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Fantasy streamers and betting tips for Saturday's NBA slate

Norman Powell has seen an increase in playing time with Kawhi Leonard out. Photo by Harry How/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.

Odds by ESPN BET

What you need to know for Saturday's games

Saturday's NBA schedule features 10 games, highlighted by a 5 p.m. ET matchup between the Clippers and Nuggets and capped off by a late game featuring the Kings visiting the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET. Waiver wires are going to be attacked within the next 24 hours, so think about getting ahead of the crowd and making some pickups on Saturday afternoon. Here are my best bets and streaming options for Saturday.

Saturday's Stream Team

Tre Mann, Charlotte Hornets, PG (19.6% rostered in ESPN leagues)

Mann will be filling in for Brandon Miller (hip) for another game (or three) and Charlotte is a three-headed beast with Mann, Miles Bridges and LaMelo Ball doing the heavy lifting offensively. Mann had 24 points, six boards and four triples in Wednesday's opener, then followed it up with 17 points, three boards, four assists, a steal and two 3-pointers on Friday. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues until Miller is healthy. And even then, he might be worth holding.

Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs, SF (11.8% rostered)

Champagnie went off in Game 1 with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists, a steal, two blocks and four 3-pointers. He gets an in-state matchup with the Rockets tonight and I don't see any reason why he doesn't have another big game. The window on being able to pick up Champagnie off the waiver wire will likely close if he has another big game tonight, so get in on the action early and before it's too late. He's a huge piece of the Spurs' puzzle.

Norman Powell, LA Clippers, SG/SF (15.9% rostered)

Powell came through with 17 points, four boards, four assists, a block and a 3-pointer against the Suns on Wednesday. As I mentioned above, the Clippers are missing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is in street clothes for the Sixers. James Harden and Powell should carry the offensive load for the Clippers for the foreseeable future and Powell is going to be scooped off of waiver wires everywhere after another big performance tonight. He should be rostered in most leagues.

Bets for Saturday

De'Aaron Fox OVER 28.5 points + assists

Fox is the playmaker for a somewhat exciting Sacramento team and the Lakers feature a backcourt not known for its defense. Fox hit just 6-of-14 shots for 15 points and 11 dimes in the Kings' first game of the season and I expect him to shoot it better Saturday night against De'Angelo Russell, while also flirting with 10 assists. Fox has to deal with the presence of new teammate DeMar DeRozan, but something tells me he's going to score a lot of points when they face the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Zach LaVine OVER 21.5 points + rebounds

LaVine showed out in the opener with 27 points and then followed it up with a 25-point effort against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Thunder are loaded defensively but LaVine is clearly the Bulls' offensive priority and the fact he's had five rebounds in each of his first two games means he just needs to score 17 points to make our dreams come true.

Norman Powell OVER 24.5 points + rebounds + assists

Powell had 17 points, four rebounds and four assists in the opener against the Suns for a 25-point total. Paul George is injured for the Sixers, Kawhi Leonard isn't playing for the Clippers and all the heavy lifting is in the hands of James Harden and Powell. I expect Powell to score 20 points against the Nuggets, meaning he'll only need a handful of boards and assists to hit his magic number.


Projections and Injury Reports

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

Players in italics are available in a majority of ESPN Leagues


LA Clippers at Denver Nuggets
5 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Line: Clippers 8.5 (-120) | Nuggets -8.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Clippers 270 | Nuggets -340
Total: 219.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 6.3, straight up 70%, 218.5 total points.

Injury Report:
Clippers: Mo Bamba, (OUT - Knee); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT - Knee); P.J. Tucker, (OUT - Not Injury Related)
Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II, (OUT - Achilles)

Clippers projections:

Nuggets projections:


Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets
7 p.m. ET

Line: Heat -5.5 (-110) | Hornets 5.5 (-110)
Money line: Heat -210 | Hornets 170
Total: 224.5 (-105 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hornets by 3.7, straight up 62%, 217.4 total points.

