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.
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Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Wednesday's games
There are seven games on the NBA schedule tonight. The Atlanta Hawks travel to Cleveland (7 p.m. ET on ESPN) for what could be a preview of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Cavaliers are the fourth seed, a game behind the New York Knicks for third. The Hawks, meanwhile, have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA for the last couple of months and hold onto the fifth seed by one game over the Toronto Raptors.
The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Orlando in another game with playoff implications, but the Timberwolves are slotted into the sixth seed out West while the Magic are within a game in either direction of any seed from sixth to ninth in the East.
The last game of the night pits the Dallas Mavericks against the Phoenix Suns. While the Mavs have no postseason aspirations, they do have Cooper Flagg making his case for Rookie of the Year. Flagg has totaled 121 points in his last three games, making him must-see TV down the stretch.
These and other storylines will be on display tonight. Here are the fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS plays of interest for this last Wednesday of the regular season.
Wednesday's fantasy stream team
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF, Denver Nuggets (rostered in 30.7% of ESPN leagues): Johnson is finishing the season strong, averaging 17.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 4.7 APG and 2.7 3PG over his last three games.
Daniss Jenkins, PG, Detroit Pistons (39.8% rostered): Jenkins has been the man for the Pistons down the stretch with Cade Cunningham sidelined. In his last 10 games, all starts, Jenkins has averaged 19.9 PPG and 7.9 APG in 35.8 MPG.
Marvin Bagley III, PF/C, Mavericks (3.7% rostered): Bagley has flashed this season when called upon, and he dropped 21 points and nine rebounds last night against the LA Clippers. With Daniel Gafford sidelined, Bagley is a double-double threat again tonight.
Dré's favorite bets for Wednesday
Hawks +1.5 (-110) over Cavaliers
This pick boils down to motivation. The Hawks want to secure the fifth spot in the East and have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA for months, while the Cavaliers have scuffled more. Plus, the Cavs could be without Donovan Mitchell (questionable, ankle) for a second game in a row.
Magic -6.5 (-112) over Timberwolves
The Magic enter this game tied for the seventh/eighth seeds in the Eastern Conference, a game behind the sixth-seeded Raptors and a half-game ahead of the ninth-seeded Hornets. They need this game to further secure or improve their postseason slot and enter on a three-game winning streak. The Timberwolves are locked into the sixth seed and are playing the second half of a road-road back-to-back. Plus, the Timberwolves could be without Anthony Edwards (questionable, knee) for the 10th time in the last 12 games and will almost certainly be without Jaden McDaniels (doubtful, knee). This just trends for a convincing win opportunity for the Magic.
Cooper Flagg 27+ points (-112)
Flagg is finishing the season with a bang. He has been locked in a race with former college teammate Kon Knueppel for the Rookie of the Year award and, according to DraftKings, Flagg has regained the lead after three straight huge scoring efforts. Flagg has averaged 40.3 PPG in his last three outings, with his "low" game a 25-point effort against Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers. I look for Flagg to try to put another big number on the board tonight against the Suns to really make his ROY case to the voters.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
Play DFS basketball at DraftKings.
$8,100+ salaries
Jalen Johnson, PF, Hawks ($10,300): Johnson is on a seven-game streak of scoring more than 41 fantasy points and has a good matchup against the Cavs, who rank 21st in fantasy production to opposing power forwards.
Devin Booker, PG/SG, Suns ($9,300): Booker is scorching down the stretch, scoring 30 or more points in four of his last five games. He's facing a weak Mavericks defense that ranks 29th in production allowed to his position.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Ayo Dosunmu, SG/SF, Timberwolves ($7,100): Dosunmu has been getting more run with Edwards and McDaniels sidelined of late. He has notched more than 35 fantasy points in seven of his last eight games.
De'Aaron Fox, PG, San Antonio Spurs ($6,800): Fox could be in for a larger role than usual with both Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle listed as doubtful for tonight's game (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN).
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Toumani Camara, SG/SF, Portland Trail Blazers ($5,900): Camara is finishing the season on an offensive high, averaging 23.3 PPG in his last four outings, including a 30-point effort Monday against the Nuggets. He likely won't have to face the Spurs' best wing defender tonight, as Stephon Castle listed as doubtful.
