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Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Saturday

How many 3-pointers will Bradley Beal make on Saturday? AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

Saturday features a busy nine-game slate, starting with the Heat at the Hawks at 3:00 p.m. and ending with the Kings (and an interim head coach after Mike Brown was fired on Friday) at the Lakers at 10:30 p.m. Here are my top fantasy streamers and best bets as the NBA has finally resumed a regular schedule for the week.

Saturday's top streamers

Bilal Coulibaly SG/SF Washington Wizards (35% rostered in ESPN leagues)

Coulibaly appears to have arrived and had went off for 20 points, six boards, five dimes and two 3-pointers on Thursday night. He had a double-double in his previous game and has scored in double figures in six straight games. Kyle Kuzma is still out and Coulibaly should be primed for another big game against the Knicks on Saturday.

De'Andre Hunter SF/PF Atlanta Hawks (31.3%)

Hunter is finally showing out this season in a sixth-man role for the Hawks and is usually a nice source of points, rebounds and 3-pointers, while also contributing in some steals or blocks on most nights. He's on a scoring tear right now, with averages of 22.4 points and 3.2 triples per game in December. He should be rostered in a lot more leagues and is closing in on Peyton Pritchard for Sixth Man of the Year honors.

Rui Hachimura SF/PF Los Angeles Lakers (25.5%)

Anthony Davis is iffy with a sprained ankle and while Hachimura won't fill it up in every fantasy category, he has been helpful in scoring, rebounding and 3-pointers lately. If Davis is out and Hachimura plays through his illness, he's coming off a win over Golden State in which he had 18 points, five 3-pointers and a block on Christmas Day.

Malik Beasley SG Detroit Pistons (23.0%)

Beasley isn't a fantasy star, but he's a lock for about five 3-pointers per game and has scored at least 18 points in seven of his past eight games. If you're looking for triples, Beasley is your guy after hitting 4.8 of them in his nine December games.

Scoot Henderson PG Portland Trail Blazers (22.5%)

Henderson is coming off the bench but got loose for 18 points and 10 assists in Thursday's win over the Jazz. He's also scored in double digits in three straight games and Anfernee Simons has been struggling a bit, while Dalano Banton is injured. Scoot has also been keeping his turnovers in check and is hitting 3-pointers consistently, and could be setting up for a second-half surge.

Larry Nance Jr. PF/C Atlanta Hawks (8.3%)

Onyeka Okongwu has already been ruled out for Saturday's game, meaning Nance should be in line for another night of heavy minutes while backing up Clint Capela. He's an optimal streaming option right now, coming through with solid scoring, rebounding, steals, blocks and 3-pointers in his last five games. And he's available in almost any league.

Saturday's best bets

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 30 total points and rebounds (-400)

The odds aren't good as far as a payout, but SGA does this in his sleep and the Hornets aren't exactly known for their defense. He's scored at least 35 points in three of his past four games and has had at least 30 combined points and rebounds in every game since November 10. This is a lock.

Trae Young over 20 points (-275)

Ice Trae has scored at least 22 points in five straight games and has had at least 20 points in 18 of his 29 games this season. This will be his first meeting with the Heat, but Young is on fire and I don't see Terry Rozier or Tyler Herro slowing him down tonight.

Jalen Williams over 18 points (-275)

Williams has scored at least 18 points 10 of his past 12 games and should be ready to light up the Hornets tonight. Simply put, he might be the best all-around player in the league, despite playing next to SGA. He's going to score against Charlotte.

Bradley Beal two-plus 3-pointers (-240)

Devin Booker (groin) is out and Beal has stepped up his game, hitting at least two 3-pointers in four of his past five games. He hit just 1-of-5 triples in his game on Friday, but also hit just 5-of-18 shots in that one. He's primed for a bounce-back and the absence of Booker means that Beal will have to go off on Saturday if the Suns are going to beat the Warriors. He'll shoot it better tonight.

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


Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks
3 p.m. ET

Line: Heat 1.5 (-105) | Hawks -1.5 (-115)
Money line: Heat +110 | Hawks -130
Total: 225.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 4, straight up 63%, 229.4 total points.