Injury Report:
Heat: Josh Richardson, (GTD - Heel); Kel'el Ware, (OUT - Illness); Kevin Love, (OUT - Personal)
Hornets: DaQuan Jeffries, (GTD - Hand); Mark Williams, (GTD - Foot); Brandon Miller, (OUT - Hip)

Heat projections:

Hornets projections:

  • LaMelo Ball, PG: 49.5 FPTS (28.4 pts, 6.0 reb, 6.5 ast, 4.2 3PM)

  • Miles Bridges, SF/PF: 34.1 FPTS (21.0 pts, 7.0 reb, 2.3 ast, 1.8 3PM)

  • Tre Mann, PG: 24.8 FPTS (13.1 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.9 ast, 2.1 3PM)

  • Grant Williams, PF: 21.8 FPTS (11.0 pts, 4.3 reb, 3.1 ast)

  • Cody Martin, SG: 20.7 FPTS (9.6 pts, 5.1 reb, 2.3 ast)

  • Nick Richards, C: 20.3 FPTS (10.0 pts, 9.0 reb, 1.1 ast)

  • Seth Curry, PG/SG: 15.8 FPTS (8.4 pts, 2.6 reb, 1.2 ast)


Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET

Line: Celtics -13.5 (-115) | Pistons 13.5 (-105)
Money line: Celtics -1000 | Pistons 650
Total: 226.5 (-105 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 8.3, straight up 75%, 219.1 total points.

Injury Report:
Celtics: Sam Hauser, (OUT - Back); Kristaps Porzingis, (OUT - Foot)
Pistons: Ausar Thompson, (GTD - Illness); Bobi Klintman, (GTD - Calf)

Celtics projections:

  • Jayson Tatum, SF/PF: 55.5 FPTS (31.4 pts, 9.5 reb, 7.0 ast, 4.4 3PM)

  • Jaylen Brown, SG/SF: 46.1 FPTS (27.2 pts, 7.3 reb, 3.5 ast, 2.5 3PM)

  • Derrick White, PG/SG: 36.5 FPTS (18.3 pts, 4.7 reb, 4.7 ast, 3.6 3PM)

  • Jrue Holiday, PG/SG: 27.3 FPTS (13.7 pts, 5.6 reb, 3.4 ast)

  • Payton Pritchard, PG: 21.9 FPTS (11.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 2.4 ast, 2.6 3PM)

  • Xavier Tillman, PF/C: 17.3 FPTS (8.5 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.3 ast)

  • Al Horford, PF/C: 17.1 FPTS (5.5 pts, 5.8 reb, 2.3 ast)

Pistons projections:


Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. ET

Line: Cavaliers -9.5 (-110) | Wizards 9.5 (-110)
Money line: Cavaliers -450 | Wizards 340
Total: 229.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Wizards by 9.2, straight up 77%, 217.9 total points.

Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Emoni Bates, (OUT - Knee); Max Strus, (OUT - Ankle)
Wizards: Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Thumb)

Cavaliers projections:

  • Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG: 42.4 FPTS (26.1 pts, 4.4 reb, 4.6 ast, 2.3 3PM)

  • Darius Garland, PG: 33.6 FPTS (18.7 pts, 3.1 reb, 5.6 ast, 2.1 3PM)

  • Evan Mobley, PF/C: 32.3 FPTS (16.6 pts, 8.8 reb, 2.9 ast, 2.0 blk)

  • Jarrett Allen, C: 30.7 FPTS (16.4 pts, 10.1 reb, 1.9 ast, 1.5 blk)

  • Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 19.6 FPTS (10.2 pts, 2.7 reb, 2.4 ast)

  • Dean Wade, PF: 17.9 FPTS (7.0 pts, 5.2 reb, 1.1 ast, 1.8 3PM)

  • Ty Jerome, PG: 12.7 FPTS (5.9 pts, 1.4 reb, 3.1 ast)

Wizards projections:


Oklahoma City Thunder at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET

Line: Thunder -9.5 (-120) | Bulls 9.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Thunder -450 | Bulls 340
Total: 231.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 3.5, straight up 61%, 222.3 total points.

