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Fantasy basketball tips and projections for Wednesday

De'Andre Hunter has an opportunity to shine for fantasy managers with Jalen Johnson and Saddiq Bey out for the season for the Atlanta Hawks. Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images

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 and player projections.

What you need to know for Wednesday's games

NBA action ramps up on Wednesday with a nine-game slate featuring the Denver Nuggets at the Miami Heat on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET and then the Los Angeles Lakers at the Sacramento Kings on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET. Other key matchups include the Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers at the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Golden State Warriors at the Dallas Mavericks. The Warriors will face the Mavs two more times after Wednesday night's game and those will be important contests for both teams as they continue to fight for their playoff lives.

Kelly Olynyk and Gradey Dick should play big roles again for the banged up Toronto Raptors against the Detroit Pistons, Simone Fontecchio should be able to keep it going with Ausar Thompson still dealing with a lung issue for Detroit, Donovan Mitchell is very iffy due to his knee injury, clearing the way for more Isaac Okoro goodies for the Cavaliers, and Vasilije Micic should continue to thrive in the Charlotte Hornets' backcourt with Tre Mann and LaMelo Ball out.

Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are such a mess that we don't have any clue who they might start against the Hornets tonight, while the Portland Trail Blazers are in a similar spot with Jerami Grant questionable (hamstring). Both of these lottery-bound teams might not be competitive tonight but for now, red-hot Deandre Ayton is healthy and playing well.

If you plan on tuning into Hawks-Blazers or Hornets-Grizzlies tonight, you are a true NBA fan. And if you can figure out which players from Memphis will play well consistently, you should probably play the lottery.

Wednesday's Stream Team

Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, Toronto Raptors (rostered in 24% of ESPN leagues)

Jakob Poeltl and the rest of the Raptors big men, sans Olynyk, are injured and won't play Wednesday against the lowly Detroit Pistons. In fact, nearly the entire Raptors squad is on the injury report, including Immanuel Quickley and Gary Trent Jr., who are listed as questionable and Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Chris Boucher and Poeltl, who are listed as out. Olynyk is coming into this game hot, averaging of 19.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.5 3-pointers over his last two games. If Trent Jr. can't play, Gradey Dick (2.9%) is worth a look after going off for 17 points, four rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two 3-pointers on Monday at Denver.

Vasilije Micic, Charlotte Hornets (5.3%)

Tre Mann and LaMelo Ball continue to sit out, allowing Micic to run free in the backcourt for the Hornets. He has scored in double digits in all six of his March games and has averaged 13.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.2 SPG and 1.0 3PM this month. There's no reason he shouldn't play 34 minutes and have another fun stat line on Wednesday night.

Simone Fontecchio, SF, Detroit Pistons (6%)

Ausar Thompson is listed as questionable (illness/asthma) for Wednesday night. If Thompson can't play, Fontecchio should once again be the man for the Pistons. And even if Thompson suits up, Fontecchio has been playing well enough to be rostered in more leagues. He has played extremely well in four of his past five games, averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks and 2.5 3-pointers on 49% shooting with just 1.3 turnovers per game over his past six. Those numbers jump up to 22.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks and 3.5 3-pointers over his past two games. Now is the time to add Fontecchio.

De'Andre Hunter, SF/PF, Atlanta Hawks (13.6%)

Jalen Johnson and Saddiq Bey are out for the season, vaulting Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic into the starting lineup for the Hawks. While both are worth rostering, Hunter is more widely available and has now scored in double figures in 14 straight games. Hunter has averaged of 15.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.6 3-pointers on 46% shooting over the month of March. He isn't killing it in the fantasy gold categories of steals, blocks and triples, but he's scoring, rebounding and helping fantasy teams along the way. Hunter should only get better with Bey and Johnson out.

Isaac Okoro, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (10.9%)

Donovan Mitchell has missed seven straight games because of a bone bruise in his left knee and is questionable for Wednesday. If Mitchell is out, Okoro is worth a deep-league look. Okoro has averaged a respectable 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.1 blocks and 2.1 3-pointers on 49.3% shooting over the month of March. He has only hit 66.7% of his free throws in those games, but the rest of his numbers are pretty stellar. If Mitchell can't go, I'd play Okoro with confidence.


Projections and injury reports

Fantasy projections powered by ESPN Analytics. * Projections assume all players who are listed as GTD will play. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Players available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues are listed in italics.


Toronto Raptors at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. Little Caesars Arena, Detroit


BPI Projection: Pistons in the 5th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Raptors: Gary Trent Jr., (GTD - Groin); Immanuel Quickley, (GTD - Hip); D.J. Carton, (OUT - Ankle); RJ Barrett, (OUT - Personal); Chris Boucher, (OUT - Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT - Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT - Hand)
Pistons: Ausar Thompson, (GTD - Illness)

Raptors projections:

Pistons projections:


Brooklyn Nets at Orlando Magic
7 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando


BPI Projection: Magic in the 8th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Nets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD - Ankle); Jacob Gilyard, (OUT - Undisclosed); Ben Simmons, (OUT - Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT - Lower Leg)
Magic: None reported

Nets projections:

Magic projections:


Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers
7:30 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis


BPI Projection: Pacers in the 2nd highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Bulls: Julian Phillips, (GTD - Foot); Torrey Craig, (GTD - Ankle); Lonzo Ball, (OUT - Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT - Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT - Foot)
Pacers: Doug McDermott, (GTD - Calf); James Johnson, (GTD - Illness); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Shoulder)

Bulls projections:

Pacers projections:


Denver Nuggets at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. Kaseya Center, Miami


BPI Projection: Nuggets in the 9th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar, (OUT - Knee)
Heat: Jimmy Butler, (GTD - Illness); Kevin Love, (OUT - Heel); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Foot); Josh Richardson, (OUT - Shoulder)

Nuggets projections:

Heat projections:


Charlotte Hornets at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis


BPI Projection: Grizzlies in the 7th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Hornets: Tre Mann, (GTD - Groin); Bryce McGowens, (OUT - Knee); LaMelo Ball, (OUT - Ankle); Cody Martin, (OUT - Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT - Back); Seth Curry, (OUT - Ankle)
Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., (GTD - Quadriceps); Lamar Stevens, (GTD - Hip); Scotty Pippen Jr., (GTD - Back); Vince Williams Jr., (GTD - Knee); Yuta Watanabe, (GTD - Wrist); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Achilles); Desmond Bane, (OUT - Ankle); Marcus Smart, (OUT - Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT - Groin); Ziaire Williams, (OUT - Hip)

Hornets projections:

Grizzlies projections:


Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans
8 p.m. Smoothie King Center, New Orleans


BPI Projection: Pelicans in the 6th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, (GTD - Knee); Dean Wade, (OUT - Personal); Max Strus, (OUT - Knee); Tristan Thompson, (OUT - Suspension); Evan Mobley, (OUT - Ankle); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle)
Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, (OUT - Knee)

Cavaliers projections:

  • Jarrett Allen, C: 39.1 FPTS (19.5 pts, 11.2 reb, 2.8 ast)

  • Darius Garland, PG: 37.4 FPTS (21.6 pts, 2.6 reb, 6.6 ast, 2.4 3PM)

  • Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 36.1 FPTS (17.1 pts, 4.7 reb, 5.8 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Isaac Okoro, SG/SF: 23.7 FPTS (13.5 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.7 ast)

  • Georges Niang, PF: 20.7 FPTS (10.5 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.4 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Sam Merrill, SG: 16.3 FPTS (7.8 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.2 ast, 2.2 3PM)

  • Craig Porter, SG: 16.1 FPTS (8.0 pts, 2.9 reb, 2.0 ast)

Pelicans projections:


Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas


BPI Projection: Mavericks in the 3rd highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Warriors: Stephen Curry, (OUT - Ankle)
Mavericks: Brandon Williams, (OUT - Wrist)

Warriors projections:

Mavericks projections:


Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. Moda Center, Portland


BPI Projection: Hawks in the 4th highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Hawks: Jalen Johnson, (GTD - Ankle); Seth Lundy, (GTD - Back); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT - Toe); Onyeka Okongwu, (OUT - Toe); Trae Young, (OUT - Finger); Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee)
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD - Hamstring); Rayan Rupert, (GTD - Ankle); Jabari Walker, (OUT - Hip); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT - Knee)

Hawks projections:

Blazers projections:


Los Angeles Lakers at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. Golden 1 Center, Sacramento


BPI Projection: Kings in the highest-scoring game of the slate.

Injury Report:
Lakers: Anthony Davis, (GTD - Achilles); LeBron James, (GTD - Ankle); Cam Reddish, (OUT - Ankle); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Knee); Colin Castleton, (OUT - Wrist); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot)
Kings: Keegan Murray, (GTD - Ankle); Trey Lyles, (GTD - Knee); Sasha Vezenkov, (OUT - Ankle)

Lakers projections:

Kings projections: