What you need to know for Saturday's games
Amid the drama of this final weekend of college hoops, the NBA presents a four-game Saturday slate defined by a series of cross-conference matchups.
The day in professional basketball tips early with an afternoon meeting in California between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. A healthy point total is in place for this one given the Lakers have averaged just over 123 points during their past 10 games. With some top-heavy rotations in place from both rosters, it's arguable the best waiver option in this contest is Rui Hachimura (23.1% rostered in ESPN men's basketball leagues). More on this emergent forward below.
Two teams eliminated from playoff consideration meet this evening in New York, with the Brooklyn Nets hosting the Detroit Pistons. The Nets rely on Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas to drive offense, as both are solid targets in prop markets for dimes and points, respectively. Detroit is harder to read given constant rotation shuffles, although usage for Jaden Ivey (45.0%) is peaking of late.
The evening continues with the Philadelphia 76ers facing the Memphis Grizzlies as massive road favorites. Such games between unfamiliar foes don't offer much precedent to turn to when projecting outcomes. This said, we can assume the 76ers, a team pressed to win out to potentially escape the play-in tier of their conference, will lean on their top contributors in more predictable fashion. Building DFS and redraft lineups around Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and even Kelly Oubre Jr. could prove rewarding.
On the other hand, Memphis has turned to a patchwork crew of players as the team deals with a mixture of injuries and a somewhat transparent intention to pursue improved lottery odds. However, a few Grizzlies do make the list below.
The nightcap includes the reigning champion Denver Nuggets hosting the Atlanta Hawks. Denver doesn't present much value in streaming sense, although we can certainly construct DFS rosters around Nikola Jokic in a plus matchup against a shallow Atlanta frontcourt. The Hawks, meanwhile, have De'Andre Hunter (19.8%) positioned to play big minutes.
Saturday's stream team
Max Strus, SG/SF, Cavaliers (rostered in 39.9% of ESPN leagues): More than merely a floor-spacer, Strus has expanded his game in Cleveland this season to include playmaking and rebounding results. Flirting with a triple-double in his most recent outing is a nice example of such growth. The Lakers don't have strong point-of-attack defenders, which could afford Strus room to shoot and create.
Jaden Ivey, PG/SG, Pistons (45.0%): The Pistons have been cautious with Cade Cunningham lately, which has led to a more empowering role for Ivey in recent games. Even if the duo of guards both play, it's likely Ivey plays a heavy dose of minutes with some choice matchups against a porous defensive backcourt for Brooklyn. For deeper formats, Malachi Flynn (1.8%) brings a fun shooting and scoring ceiling to the court, if also a low floor.
Rui Hachimura, SF/PF, Lakers (23.5%): A post-break surge in scoring and cleaning the glass has led to a revitalized fantasy profile for Hachimura. Set to serve as a two-way glue guy today against a Cavaliers team that lacks depth at the wing, Hachimura is in a good spot.
Jordan Goodwin, PG/SG, Grizzlies (1.4%): Goodwin has been tasked with playmaking work for Memphis after the team has been hit by a wild wave of injuries to the backcourt throughout the season. The fact that Goodwin has at least five dimes in three straight offers some value ahead of a matchup with the 76ers. Teammate Scottie Pippen Jr. (2.7%) is also likely to be busy from the Memphis backcourt.