Devin Vassell, SG/SF, Spurs ($5,900): Vassell has scored more than 30 fantasy points in four of his last seven games and could be in for a larger role tonight with both Wembanyama and Castle doubtful.
Marvin Bagley III rocks the rim with jam
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Hawks +1.5 (-110) | Cavaliers -1.5 (-110)
Money line: Hawks +100 | Cavaliers -120
Total: 236.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 2.6, straight up 58%, 241.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Hawks: Jock Landale, (OUT - Ankle)
Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson, (GTD - Toe); Thomas Bryant, (OUT - Calf)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Orlando Magic
7 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves +6.5 (-108) | Magic -6.5 (-112)
Money line: Timberwolves +205 | Magic -250
Total: 229.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 0.3, straight up 51%, 232.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, (GTD - Knee); Jaden McDaniels, (GTD - Knee)
Magic: Jamal Cain, (GTD - Calf); Wendell Carter Jr., (GTD - Neck); Jett Howard, (OUT - Ankle); Jonathan Isaac, (OUT - Knee)
Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET
Line: Bucks +18.5 (-105) | Pistons -18.5 (-115)
Money line: Bucks +1000 | Pistons -1800
Total: 220.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 17.4, straight up 90%, 223.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Bucks: Bobby Portis, (GTD - Wrist); Gary Trent Jr., (GTD - Hip); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD - Knee); Kyle Kuzma, (GTD - Achilles); Myles Turner, (GTD - Ankle); Ryan Rollins, (GTD - Hip); Kevin Porter Jr., (OFS - Knee)
Pistons: Cade Cunningham, (GTD - Chest); Isaiah Stewart, (GTD - Calf)
Memphis Grizzlies at Denver Nuggets
9 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies +22.5 (-105) | Nuggets -22.5 (-115)
Money line: Grizzlies +1400 | Nuggets -3200
Total: 244.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 16.2, straight up 89%, 244.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Jahmai Mashack, (GTD - Concussion); Olivier-Maxence Prosper, (GTD - Ankle); Cam Spencer, (OUT - Back); GG Jackson, (OUT - Knee); Javon Small, (OUT - Thigh); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle); Brandon Clarke, (OFS - Calf); Ja Morant, (OFS - Elbow); Jaylen Wells, (OFS - Toe); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, (OFS - Finger)
Nuggets: Spencer Jones, (OUT - Hamstring); Peyton Watson, (OUT - Hamstring)
Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Blazers +3.5 (-115) | Spurs -3.5 (-105)
Money line: Blazers +140 | Spurs -166
Total: 228.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 10.8, straight up 80%, 232.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, (GTD - Calf); Vit Krejci, (GTD - Calf); Jerami Grant, (OUT - Calf); Damian Lillard, (OFS - Achilles)
Spurs: Emanuel Miller, (GTD - Undisclosed); Stephon Castle, (GTD - Knee); Victor Wembanyama, (GTD - Ribs); David Jones Garcia, (OFS - Ankle)
Oklahoma City Thunder at LA Clippers
10 p.m. ET
Line: Thunder -6.5 (-115) | Clippers +6.5 (-105)
Money line: Thunder -270 | Clippers +220
Total: 225.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 8.8, straight up 75%, 222.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Jalen Williams, (GTD - Hamstring); Thomas Sorber, (OFS - Knee)
Clippers: Isaiah Jackson, (OUT - Ankle); Bradley Beal, (OFS - Hip); Yanic Konan Niederhauser, (OFS - Foot)
Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. ET
Line: Mavericks +10.5 (-105) | Suns -10.5 (-115)
Money line: Mavericks +425 | Suns -575
Total: 230.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Suns by 8.9, straight up 76%, 229.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Mavericks: Brandon Williams, (GTD - Illness); Caleb Martin, (GTD - Heel); Daniel Gafford, (GTD - Shoulder); Naji Marshall, (GTD - Undisclosed); P.J. Washington, (GTD - Elbow); Dereck Lively II, (OFS - Foot); Kyrie Irving, (OFS - Knee)
Suns: Haywood Highsmith, (GTD - Knee)
