The ESPN fantasy and betting cheat sheet is your pregame destination for our best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
What you need to know for Thursday night’s NBA slate
By Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe
Bag Man: Jerami Grant and Hamidou Diallo are listed as out in Orlando this evening. When Grant is off the floor, Marvin Bagley III (45% available) sees his usage spike to 26% and he’s produced a whopping 13.3 more DraftKings points per 36 minutes. For those seeking a DFS building block or target for prop plays, Bagley faces an Orlando frontcourt that has ceded 48.3 DraftKings PPG to power forwards, the second-highest rate in the league.
Suggs Sitting: Orlando won’t have rookie guard Jalen Suggs in the lineup, so Markelle Fultz (83% available) should be a popular name to consider given his elite assist percentage. However, Fultz could also be limited to around 20 minutes even with Suggs’ absence as the Magic continue to use him conservatively after his ACL injury last season. An alternative might be R.J. Hampton (99% available), who has flashed some solid playmaking at times and should near or top 30 minutes of run time against Detroit.
Cade Watch: Cade Cunningham is listed as questionable for tonight’s game, so it’s prudent to consider Cory Joseph (97% available) if the Cunningham sits. Joseph won’t deliver a monster line, but his usage rate and fantasy production have both risen significantly when Cunningham has been off the court this season.
Trending Trendon: The Trail Blazers are running out a young and unproven roster most nights. If you have the space on your roster during this light one-game slate, acquire Trendon Watford (84% available) and/or Drew Eubanks (96%). Watford has become a fun source of passing production at the power forward spot, while Eubanks has averaged a double-double over the past week.
Game of the Night
Line: Magic (-4.5)
Moneyline: Magic (-177), Pistons (+143)
Total: 219 points
BPI Score Projection: Magic win: 109-106
BPI Win%: Magic (60.9%)
Key players ruled out: Jerami Grant, Hamidou Diallo, Jalen Suggs
Questionable: Cade Cunningham (illness), Wendell Carter Jr.
Notable: The Pistons are riding a 12-game unbeaten streak ATS and have seen six of their past seven games go under the total.
Best bet: Pistons 1H (+1.5). In a battle of two of the league’s worst teams with star players our or questionable, this game is a tossup. Suggs is ruled out and Carter Jr, Cunningham, and more are listed as questionable. This game could be sloppy so I am looking to back a trend here. Detroit is 10-0 ATS in the first half in the last 10 games overall and 8-2 in their last 10 games away from home. The Pistons are a covering machine. They have covered this number in two of the three matchups against Orlando and cashed this in the previous matchup. I would be more confident in this pick if Cunningham’s status wasn’t up in the air, but all things considered in a matchup that could go either way… ride the hot trends. — Erin Dolan
Best bet: Pistons +4.5. The Pistons have been money for weeks now, because oddsmakers don’t seem to have caught up to the way they’ve played since the All-Star Break. The question is health, particularly that of Cunningham. With Grant out, the Pistons will need Cunningham to compete. If he plays, they have the frontcourt depth to keep this game close even without Grant. — André Snellings
Best bet: Franz Wagner over 23.5 points + assists + rebounds. This season, Wagner has been one of the few bright spots for the Magic. In 69 games this season, the rookie has averaged 15.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 2.9 APG. Wagner faces a Pistons team that has allowed small forwards to average 23.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.0 APG. — Eric Moody
Fantasy Streamer: Markelle Fultz (84.5% available). Fultz was quiet in Tuesday’s blowout loss to the Nets, but was one of the best players on the court in his previous two outings despite his minutes limitation. With Suggs out, Fultz should have the opportunity to produce well in limited minutes on Thursday. — Snellings
Fantasy streamer: Isaiah Livers (98.4% available). Livers is an intriguing streamer for those in deeper formats and those looking for DFS value. Livers has missed a lot of time due to a foot injury, but is now healthy and earning minutes with the Pistons. A bad defensive team, the Magic rank 22nd in points allowed per 100 possessions. — Moody
Source: www.espn.com