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.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Los Angeles Lakers
3:30 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
BPI Projection: Cavaliers in the 2nd highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Craig Porter, (GTD - Illness); Isaac Okoro, (OUT - Toe); Dean Wade, (OUT - Knee); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle)
Lakers: Anthony Davis, (GTD - Knee); LeBron James, (GTD - Ankle); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (OUT - Back)
Cavaliers projections:
Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG: 42.8 FPTS (24.3 pts, 4.7 reb, 5.7 ast, 3.1 3PM)
Darius Garland, PG: 34.7 FPTS (19.3 pts, 3.1 reb, 6.7 ast, 2.4 3PM)
Jarrett Allen, C: 34.5 FPTS (17.1 pts, 11.3 reb, 2.7 ast)
Evan Mobley, PF/C: 33.3 FPTS (16.3 pts, 9.9 reb, 3.2 ast, 1.6 blk)
Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 24.1 FPTS (10.9 pts, 3.6 reb, 4.6 ast)
Max Strus, SG/SF: 24.0 FPTS (11.0 pts, 4.5 reb, 3.4 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Georges Niang, PF: 11.0 FPTS (5.7 pts, 2.5 reb, 0.9 ast)
Lakers projections:
Anthony Davis, PF/C: 46.1 FPTS (25.1 pts, 13.3 reb, 3.2 ast, 1.9 blk)
LeBron James, SF/PF: 44.9 FPTS (24.2 pts, 7.0 reb, 7.1 ast, 2.0 3PM)
D'Angelo Russell, PG/SG: 33.3 FPTS (18.2 pts, 3.6 reb, 5.3 ast, 2.9 3PM)
Austin Reaves, SG/SF: 31.4 FPTS (15.6 pts, 5.1 reb, 5.2 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Rui Hachimura, SF/PF: 22.4 FPTS (13.1 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.2 ast)
Spencer Dinwiddie, PG/SG: 14.1 FPTS (7.0 pts, 1.9 reb, 2.1 ast)
Taurean Prince, SF: 11.5 FPTS (5.1 pts, 2.3 reb, 1.1 ast)
Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets
7 p.m. Barclays Center, New York
BPI Projection: Nets in the 3rd highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Cade Cunningham, (GTD - Knee); Simone Fontecchio, (GTD - Toe); Taj Gibson, (GTD - Hamstring); Ausar Thompson, (OUT - Illness); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT - Hamstring); Quentin Grimes, (OUT - Knee); Stanley Umude, (OUT - Ankle)
Nets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD - Toe); Dennis Smith Jr., (GTD - Hip); Ben Simmons, (OUT - Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT - Lower Leg); Keita Bates-Diop, (OUT - Lower Leg)
Pistons projections:
Jalen Duren, C: 25.4 FPTS (11.5 pts, 9.9 reb, 1.9 ast)
Jaden Ivey, PG/SG: 25.4 FPTS (16.6 pts, 3.5 reb, 3.8 ast)
Zavier Simpson, PG: 23.7 FPTS (10.9 pts, 4.1 reb, 4.5 ast)
Marcus Sasser, PG: 20.8 FPTS (11.3 pts, 2.8 reb, 3.1 ast)
Troy Brown Jr., SF: 15.9 FPTS (8.3 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.1 ast)
James Wiseman, C: 14.1 FPTS (7.1 pts, 5.7 reb, 0.8 ast)
Malachi Flynn, PG: 12.5 FPTS (6.5 pts, 2.5 reb, 1.6 ast)
Nets projections:
Cam Thomas, SG: 38.3 FPTS (27.2 pts, 3.8 reb, 3.8 ast, 2.3 3PM)
Mikal Bridges, SG/SF: 34.1 FPTS (20.1 pts, 4.2 reb, 4.1 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Dennis Schroder, PG: 30.5 FPTS (16.9 pts, 3.3 reb, 5.8 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Nic Claxton, PF/C: 26.7 FPTS (12.9 pts, 9.6 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.8 blk)
Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF: 18.7 FPTS (8.3 pts, 4.6 reb, 1.4 ast)
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF: 17.1 FPTS (8.3 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.6 ast)
Trendon Watford, PF: 12.8 FPTS (7.4 pts, 3.6 reb, 0.8 ast)
Philadelphia 76ers at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis
BPI Projection: 76ers in the 4th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
76ers: Joel Embiid, (GTD - Knee); Mo Bamba, (GTD - Illness); Tobias Harris, (GTD - Knee); Tyrese Maxey, (GTD - Hip); Robert Covington, (OUT - Knee); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Back)
Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, (GTD - Rest); Desmond Bane, (GTD - Back); Jaren Jackson Jr., (GTD - Quadriceps); John Konchar, (GTD - Heel); Luke Kennard, (GTD - Knee); Santi Aldama, (GTD - Foot); Vince Williams Jr., (GTD - Knee); Yuta Watanabe, (GTD - Personal); Marcus Smart, (OUT - Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT - Groin)
76ers projections:
Joel Embiid, C: 46.2 FPTS (28.6 pts, 9.7 reb, 5.0 ast, 1.4 blk)
Tyrese Maxey, PG/SG: 45.0 FPTS (27.1 pts, 4.1 reb, 6.0 ast, 3.1 3PM)
Kelly Oubre Jr., SF/PF: 32.1 FPTS (20.3 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Tobias Harris, SF/PF: 26.3 FPTS (14.4 pts, 5.4 reb, 2.3 ast)
Kyle Lowry, PG: 20.6 FPTS (8.5 pts, 3.2 reb, 3.8 ast)
Nicolas Batum, SG/SF: 15.0 FPTS (4.9 pts, 4.6 reb, 1.9 ast)
Paul Reed, PF/C: 14.9 FPTS (6.6 pts, 5.5 reb, 0.8 ast)
Grizzlies projections:
GG Jackson, PF: 29.2 FPTS (20.5 pts, 5.2 reb, 1.9 ast, 2.4 3PM)
Jordan Goodwin, PG/SG: 28.3 FPTS (13.3 pts, 7.2 reb, 3.8 ast)
Jake LaRavia, PF: 27.8 FPTS (17.9 pts, 5.3 reb, 2.2 ast)
Scotty Pippen Jr., PG: 25.6 FPTS (14.1 pts, 3.6 reb, 3.8 ast)
Lamar Stevens, PF: 24.4 FPTS (13.2 pts, 6.7 reb, 1.4 ast)
Chimezie Metu, C: 19.3 FPTS (9.3 pts, 5.0 reb, 1.1 ast)
Trey Jemison, C: 17.0 FPTS (9.4 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.0 ast)
Atlanta Hawks at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. Ball Arena, Denver
BPI Projection: Nuggets in the highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Mouhamed Gueye, (GTD - Elbow); Trae Young, (OUT - Finger); AJ Griffin, (OUT - Ankle); Onyeka Okongwu, (OUT - Toe); Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee)
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, (GTD - Foot); Jamal Murray, (GTD - Knee); Nikola Jokic, (GTD - Hip); Vlatko Cancar, (OUT - Knee)
Hawks projections:
Dejounte Murray, PG/SG: 43.3 FPTS (23.4 pts, 5.0 reb, 7.0 ast, 2.6 3PM)
Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF: 36.8 FPTS (21.6 pts, 4.5 reb, 3.5 ast, 3.5 3PM)
Jalen Johnson, SF/PF: 34.5 FPTS (16.8 pts, 8.8 reb, 3.7 ast)
De'Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 29.0 FPTS (18.9 pts, 4.7 reb, 2.0 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Clint Capela, C: 24.3 FPTS (12.0 pts, 10.1 reb, 1.2 ast, 1.4 blk)
Bruno Fernando, C: 15.8 FPTS (7.9 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.2 ast)
Kobe Bufkin, PG: 12.1 FPTS (6.8 pts, 2.0 reb, 1.4 ast)
Nuggets projections:
Nikola Jokic, C: 57.2 FPTS (27.6 pts, 12.2 reb, 8.2 ast)
Michael Porter Jr., SF: 31.8 FPTS (18.3 pts, 7.3 reb, 1.5 ast, 2.8 3PM)
Aaron Gordon, PF: 30.8 FPTS (16.6 pts, 6.6 reb, 3.7 ast)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG/SF: 22.2 FPTS (10.4 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.2 ast)
Reggie Jackson, PG: 21.8 FPTS (12.3 pts, 2.4 reb, 3.7 ast)
Christian Braun, SG: 17.4 FPTS (9.0 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.6 ast)
Peyton Watson, SF: 14.2 FPTS (7.4 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.2 ast)