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André Snellings
Multiple Authors
ESPN’s fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet serves as your essential pregame guide before finalizing your lineups for the evening’s matches. Here, you’ll find our top nightly recommendations, including streamable players and game-by-game injury reports.
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Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Friday’s games
Tonight’s NBA lineup features 10 teams, headlined by five exciting matchups, including two high-stakes games between title contenders. The Cavaliers are heading to Detroit to take on the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. This marks their third meeting this season, with each team claiming a win on the other’s turf in the previous encounters.
yet, the Cavaliers are facing significant injuries among their perimeter players for this matchup, with Donovan Mitchell (groin) already ruled out. James Harden (fractured thumb), Dennis Schroder (ankle), Keon Ellis (fractured index finger), and Dean Wade (ankle) are all marked as questionable. After losing to the Bucks without Mitchell and Harden on Wednesday, the Cavaliers might encounter a tough challenge against a Pistons team missing only suspended Isaiah Stewart.
In terms of injuries among perimeter stars, the Oklahoma City Thunder do not have reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on their injury report for tonight’s game against Denver. This is a promising sign that SGA will return after a nine-game absence, although he may face some limitations on minutes.
The Thunder’s lead in the Western Conference has dwindled to 1.5 games ahead of San Antonio, making SGA’s return crucial. Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are also expected to come back after missing Wednesday’s game, but Jalen Williams (hamstring) remains out. For the Nuggets, Jamal Murray is questionable due to an illness, which forced him out of Wednesday’s game early. Meanwhile, Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson will miss the matchup. All these storylines will unfold on this final Friday of February.
Let’s delve deeper into the lineup to pinpoint some fantasy streamers, betting opportunities, and DFS options worth considering for tonight’s action.
Friday’s fantasy stream team
Javon Small, PG, Memphis Grizzlies (rostered in 8.5% of ESPN leagues): Small has been performing well recently, averaging 14.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.9 APG, and 2.3 3PG in 25.6 MPG off the bench over his last seven outings. With Ty Jerome listed as doubtful for Friday, Small is likely to see increased playing time.
Cason Wallace, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (31.1%): Wallace is enjoying arguably the best stretch of his career this week, putting up averages of 23.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, and 1.7 SPG over his last three games. While the Thunder might have Gilgeous-Alexander back, it’s likely he’ll face a minutes restriction, allowing Wallace to maintain his production.
Naji Marshall, SF/PF, Dallas Mavericks (46.2%): Marshall just had a standout game, achieving a double-double with 36 points and 10 rebounds in 42 minutes against the Kings. This performance marked his second consecutive game scoring over 20 points, and he’ll continue to be a key player while Cooper Flagg (doubtful) is out.
Dre’s favorite bets for Friday
Detroit Pistons (-5.5) OVER Cleveland Cavaliers (-118): Playing at home, the Pistons face their third consecutive matchup against a title contender. After losing to the Spurs on Monday, they rebounded with an eight-point victory over the injury-riddled Thunder. With the Cavaliers missing several perimeter players, the Pistons are in an excellent position to make a bold statement.
Milwaukee Bucks (+8.5) OVER New York Knicks (-105): The Bucks have been surprisingly strong throughout February. although Giannis Antetokounmpo being sidelined, they’ve secured eight wins in their last 10 games, recently defeating both the Cavaliers and Heat. While the Knicks might be favored, an 8.5 point spread is substantial against a surging Bucks team. I’m taking the points.
GG Jackson 17+ points (-117): Jackson has assumed a primary scoring role for Memphis, averaging 21.8 PPG over his last five outings, with four games of at least 20 points. Tonight, he faces a friendly Mavericks defense that is dealing with injuries and just gave up 130 points to a struggling Sacramento team.
Cason Wallace 10+ points (-105): Even with Gilgeous-Alexander absent from the injury report, it’s unlikely he returns to his usual role after such a long layoff. This opens up ample opportunity for Wallace, who has scored 20 or more points in three consecutive games and previously dropped 27 points against the Nuggets.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
Play DFS basketball at DraftKings.
$8,100+ salaries
Kevin Porter Jr., PG, Milwaukee Bucks ($8,600): With Antetokounmpo sidelined, Porter has emerged as the primary fantasy option for the Bucks, averaging 22.4 PPG, 7.8 APG, and 5.4 RPG over his last eight games.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons ($7,900): Duren has recorded at least 25 points and 13 rebounds in his last two outings, including a matchup against Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs on Monday. Following his previous pair of 20-10 games last month, he achieved a third straight the next game.
Naji Marshall, SF, Dallas Mavericks ($6,300): Marshall has tallied 39.2 and 58.0 fantasy points in his last two games against lottery-bound teams, and he faces a similar matchup tonight against the Grizzlies.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
GG Jackson, SF, Memphis Grizzlies ($5,500): Jackson has achieved between 27 and 46 fantasy points over his last four games and five of the last six, and he faces a favorable Mavericks defense tonight.
Jaylon Tyson, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers ($5,600): With the Cavaliers’ perimeter so thin, Tyson tends to excel when teammates are sidelined. His recent performance of 37 fantasy points came with Mitchell out, who will be absent again tonight.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET
Line: Cavaliers +5.5 (EVEN) | Pistons -5.5 (-120)
Money line: Cavaliers +200 | Pistons -245
Total: 226.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 2.7, straight up 58%, 234.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, (OUT – Groin); Dean Wade, (GTD – Ankle); Dennis Schroder, (GTD – Ankle); James Harden, (GTD – Thumb)
Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, (OUT – Suspension)
Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nets +17.5 (-108) | Celtics -17.5 (-112)
Money line: Nets +850 | Celtics -1450
Total: 208.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 14.3, straight up 85%, 211.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Nets: None reported
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT – Achilles)
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks -8.5 (-115) | Bucks +8.5 (-105)
Money line: Knicks -340 | Bucks +270
Total: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Knicks by 9.3, straight up 76%, 225.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Miles McBride, (OUT – Pelvis)
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (OUT – Calf); Taurean Prince, (OUT – Neck)
Memphis Grizzlies at Dallas Mavericks
8:30 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies +4.5 (-108) | Mavericks -4.5 (-112)
Money line: Grizzlies +164 | Mavericks -198
Total: 238.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Mavericks by 1.9, straight up 56%, 241.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Ty Jerome, (GTD – Thigh); Cedric Coward, (OUT – Knee); Santi Aldama, (OUT – Knee); Zach Edey, (OUT – Ankle); Brandon Clarke, (OUT – Calf); Ja Morant, (OUT – Elbow); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, (OFS – Finger)
Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, (GTD – Foot); Daniel Gafford, (GTD – Ankle); P.J. Washington, (GTD – Ankle); Dereck Lively II, (OFS – Foot); Kyrie Irving, (OFS – Knee)
Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets +7.5 (EVEN) | Thunder -7.5 (-120)
Money line: Nuggets +250 | Thunder -310
Total: 233.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 6.6, straight up 69%, 236.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Jalen Pickett, (GTD – Knee); Jamal Murray, (GTD – Illness); Julian Strawther, (GTD – Toe); Spencer Jones, (GTD – Shoulder); Aaron Gordon, (OUT – Hamstring); Peyton Watson, (OUT – Hamstring); Tamar Bates, (OUT – Foot)
Thunder: Ajay Mitchell, (OUT – Ankle); Branden Carlson, (OUT – Back); Jalen Williams, (OUT – Hamstring); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee)
