD – Hip); Ja’Kobe Walter, (OUT – Shoulder); Kelly Olynyk, (OUT – Back); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Orbital); Bruce Brown, (OUT – knee)
Clippers: Mo Bamba, (OUT – Knee); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT – Knee); PJ Tucker, (OUT – Not Injury Related)

Raptors projections:

  • RJ Barrett, SG/SF: 39.9 FPTS (25.0 pts, 4.9 reb, 6.0 ast, 14.2 3pm)

  • Jakob Poeltl, C: 30.6 FPTS (14.2 pts, 10.2 reb, 3.3 ast)

  • Gradey Dick, SG/SF: 23.9 FPTS (14.9 pts, 2.5 reb, 2.0 ast, 14.3 3:00)

  • Davion Mitchell, PG: 21.2 FPTS (9.9 pts, 2.2 reb, 4.7 ast)

  • Ochai Agbaji, SG/SF: 19.6 FPTS (9.4 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.0 ast)

  • Jonathan Mogbo, PF: 15.7 FPTS (7.3 pts, 3.9 reb, 2.1 ast)

  • Chris Boucher, PF/C: 14.9 FPTS (8.9 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.0 ast)

Clippers Projections:

  • James Harden, PG/SG: 41.4 FPTS (19.3 pts, 6.3 reb, 8.0 ast, 14.7 3:00)

  • Ivica Zubac, C: 33.5 FPTS (17.2 pts, 11.4 reb, 3.0 ast)

  • Norman Powell, SG/SF: 30.9 FPTS (19.6 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.3 ast, 15.0 3:00)

  • Derrick Jones Jr., SF: 20.8 FPTS (11.0 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.5 ast)

  • Kris Dunn, PG: 18.5 FPTS (7.2 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.8 ast)

  • Terance Mann, SG/SF: 17.4 FPTS (8.6 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.9 ast)

  • Nicolas Batum, PF: 11.9 FPTS (3.4 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.1 ast)