Injury Report:
Heat: Jimmy Butler, ( - Illness); Dru Smith, ( - Achilles); Nikola Jovic, ( - Ankle); Pelle Larsson, ( - Ankle); Terry Rozier, ( - Knee); Josh Richardson, ( - Heel)
Hawks: Kobe Bufkin, ( - Shoulder); Bogdan Bogdanovic, ( - Lower Leg); Trae Young, ( - Heel); Cody Zeller, ( - Personal); Onyeka Okongwu, ( - Knee)

Heat projections:

Hawks projections:


Oklahoma City Thunder at Charlotte Hornets
6 p.m. ET

Line: Thunder -11.5 (-110) | Hornets 11.5 (-110)
Money line: Thunder -750 | Hornets +475
Total: 218.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 12.5, straight up 84%, 217.8 total points.

Injury Report:
Thunder: Chet Holmgren, ( - Hip); Nikola Topic, ( - Knee); Alex Caruso, ( - Hip); Branden Carlson, ( - Concussion); Cason Wallace, ( - Quadriceps); Luguentz Dort, ( - Ankle)
Hornets: Tre Mann, ( - Back); Grant Williams, ( - Knee); Brandon Miller, ( - Ankle); LaMelo Ball, ( - Wrist); Mark Williams, ( - Thumb)

Thunder projections:

Hornets projections:


New York Knicks at Washington Wizards
7 p.m. ET

Line: Knicks -12.5 (-115) | Wizards 12.5 (-105)
Money line: Knicks -800 | Wizards +500
Total: 227.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 8, straight up 74%, 230.3 total points.

Injury Report:
Knicks: Mitchell Robinson, ( - Ankle); Kevin McCullar Jr., ( - Knee)
Wizards: Marvin Bagley III, ( - Knee); Saddiq Bey, ( - Knee); Jordan Poole, ( - Hip); Kyle Kuzma, ( - Ribs)

Knicks projections:

  • Jalen Brunson, PG: 42.4 FPTS (25.9 pts, 3.2 reb, 6.9 ast, 2.3 3PM)

  • Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C: 38.7 FPTS (21.1 pts, 11.7 reb, 3.5 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Josh Hart, SG/SF: 34.2 FPTS (14.3 pts, 7.6 reb, 5.6 ast)

  • Mikal Bridges, SG/SF: 33.9 FPTS (20.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.6 3PM)

  • OG Anunoby, SF/PF: 27.9 FPTS (15.0 pts, 4.3 reb, 2.1 ast, 2.1 3PM)

  • Miles McBride, PG: 18.3 FPTS (8.8 pts, 2.1 reb, 2.7 ast)

  • Cameron Payne, PG/SG: 15.3 FPTS (7.5 pts, 1.2 reb, 2.4 ast)

Wizards projections:


Milwaukee Bucks at Chicago Bulls
8 p.m. ET

Line: Bucks -3.5 (-115) | Bulls 3.5 (-105)
Money line: Bucks -160 | Bulls +135
Total: 229.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bucks by 0.2, straight up 51%, 234.9 total points.

Injury Report:
Bucks: Andre Jackson Jr., ( - Ankle); Damian Lillard, ( - Illness); Giannis Antetokounmpo, ( - Illness); Khris Middleton, ( - Ankle); AJ Johnson, ( - Illness)
Bulls: Josh Giddey, ( - Ankle); Lonzo Ball, ( - Illness); Matas Buzelis, ( - Illness)

Bucks projections:

Bulls projections:


Phoenix Suns at Golden State Warriors
8:30 p.m. ET

Line: Suns 6.5 (-110) | Warriors -6.5 (-110)
Money line: Suns +200 | Warriors -245
Total: 219.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 1.8, straight up 56%, 227.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Suns: Bol Bol, ( - Knee); Collin Gillespie, ( - Ankle); Grayson Allen, ( - Concussion); Devin Booker, ( - Groin)
Warriors: De'Anthony Melton, ( - Knee); Gary Payton II, ( - Calf); Draymond Green, ( - Back); Stephen Curry, ( - Knee)

Suns projections:

  • Kevin Durant, PF: 40.1 FPTS (27.9 pts, 5.8 reb, 4.4 ast, 2.2 3PM)

  • Bradley Beal, SG/SF: 31.2 FPTS (19.9 pts, 3.6 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.1 3PM)

  • Tyus Jones, PG: 26.3 FPTS (11.9 pts, 1.9 reb, 5.2 ast, 1.9 3PM)

  • Royce O'Neale, SF: 22.4 FPTS (9.2 pts, 5.1 reb, 2.5 ast, 2.3 3PM)

  • Jusuf Nurkic, C: 21.7 FPTS (9.7 pts, 7.9 reb, 2.2 ast)

  • Ryan Dunn, SF: 15.1 FPTS (8.0 pts, 2.8 reb, 1.2 ast)

  • Mason Plumlee, C: 13.6 FPTS (5.4 pts, 6.0 reb, 1.7 ast)

Warriors projections:


Detroit Pistons at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. ET

Line: Pistons 5.5 (-110) | Nuggets -5.5 (-110)
Money line: Pistons +190 | Nuggets -230
Total: 232.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 3.9, straight up 63%, 232.6 total points.