Injury Report:
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT - Knee); Jaylin Williams, (OUT - Hamstring); Kenrich Williams, (OUT - Knee); Isaiah Hartenstein, (OUT - Hand)
Bulls: Lonzo Ball, (GTD - Knee)

Thunder projections:

Bulls projections:


Orlando Magic at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Line: Magic 1.5 (-120) | Grizzlies -1.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Magic -110 | Grizzlies -110
Total: 223.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 2.8, straight up 59%, 214.4 total points.

Injury Report:
Magic: Jonathan Isaac, (GTD - Hip)
Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., (GTD - Hamstring); Luke Kennard, (OUT - Foot); Cam Spencer, (OUT - Ankle); Vince Williams Jr., (OUT - Lower Leg); GG Jackson II, (OUT - Foot)

Magic projections:

Grizzlies projections:


Toronto Raptors at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET on TSN

Line: Raptors 14.5 (-110) | Timberwolves -14.5 (-110)
Money line: Raptors 750 | Timberwolves -1600
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 11.9, straight up 83%, 211.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Raptors: Kelly Olynyk, (GTD - Back); RJ Barrett, (OUT - Shoulder); Immanuel Quickley, (OUT - Pelvis); Bruce Brown, (OUT - Knee); Ja'Kobe Walter, (OUT - Shoulder)
Timberwolves: None reported

Raptors projections:

Timberwolves projections:


Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs
8:30 p.m. ET

Line: Rockets -1.5 (-110) | Spurs 1.5 (-110)
Money line: Rockets -125 | Spurs 105
Total: 222.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 4.6, straight up 65%, 221.2 total points.

Injury Report:
Rockets: Steven Adams, (GTD - Knee)
Spurs: Tre Jones, (OUT - Ankle); Devin Vassell, (OUT - Foot)

Rockets projections:

Spurs projections:


Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. ET

Line: Mavericks -2.5 (-115) | Suns 2.5 (-105)
Money line: Mavericks -140 | Suns 120
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Suns by 3.6, straight up 62%, 226.2 total points.

Injury Report:
Mavericks: None reported
Suns: Grayson Allen, (GTD - Personal); Josh Okogie, (GTD - Hamstring)

Mavericks projections:

Suns projections:

  • Devin Booker, PG/SG: 38.3 FPTS (24.5 pts, 3.7 reb, 5.3 ast, 2.5 3PM)

  • Kevin Durant, PF: 36.2 FPTS (26.1 pts, 5.5 reb, 3.9 ast)

  • Bradley Beal, SG/SF: 32.5 FPTS (19.3 pts, 3.5 reb, 4.9 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Tyus Jones, PG: 28.8 FPTS (11.7 pts, 2.3 reb, 6.6 ast)

  • Jusuf Nurkic, C: 22.8 FPTS (10.3 pts, 7.8 reb, 2.5 ast)

  • Grayson Allen, PG/SG: 18.4 FPTS (8.3 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.8 ast, 1.8 3PM)

  • Ryan Dunn, SF: 15.1 FPTS (8.2 pts, 1.9 reb, 1.7 ast)


Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Line: Kings 1.5 (-120) | Lakers -1.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Kings -105 | Lakers -115
Total: 230.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Kings by 1.2, straight up 54%, 230.1 total points.

Injury Report:
Kings: Devin Carter, (OUT - Shoulder); Orlando Robinson, (OUT - Knee)
Lakers: Cam Reddish, (GTD - Personal); Christian Koloko, (OUT - Illness); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (GTD - Illness); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot)

Kings projections:

Lakers projections: