Jim McCormickMar 29, 2026, 11:55 AM ET
CloseJim McCormick is a contributing writer for fantasy football and men’s basketball at ESPN.
Multiple Authors
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.
What you need to know for Sunday’s games
The last weekend in March is known for delivering memorable hoops moments. Today’s nine-game slate in the NBA could contribute to this reputation. One clear theme from today’s busy schedule is Eastern Conference contenders facing tests.
The Charlotte Hornets — one of the league’s hottest teams — lost a barnburner to the Philadelphia 76ers yesterday and today host the Boston Celtics. Keep an eye on Boston’s official lineup before making decisions. If both teams are close to full strength, expect this game to have a playoff feel with consolidated rotations.
The Orlando Magic and Toronto Raptors meet in Canada this evening in a matchup that has meaningful playoff seeding implications. During a part of the season with roughly a third of the league prioritizing draft odds, identifying competitive climates can help when building lineups.
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As we continue to learn throughout “tanking season,” a losing record doesn’t preclude teams from producing useful fantasy and betting options. The Indiana Pacers, the team currently with the fewest wins in the league, meet the Miami Heat in a game with a slate-high total of 244.5 points. You’ll want to know who is active for the Pacers, but there will be plenty of points and possessions given Miami continues to pace the league in pace.
With big point spreads all over the schedule, the presence of high point totals across the board offers a welcome counter. High totals suggest that while there are going to be some patchworked rosters and blowouts, there will also be plenty of production opportunities throughout the day. With an eye toward uncovering productive fantasy streamers and compelling betting angles, let’s take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Sunday’s Fantasy Stream Team
Brook Lopez, C, LA Clippers (Rostered in 18.0% of ESPN leagues): Looking like prime “Bro Lo” of late, Lopez is proving he’s still an elite rim protector and not merely an older floor-spacer at this stage of his career. With the Clippers motivated down the stretch, expect another big workload for this revitalized center.
Editor’s Picks
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Gui Santos, SF, Golden State Warriors (24.6%): Setting career scoring highs across his past two games, Santos has become a primary scoring option for a Warriors team that ran out of options. The Denver Nuggets have some solid wing defenders, though Santos can deliver based on sheer volume.
Will Riley, SG, Washington Wizards (6.0%): Widely available in all fantasy formats, Riley has maximized his minutes lately and is simply a stat-stuffer on a per-minute basis this season. With at least four assists in four straight games and atypically strong rebounding rates, Riley is worth a look for both fantasy and prop play angles.
Ousmane Dieng, SF, Milwaukee Bucks (3.4%): With the Bucks missing several key starters, including one obvious superstar, Dieng is tasked with more minutes and real responsibility on both ends of the court. Learning to use his length on defense has produced some promising block and steal results.
McCormick’s Bets for Sunday
Washington Wizards vs. Portland Trail Blazers OVER 237.5 points (-112)
The Wizards are allowing nearly 123 points per 100 possessions over the past 10 games. For the regular season, their defensive rating of 120.8 is higher than the output of the No. 1 offense in the NBA this season. Which is to say, the Wizards are known for more than just allowing the Bam Adebayo opus to occur – they invite big numbers from all comers.
Aaron Nesmith OVER 13.5 points (-118)
Averaging 19 points on heavy 3-point volume with strong efficiency from all three levels over the past three games, Nesmith is a reminder of the flashes he showed in last summer’s epic playoff run. If he’s active for this up-tempo meeting with the Heat, Nesmith should have the shot diet and usage rate to support this scoring prop.
Top Daily Fantasy Values of the Day
$8,100+ Salaries
Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Portland Trail Blazers ($9,400)
Adding to the appeal of this matchup with Washington is the simple fact that Avdija gets to face his former team only twice a season. Drafted by the Wizards, Avdija has taken his game to new heights in Portland. Washington’s frontcourt has no answers for his bruising, downhill scoring approach.
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Alperen Sengun, C, Houston Rockets ($9,000)
This gifted offensive engine can produce monster lines in the right spot. Facing a Pelicans team without a proven center rotation is a good spot. The Rockets funnel so many touches through Sengun in the post and at the nail, setting him up to thrive against a weaker, though competitive, frontcourt.
$6,100-$8,000 Salaries
Josh Hart, SG/SF, New York Knicks ($6,800)
One of the league’s best rebounding wings as well as a gifted playmaker and connector on offense, Hart should log big minutes and serve major roles on both sides against an elite Oklahoma City rotation.
$3,500-$6,000 Salaries
Scoot Henderson, PG, Portland Trail Blazers ($5,700)
One of the better value plays of the day, Henderson could erupt against this porous Washington defense. The Trail Blazers are still figuring out what they have in Henderson, at times giving him real freedom to find his shot and create for others. Tonight appears to be a perfect spot for such empowerment.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
LA Clippers at Milwaukee Bucks
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: Clippers -15.5 (-110) | Bucks +15.5 (-110)
Money line: Clippers -1000 | Bucks +650
Total: 220.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 9.3, straight up 77%, 223.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Isaiah Jackson, (GTD – Ankle); Bradley Beal, (OFS – Hip); Yanic Konan Niederhauser, (OFS – Foot)
Bucks: Bobby Portis, (GTD – Wrist); Gary Harris, (GTD – Personal); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – Knee); Kyle Kuzma, (GTD – Achilles); Thanasis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – Calf); Kevin Porter Jr., (OFS – Knee)
Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers
5 p.m. ET
Line: Heat -8.5 (-112) | Pacers +8.5 (-108)
Money line: Heat -360 | Pacers +285
Total: 245.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Heat by 6.7, straight up 70%, 245.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Heat: Norman Powell, (GTD – Back); Terry Rozier, (OUT – Not Injury Related)
Pacers: Johnny Furphy, (OFS – Knee); Aaron Nesmith, (GTD – Back); Andrew Nembhard, (GTD – Back); Jarace Walker, (GTD – Back); Obi Toppin, (GTD – Back); Pascal Siakam, (GTD – Knee); T.J. McConnell, (GTD – Hamstring); Ivica Zubac, (OFS – Ribs); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS – Achilles)
Sacramento Kings at Brooklyn Nets
6 p.m. ET
Line: Kings -1.5 (-102) | Nets +1.5 (-118)
Money line: Kings -118 | Nets -102
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Kings by 1.4, straight up 55%, 224.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Isaiah Stevens, (GTD – Ankle); Keegan Murray, (OUT – Ankle); Russell Westbrook, (OUT – Toe); De’Andre Hunter, (OFS – Eye); Domantas Sabonis, (OFS – Knee); Drew Eubanks, (OFS – Thumb); Zach LaVine, (OFS – Finger)
Nets: Josh Minott, (GTD – Hip); Danny Wolf, (OUT – Ankle); Michael Porter Jr., (OUT – Hamstring); Day’Ron Sharpe, (OFS – Thumb); Egor Demin, (OFS – Foot)
Boston Celtics at Charlotte Hornets
6 p.m. ET
Line: Celtics +1.5 (-125) | Hornets -1.5 (105)
Money line: Celtics -110 | Hornets -110
Total: 215.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Hornets by 1.9, straight up 56%, 212.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: Derrick White, (GTD – Knee); Jaylen Brown, (GTD – Achilles); Jayson Tatum, (GTD – Achilles); Neemias Queta, (GTD – Thumb); Nikola Vucevic, (OUT – Finger)
Hornets: Liam McNeeley, (GTD – Illness); Tidjane Salaun, (GTD – Calf)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
6 p.m. ET
Line: Magic +2.5 (-120) | Raptors -2.5 (100)
Money line: Magic +114 | Raptors -135
Total: 225.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 1.2, straight up 54%, 227.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Anthony Black, (OUT – Abdomen); Franz Wagner, (OUT – Ankle); Jonathan Isaac, (OUT – Knee)
Raptors: Brandon Ingram, (GTD – Heel); Collin Murray-Boyles, (GTD – Back); Trayce Jackson-Davis, (GTD – Knee); Chucky Hepburn, (OUT – Knee); Immanuel Quickley, (OUT – Foot)
Washington Wizards at Portland Trail Blazers
6 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +16.5 (-115) | Blazers -16.5 (-105)
Money line: Wizards +750 | Blazers -1200
Total: 237.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Blazers by 15.7, straight up 88%, 235.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Bilal Coulibaly, (GTD – Heel); Leaky Black, (GTD – Hip); Alex Sarr, (OUT – Toe); Trae Young, (OUT – Quadriceps); Tre Johnson, (OUT – Foot); Anthony Davis, (OUT – Finger); D’Angelo Russell, (OUT – Not Injury Related); Kyshawn George, (OUT – Elbow); Cam Whitmore, (OFS – Shoulder)
Blazers: Robert Williams III, (GTD – Back); Jerami Grant, (OUT – Calf); Vit Krejci, (OUT – Calf); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Calf); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles)
Houston Rockets at New Orleans Pelicans
7 p.m. ET
Line: Rockets -6.5 (-102) | Pelicans +6.5 (-118)
Money line: Rockets -238 | Pelicans +195
Total: 225.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Rockets by 3, straight up 60%, 227.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, (OUT – Knee); Steven Adams, (OFS – Ankle)
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (GTD – Achilles); Hunter Dickinson, (GTD – Personal); Trey Murphy III, (GTD – Ankle); Bryce McGowens, (OUT – Toe)
New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks +8.5 (-112) | Thunder -8.5 (-108)
Money line: Knicks +285 | Thunder -360
Total: 223.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 3.9, straight up 62%, 224.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Kevin McCullar Jr., (GTD – Quadriceps); Miles McBride, (GTD – Pelvis); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Knee)
Thunder: Brooks Barnhizer, (GTD – Undisclosed); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee)
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets
10 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors +12.5 (-115) | Nuggets -12.5 (-105)
Money line: Warriors +455 | Nuggets -625
Total: 239.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 8.9, straight up 76%, 237.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Quinten Post, (GTD – Foot); Seth Curry, (GTD – Thigh); Will Richard, (GTD – Heel); Stephen Curry, (OUT – Knee); Al Horford, (OUT – Calf); Jimmy Butler III, (OFS – Knee); Moses Moody, (OFS – Knee)
Nuggets: None reported