Injury Report:
Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, ( - Knee)
Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar, ( - Knee); DaRon Holmes II, ( - Achilles); Aaron Gordon, ( - Calf)

Pistons projections:

  • Cade Cunningham, PG/SG: 49.4 FPTS (26.8 pts, 5.9 reb, 9.0 ast, 2.2 3PM)

  • Jaden Ivey, PG/SG: 27.9 FPTS (16.4 pts, 3.6 reb, 3.6 ast, 1.8 3PM)

  • Malik Beasley, SG: 24.5 FPTS (13.6 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.0 ast, 3.5 3PM)

  • Jalen Duren, C: 23.5 FPTS (11.1 pts, 8.9 reb, 2.1 ast, 1.2 blk)

  • Tobias Harris, SF/PF: 23.1 FPTS (11.1 pts, 4.9 reb, 2.4 ast)

  • Ausar Thompson, SF/PF: 15.7 FPTS (7.6 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.9 ast)

  • Isaiah Stewart, PF/C: 14.5 FPTS (6.3 pts, 5.1 reb, 1.6 ast, 1.3 blk)

Nuggets projections:


Philadelphia 76ers at Utah Jazz
9:30 p.m. ET

Line: 76ers -6.5 (-110) | Jazz 6.5 (-110)
Money line: 76ers -285 | Jazz +230
Total: 222.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: 76ers by 4.2, straight up 64%, 224.8 total points.

Injury Report:
76ers: KJ Martin, ( - Foot); Jared McCain, ( - Knee); Andre Drummond, ( - Toe); Eric Gordon, ( - Mouth); Joel Embiid, ( - Foot)
Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, ( - Lower Leg); John Collins, ( - Hip); Jordan Clarkson, ( - Foot); Keyonte George, ( - Ankle); Oscar Tshiebwe, ( - Finger)

76ers projections:

Jazz projections:


Dallas Mavericks at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET

Line: Mavericks -4.5 (-110) | Blazers 4.5 (-110)
Money line: Mavericks -185 | Blazers +155
Total: 221.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 0.6, straight up 52%, 227.6 total points.

Injury Report:
Mavericks: Dante Exum, ( - Wrist); Luka Doncic, ( - Calf); Dereck Lively II, ( - Hip)
Blazers: Matisse Thybulle, ( - Ankle); Dalano Banton, ( - Hip); Robert Williams III, ( - Ankle); Toumani Camara, ( - Foot)

Mavericks projections:

Blazers projections:


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

Line: Kings 1.5 (-110) | Lakers -1.5 (-110)
Money line: Kings +105 | Lakers -125
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Kings by 0.8, straight up 53%, 227.4 total points.

Injury Report:
Kings: Devin Carter, ( - Shoulder); Domantas Sabonis, ( - Illness)
Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt, ( - Foot); Anthony Davis, ( - Ankle); D'Angelo Russell, ( - Thumb); Jaxson Hayes, ( - Ankle); LeBron James, ( - Illness); Rui Hachimura, ( - Illness); Christian Wood, ( - Knee)

Kings projections:

  • De'Aaron Fox, PG: 44.0 FPTS (25.3 pts, 4.6 reb, 6.5 ast, 2.1 3PM)

  • Domantas Sabonis, PF/C: 40.2 FPTS (19.3 pts, 12.2 reb, 5.6 ast)

  • DeMar DeRozan, SF/PF: 33.2 FPTS (19.1 pts, 3.6 reb, 4.3 ast)

  • Malik Monk, SG/SF: 30.8 FPTS (16.2 pts, 3.2 reb, 5.0 ast, 2.2 3PM)

  • Keegan Murray, SF/PF: 25.7 FPTS (13.1 pts, 7.0 reb, 1.4 ast, 1.8 3PM)

  • Kevin Huerter, SG/SF: 15.8 FPTS (7.2 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.6 ast)

  • Trey Lyles, PF: 14.2 FPTS (6.9 pts, 3.9 reb, 1.1 ast)

Lakers projections: