After a relatively quiet five-game night that featured struggling stars like Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama going head-to-head, and Anthony Edwards going nuts once again, we get eight games on Wednesday, including a pair of ESPN gems.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will visit the Boston Celtics on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET, and it will be interesting to see who plays in this one. Antetokounmpo was ruled out. Meanwhile, the Celtics, who were without Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday in their last one, are listing Holiday (shoulder) and Jaylen Brown (ankle) as questionable for this one. My guess is they're both going to play, while Kristaps Porzingis somehow isn't even listed on the injury report, for now. The Bucks sit 10.0 games back of the first-place Celtics in the East right now, but they're trying to lock up the No. 2 seed in the East as they ho-hum through the regular season.
ESPN's second primetime game features the Memphis Grizzlies at the Golden State Warriors at 10:00 p.m. The Grizzlies are expected to start Desmond Bane, John Konchar, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama and Jaren Jackson Jr., although Aldama is questionable with a sore elbow. The Warriors are expected to start Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green, who is questionable with a sore back. The Warriors need this game, so I expect all hands to be on deck tonight.
The other games will feature the Miami Heat at the Cleveland Cavaliers with no Donovan Mitchell, the Indiana Pacers at the Detroit Pistons, the Sacramento Kings at the Toronto Raptors, the Utah Jazz at the Oklahoma City Thunder with no Lauri Markkanen, the Philadelphia 76ers at the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Portland Trail Blazers in the evening's final game.
Grayson Allen, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Caris LeVert, Jaden Ivey, Malik Monk, Kelly Olynyk, Taylor Hendricks, GG Jackson, Paul Reed, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Dalano Banton will all be popular fantasy streamers on Wednesday night, as the world awaits the arrival of March Madness at noon on Thursday.
Wednesday's Stream Team
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Cleveland Cavaliers (55.6% rostered in ESPN leagues)
LeVert is probably already gone in your league, especially after it was announced that Donovan Mitchell is expected to miss the rest of this week as he recovers from a broken nose. LeVert is the obvious pickup after he went off for 23 points, eight rebounds, 11 assists, a steal, a block and a 3-pointer on Monday against the Indiana Pacers. If he's not available, guys like Isaac Okoro and Georges Niang are worth a look with Mitchell unavailable tonight.
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/PF, Philadelphia 76ers (53.3%)
Oubre is coming off a monster line of 22 points, 11 rebounds, three dimes, two 3-pointers and five blocks against the Heat on Monday after he had 22 points against the Hornets last Saturday. Those five blocks were the key to a ton of fantasy managers advancing to the playoffs and Oubre is simply hot right now, scoring in double figures in eight of his nine March games. And, as usual, Paul Reed will also be a popular play tonight with Joel Embiid still nursing his knee injury.
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C, Toronto Raptors (27.4)
Olynyk isn't exactly wowing the league, but he's worth a look everywhere as the last big man standing for the Raptors. He has scored in double digits in five straight games and has averaged 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.2 3-pointers on 52% shooting in his nine March games.
Those numbers do not lie and despite the fact he hasn't been scoring a ton of points lately, he should be rostered everywhere right now. Additionally, Immanuel Quickley has been ruled out for Wednesday due to personal reasons so players like Gradey Dick, Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji and Jordan Nwora might be worth a look in some leagues. Out of that group of guys I'd recommend adding Dick as the streamer.
GG Jackson, PF, Memphis Grizzlies (7.6%)
Jackson has been starting for the Grizzlies and scored at least 19 points in five straight games, peaking with a 30-point outing on March 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has averaged 23.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 3-pointers over his past five games and played a whopping 44 minutes in his last game. He is going to play a ton of minutes against the Golden State Warriors and I can't wait to see him go head-to-head with Jonathan Kuminga.
Dalano Banton, PG, Portland Trail Blazers (7.6%)
Banton has been a true silly-season hero of late and had 11 points, six rebounds, three steals, two blocks and a 3-pointer in his last game. Over his last four, he's averaged 16.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.3 3-pointers and he is basically a 'run, don't walk,' player to go pick up off waivers. Scoot Henderson should also be rostered everywhere for tonight's game against the Clippers.
Taylor Hendricks, PF, Utah Jazz (2.7%)
Lauri Markkanen (quad) returned from a five-game absence for his last game and kind of buried Hendricks, but will sit out on Wednesday. Additionally, John Collins is still in recovery mode after being the victim of the 'dunk heard 'round the world' on Monday and is questionable with a head contusion. Jordan Clarkson (groin) is also out, meaning players like Hendricks, Keyonte George, Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn and Walker Kessler should all be in line for some solid numbers tonight. I dropped Hendricks after Monday's dud, but I'm kind of regretting it now. And if Collins is out, we might actually see Kessler go off tonight.
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.
Miami Heat at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
BPI Projection: Cavaliers in the 8th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Heat: Jimmy Butler, (GTD - Foot); Nikola Jovic, (GTD - Hamstring); Duncan Robinson, (OUT - Back); Kevin Love, (OUT - Heel); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Foot); Josh Richardson, (OUT - Shoulder)
Cavaliers: Dean Wade, (OUT - Knee); Evan Mobley, (OUT - Ankle); Max Strus, (OUT - Knee); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle); Donovan Mitchell, (OUT - Nose)
Heat projections:
Terry Rozier, PG/SG: 40.9 FPTS (21.4 pts, 4.4 reb, 5.8 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Jimmy Butler, SF/PF: 39.4 FPTS (21.6 pts, 5.7 reb, 4.8 ast)
Bam Adebayo, C: 39.4 FPTS (21.0 pts, 10.7 reb, 3.9 ast)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF: 25.1 FPTS (12.3 pts, 4.1 reb, 2.5 ast)
Caleb Martin, SG/SF: 22.6 FPTS (11.2 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.8 ast)
Nikola Jovic, SF: 14.6 FPTS (6.6 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.6 ast)
Haywood Highsmith, SF: 12.9 FPTS (5.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.2 ast)
Cavaliers projections:
Darius Garland, PG: 37.4 FPTS (22.0 pts, 2.9 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.6 3PM)
Jarrett Allen, C: 35.0 FPTS (17.1 pts, 10.9 reb, 2.5 ast)
Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 32.6 FPTS (15.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 5.4 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Isaac Okoro, SG/SF: 24.6 FPTS (13.9 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.6 ast)
Georges Niang, PF: 20.9 FPTS (11.1 pts, 4.4 reb, 1.1 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Sam Merrill, SG: 18.0 FPTS (9.1 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.5 3PM)
Tristan Thompson, PF/C: 13.5 FPTS (5.1 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.0 ast)
Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
BPI Projection: Pacers in the 3rd highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Doug McDermott, (GTD - Calf); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Shoulder)
Pistons: Simone Fontecchio, (GTD - Toe); Taj Gibson, (GTD - Hamstring); Ausar Thompson, (OUT - Illness); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT - Hamstring); Quentin Grimes, (OUT - Knee)
Pacers projections:
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG: 42.8 FPTS (19.2 pts, 3.7 reb, 8.4 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Pascal Siakam, PF/C: 37.8 FPTS (20.3 pts, 6.8 reb, 3.8 ast)
Myles Turner, C: 25.6 FPTS (14.1 pts, 6.9 reb, 1.2 ast, 2.0 blk)
Andrew Nembhard, PG/SG: 21.5 FPTS (9.4 pts, 2.7 reb, 3.8 ast)
Aaron Nesmith, SF: 20.3 FPTS (10.8 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.1 ast)
Jalen Smith, PF/C: 18.7 FPTS (8.9 pts, 5.3 reb, 1.2 ast)
T.J. McConnell, PG: 18.7 FPTS (8.2 pts, 2.5 reb, 3.5 ast)
Pistons projections:
Cade Cunningham, PG/SG: 38.6 FPTS (23.5 pts, 4.3 reb, 6.9 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Jaden Ivey, PG/SG: 30.3 FPTS (19.1 pts, 3.6 reb, 4.3 ast)
Jalen Duren, C: 29.9 FPTS (13.6 pts, 11.2 reb, 2.5 ast)
Simone Fontecchio, SF: 26.5 FPTS (15.0 pts, 4.6 reb, 1.7 ast, 2.4 3PM)
Marcus Sasser, PG: 19.2 FPTS (9.8 pts, 2.4 reb, 2.7 ast)
James Wiseman, C: 16.3 FPTS (7.5 pts, 5.4 reb, 1.1 ast)
Evan Fournier, SG/SF: 16.2 FPTS (9.0 pts, 2.5 reb, 1.3 ast)
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET, TD Garden, Boston
BPI Projection: Celtics in the 2nd highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Hamstring); MarJon Beauchamp, (GTD - Back)
Celtics: Jaylen Brown, (GTD - Ankle); Jrue Holiday, (GTD - Shoulder); Sam Hauser, (GTD - Ankle)
Bucks projections:
Damian Lillard, PG: 41.1 FPTS (22.5 pts, 4.4 reb, 6.5 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Khris Middleton, SF: 26.1 FPTS (12.8 pts, 3.9 reb, 4.1 ast)
Brook Lopez, C: 21.0 FPTS (10.7 pts, 4.4 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.2 blk)
Malik Beasley, SG: 19.1 FPTS (8.0 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Bobby Portis, PF/C: 18.3 FPTS (9.3 pts, 5.5 reb, 1.0 ast)
Patrick Beverley, PG: 12.9 FPTS (4.6 pts, 2.4 reb, 2.1 ast)
Celtics projections:
Jayson Tatum, SF/PF: 41.8 FPTS (23.6 pts, 6.8 reb, 4.4 ast, 2.9 3PM)
Jaylen Brown, SG/SF: 39.4 FPTS (23.1 pts, 5.0 reb, 3.6 ast, 2.4 3PM)
Kristaps Porzingis, PF/C: 29.9 FPTS (16.3 pts, 6.7 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.8 blk)
Derrick White, PG/SG: 29.5 FPTS (13.1 pts, 3.9 reb, 4.6 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Jrue Holiday, PG/SG: 26.0 FPTS (10.2 pts, 4.4 reb, 4.7 ast)
Payton Pritchard, PG: 16.3 FPTS (5.7 pts, 2.9 reb, 2.4 ast)
Luke Kornet, C: 13.7 FPTS (5.1 pts, 4.4 reb, 1.0 ast)
Sacramento Kings at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
BPI Projection: Kings in the 4th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Kings: Kevin Huerter, (GTD - Shoulder); Sasha Vezenkov, (GTD - Ankle); Trey Lyles, (OUT - Knee)
Raptors: D.J. Carton, (OUT - Ankle); Immanuel Quickley, (OUT - Personal); Chris Boucher, (OUT - Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT - Finger); RJ Barrett, (OUT - Personal); Scottie Barnes, (OUT - Hand)
Kings projections:
De'Aaron Fox, PG: 49.3 FPTS (28.7 pts, 5.3 reb, 6.1 ast, 2.9 3PM)
Domantas Sabonis, PF/C: 46.9 FPTS (21.2 pts, 13.3 reb, 7.1 ast)
Malik Monk, SG/SF: 28.7 FPTS (15.3 pts, 3.7 reb, 4.5 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Keegan Murray, SF/PF: 27.8 FPTS (13.3 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Harrison Barnes, SF/PF: 22.2 FPTS (12.1 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.2 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Keon Ellis, SG: 15.6 FPTS (7.1 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.2 ast)
Mason Jones, SG: 12.0 FPTS (5.5 pts, 2.1 reb, 1.2 ast)
Raptors projections:
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C: 34.1 FPTS (15.5 pts, 6.9 reb, 4.9 ast)
Gary Trent Jr., PG/SG: 26.2 FPTS (15.4 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Bruce Brown, SG/SF: 21.2 FPTS (10.0 pts, 3.8 reb, 2.5 ast)
Gradey Dick, SG: 19.9 FPTS (10.8 pts, 3.0 reb, 1.6 ast)
Jontay Porter, PF: 18.1 FPTS (7.4 pts, 4.1 reb, 2.4 ast, 1.2 blk)
Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG: 17.8 FPTS (9.5 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.2 ast)
Ochai Agbaji, SG/SF: 17.6 FPTS (9.6 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.2 ast)
Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. ET, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City
BPI Projection: Thunder in the highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Jazz: John Collins, (GTD - Head); Jordan Clarkson, (OUT - Groin); Lauri Markkanen, (NA - Quadriceps)
Thunder: None reported
Jazz projections:
Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF: 39.5 FPTS (23.6 pts, 7.4 reb, 2.3 ast, 3.1 3PM)
Collin Sexton, PG/SG: 31.2 FPTS (18.5 pts, 3.1 reb, 4.2 ast)
John Collins, PF: 28.1 FPTS (15.1 pts, 9.0 reb, 1.2 ast)
Keyonte George, PG/SG: 23.0 FPTS (12.8 pts, 2.7 reb, 3.9 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Taylor Hendricks, PF: 19.2 FPTS (9.8 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.2 ast)
Walker Kessler, C: 18.8 FPTS (8.4 pts, 7.2 reb, 1.1 ast, 2.1 blk)
Kris Dunn, PG: 17.2 FPTS (6.7 pts, 3.1 reb, 3.2 ast)
Thunder projections:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG/SG: 49.2 FPTS (28.5 pts, 5.3 reb, 5.8 ast)
Jalen Williams, SG/SF/PF: 33.6 FPTS (18.0 pts, 3.7 reb, 4.1 ast)
Chet Holmgren, PF/C: 31.6 FPTS (14.9 pts, 7.6 reb, 2.6 ast, 1.9 blk)
Josh Giddey, PG/SG/PF: 23.5 FPTS (10.2 pts, 5.5 reb, 3.3 ast)
Gordon Hayward, SF: 18.2 FPTS (8.0 pts, 2.9 reb, 3.1 ast)
Luguentz Dort, SG/SF: 17.4 FPTS (7.6 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.1 ast)
Cason Wallace, PG/SG: 15.1 FPTS (6.5 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.2 ast)
Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET, Chase Center, San Francisco
BPI Projection: Warriors in the 5th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Lamar Stevens, (OUT - Thigh)
Warriors: Draymond Green, (GTD - Back); Moses Moody, (GTD - Knee)
Grizzlies projections:
Desmond Bane, SG/SF: 42.6 FPTS (22.8 pts, 4.9 reb, 5.0 ast, 3.2 3PM)
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C: 36.4 FPTS (23.1 pts, 6.0 reb, 2.7 ast, 2.0 3PM, 1.4 blk)
Santi Aldama, PF/C: 25.8 FPTS (11.4 pts, 6.1 reb, 2.4 ast)
GG Jackson, PF: 24.6 FPTS (14.5 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.1 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Jordan Goodwin, PG/SG: 18.1 FPTS (7.5 pts, 4.4 reb, 2.1 ast)
Luke Kennard, SG: 17.6 FPTS (7.0 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.6 ast)
John Konchar, SG/SF: 17.5 FPTS (5.6 pts, 5.7 reb, 1.5 ast)
Warriors projections:
Stephen Curry, PG: 40.5 FPTS (23.9 pts, 3.8 reb, 4.6 ast, 4.1 3PM)
Jonathan Kuminga, PF: 26.7 FPTS (15.9 pts, 5.0 reb, 2.1 ast)
Brandin Podziemski, SG: 26.3 FPTS (10.6 pts, 5.7 reb, 3.7 ast)
Draymond Green, PF/C: 23.9 FPTS (8.7 pts, 6.3 reb, 4.8 ast)
Klay Thompson, SG/SF: 22.9 FPTS (13.1 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.7 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Andrew Wiggins, SF/PF: 22.3 FPTS (12.9 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.6 ast)
Chris Paul, PG: 21.6 FPTS (7.3 pts, 3.2 reb, 4.5 ast)
Philadelphia 76ers at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix
BPI Projection: Suns in the 6th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
76ers: Tobias Harris, (GTD - Ankle); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Back); Robert Covington, (OUT - Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee)
Suns: Bol Bol, (NA - Ankle); Damion Lee, (GTD - Knee); Josh Okogie, (GTD - Abdomen)
76ers projections:
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG: 46.1 FPTS (26.6 pts, 3.9 reb, 5.6 ast, 3.0 3PM)
Tobias Harris, SF/PF: 29.1 FPTS (13.9 pts, 5.1 reb, 2.7 ast)
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/PF: 26.9 FPTS (15.2 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.3 ast)
Kyle Lowry, PG: 22.2 FPTS (6.9 pts, 3.5 reb, 3.9 ast)
Paul Reed, PF/C: 18.9 FPTS (8.4 pts, 6.5 reb, 1.2 ast)
Buddy Hield, SG/SF: 18.4 FPTS (7.6 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.3 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Nicolas Batum, SG/SF: 15.2 FPTS (4.0 pts, 4.2 reb, 1.5 ast)
Suns projections:
Kevin Durant, SF/PF: 47.6 FPTS (29.9 pts, 6.7 reb, 5.9 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Devin Booker, PG/SG/PF: 46.1 FPTS (27.2 pts, 4.7 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Bradley Beal, PG/SG: 34.5 FPTS (19.7 pts, 4.0 reb, 4.8 ast)
Jusuf Nurkic, C: 26.0 FPTS (11.4 pts, 9.9 reb, 3.3 ast)
Grayson Allen, SG: 25.9 FPTS (12.3 pts, 4.2 reb, 2.8 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Royce O'Neale, SF: 16.7 FPTS (6.4 pts, 3.5 reb, 2.2 ast)
Eric Gordon, SG/SF: 16.5 FPTS (8.4 pts, 1.6 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.8 3PM)
LA Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET, Moda Center, Portland
BPI Projection: Clippers in the 7th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Moussa Diabate, (GTD - Hand); Norman Powell, (GTD - Lower Leg); Terance Mann, (NA - Shoulder); Russell Westbrook, (OUT - Hand)
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (GTD - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (GTD - Ankle); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT - Knee)
Clippers projections:
Paul George, SG/SF/PF: 44.1 FPTS (23.8 pts, 5.1 reb, 4.2 ast, 3.3 3PM)
Kawhi Leonard, SF/PF: 42.3 FPTS (23.1 pts, 5.4 reb, 3.5 ast, 1.9 3PM)
James Harden, PG/SG: 38.8 FPTS (17.3 pts, 5.0 reb, 6.8 ast, 2.6 3PM)
Ivica Zubac, C: 25.2 FPTS (11.9 pts, 8.2 reb, 1.3 ast)
Norman Powell, SG/SF: 20.8 FPTS (12.5 pts, 2.3 reb, 1.0 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Bones Hyland, PG/SG: 18.0 FPTS (8.6 pts, 1.5 reb, 2.5 ast)
Terance Mann, SG/SF: 17.9 FPTS (8.1 pts, 3.3 reb, 1.2 ast)
Blazers projections:
Anfernee Simons, PG/SG: 41.4 FPTS (24.4 pts, 4.0 reb, 5.8 ast, 3.4 3PM)
Deandre Ayton, C: 37.7 FPTS (18.3 pts, 12.4 reb, 1.7 ast)
Scoot Henderson, PG: 21.8 FPTS (12.0 pts, 2.7 reb, 3.4 ast)
Toumani Camara, PF: 21.1 FPTS (9.6 pts, 5.8 reb, 1.5 ast)
Kris Murray, PF: 17.7 FPTS (8.7 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.3 ast)
Dalano Banton, PG: 17.6 FPTS (9.2 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.5 ast)
Jabari Walker, PF: 17.5 FPTS (8.7 pts, 6.1 reb, 1.0 ast)