Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Saturday’s NBA slate

Unlike last week, we have just four games this Saturday. That means you can watch more football, but it doesn’t mean you don’t have to set your hoops lineups, or set up a DFS lineup. Either way, here are some viable bets and streamers for Saturday’s action.

Odds by ESPN BET

Best bets for Saturday

Dyson Daniels OVER 1.5 steals (-170)

Yes, it’s a little risky given the odds, but the kid had seven swipes on Friday night and has had 11 steals over his last two games. He’s had at least one in every game this season and has had two or more in five of his eight contests. Chicago’s banged up and will turn the ball over, so this one doesn’t even seem fair.

Cam Thomas OVER 24.5 points (-105)

Thomas went off for 31 points and four 3-pointers against the defensive-minded Celtics on Friday in 38 minutes and has scored at least 26 points in five of his first nine games this season. Cleveland is due for a loss and while their defense is stout, I just don’t see who else can be a consistent scorer for the Nets.

Norman Powell OVER 23.5 points (-110)

Powell is coming off a 31-point game on Friday night, when he hit five 3-pointers, and he’s scored at least 20 points in eight straight games. He’s also topped the magic 24-point mark in six of those and the Raptors are really banged up. James Harden has decided that Powell is his main man, at least until we see Kawhi Leonard again.

Fantasy streamers for Saturday

Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers

LeVert didn’t exactly tear it up with just eight points, but he also had seven boards, four assists, three steals, a block and two 3-pointers on Friday. The Cavaliers have the best schedule next week, with no back-to-backs and four games, so grabbing LeVert while he’s hot makes sense. Just make sure he’s going to play tomorrow night, given that it’s a back-to-back.

Julian Champagnie, San Antonio Spurs

Champaignie has scored 14, 13 and 21 points in his last three games with averages of 16 points, 4,7 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 4.0 3-pointers over that stretch. The return of Devin Vassell on Saturday could hurt Champagnie, but my best guess is that Stephon Castle is the odd man out here. Champaignie’s 3-point shooting shouldn’t be overlooked, as he’s hit 12 of them over his last three games.

Davion Mitchell, Toronto Raptors

While I don’t trust Mitchell any further than I can throw him, he’s played very well with Immanuel Quickley sidelined. Especially on Wednesday, when he had 20 points, six assists, three rebounds, a steal and two 3-pointers against his former team in a 122-107 loss. Maybe the revenge angle played a role in that one, but he also racked up 13 points and eight dimes against the Nuggets on Monday. He’s hot, but the return of Quickley on Saturday could throw a wrench in these plans. Make sure Quickley is out before rolling with Mitchell. If Mitchell plays, consider pivoting to Mike Conley of the Wolves or the Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu.

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

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs
5 p.m. ET

Line: Jazz 6.5 (-110) | Spurs -6.5 (-110)
Money line: Jazz +205 | Spurs -250
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 0.9, straight up 53%, 227.3 total points.

Injury Report:
Jazz: Taylor Hendricks, (OUT – Lower Leg); Keyonte George, (NA – Foot)
Spurs: Devin Vassell, (NA – Foot); Malaki Branham, (GTD – Ankle); Tre Jones, (OUT – Ankle); Jeremy Sochan, (OUT – Thumb)

Jazz projections:

• Lauri Markkanen, SF/PF: 28.4 FPTS (16.6 pts, 6.0 reb, 2.1 ast)

• Keyonte George, PG/SG: 28.1 FPTS (15.9 pts, 2.6 reb, 5.4 ast, 2.5 3PM)

• John Collins, PF: 22.0 FPTS (11.6 pts, 6.3 reb, 2.1 ast)

• Collin Sexton, PG/SG: 21.6 FPTS (14.2 pts, 2.0 reb, 2.9 ast)

• Jordan Clarkson, SG: 21.1 FPTS (13.5 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.6 ast)

• Walker Kessler, C: 19.8 FPTS (9.2 pts, 8.7 reb, 1.3 ast, 2.6 blk)

• Cody Williams, SG: 15.0 FPTS (7.9 pts, 2.5 reb, 1.6 ast)

Spurs projections:

• Devin Vassell, SG/SF: 34.9 FPTS (19.4 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.4 ast, 2.0 3PM)

• Victor Wembanyama, C: 34.4 FPTS (18.6 pts, 8.0 reb, 3.3 ast, 2.0 3PM, 3.2 blk)

• Chris Paul, PG: 25.6 FPTS (9.4 pts, 3.3 reb, 5.4 ast)

• Julian Champagnie, SF: 19.3 FPTS (9.0 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.8 ast, 1.9 3PM)

• Keldon Johnson, SF: 17.7 FPTS (9.3 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.3 ast)

• Harrison Barnes, PF: 15.9 FPTS (8.7 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.5 ast)

• Stephon Castle, PG: 15.2 FPTS (7.7 pts, 2.0 reb, 2.2 ast)

Chicago Bulls at Atlanta Hawks
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Bulls 3.5 (-105) | Hawks -3.5 (-115)
Money line: Bulls +125 | Hawks -150
Total: 237.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Hawks by 4.1, straight up 63%, 240.2 total points.

Injury Report:
Bulls: Jalen Smith, (GTD – Knee); Torrey Craig, (GTD – Illness)
Hawks: De’Andre Hunter, (OUT – Knee); Seth Lundy, (GTD – Ankle); Cody Zeller, (OUT – Personal); Vit Krejci, (OUT – Thigh); Bogdan Bogdanovic, (OUT – Hamstring); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT – Shoulder)

Bulls projections:

• Nikola Vucevic, C: 35.9 FPTS (19.2 pts, 9.5 reb, 3.4 ast)

• Coby White, PG/SG: 34.5 FPTS (19.9 pts, 3.3 reb, 4.8 ast, 2.9 3PM)

• Josh Giddey, SG/SF: 28.0 FPTS (14.0 pts, 5.3 reb, 4.8 ast)

• Ayo Dosunmu, SG: 24.2 FPTS (12.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 3.4 ast)

• Zach LaVine, SG/SF: 19.3 FPTS (12.5 pts, 1.9 reb, 1.9 ast, 2.0 3PM)

• Patrick Williams, PF: 18.9 FPTS (9.9 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.8 ast)

• Talen Horton-Tucker, SG/SF: 16.6 FPTS (8.5 pts, 2.3 reb, 2.4 ast)

Hawks projections:

• Trae Young, PG: 48.6 FPTS (25.7 pts, 4.0 reb, 9.4 ast, 2.9 3PM)

• Jalen Johnson, PF: 42.6 FPTS (20.8 pts, 10.4 reb, 5.8 ast)

• Zaccharie Risacher, PF/SF: 23.3 FPTS (14.3 pts, 4.1 reb, 1.5 ast)

• Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 22.1 FPTS (10.2 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.2 ast)

• Garrison Mathews, SG/SF: 20.5 FPTS (12.3 pts, 2.0 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.9 3PM)

• Clint Capela, C: 19.2 FPTS (10.0 pts, 6.7 reb, 1.1 ast)

• De’Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 14.4 FPTS (6.2 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.9 ast)

Brooklyn Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Nets 13.5 (-120) | Cavaliers -13.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Nets +600 | Cavaliers -1000
Total: 221.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 13.3, straight up 86%, 225.7 total points.

Injury Report:
Nets: Bojan Bogdanovic, (OUT – Foot); Ben Simmons, (NA – Back); Trendon Watford, (OUT – Hamstring); Day’Ron Sharpe, (OUT – Hamstring)
Cavaliers: Emoni Bates, (OUT – Knee); Max Strus, (OUT – Ankle)

Nets projections:

• Dennis Schroder, PG: 38.3 FPTS (19.5 pts, 3.6 reb, 6.8 ast, 2.6 3PM)

• Cam Thomas, SG: 37.2 FPTS (25.7 pts, 3.5 reb, 3.1 ast, 2.5 3PM)

• Cameron Johnson, SF/PF: 30.0 FPTS (15.9 pts, 4.5 reb, 3.1 ast, 2.7 3PM)

• Ben Simmons, PG/PF: 21.5 FPTS (6.7 pts, 6.3 reb, 4.8 ast)

• Nic Claxton, C: 20.7 FPTS (8.7 pts, 7.5 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.3 blk)

• Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF: 20.5 FPTS (9.1 pts, 5.1 reb, 1.7 ast, 1.8 3PM)

• Ziaire Williams, SF: 19.8 FPTS (9.4 pts, 4.5 reb, 2.1 ast)

Cavaliers projections:

• Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG: 40.2 FPTS (24.9 pts, 4.2 reb, 4.2 ast, 2.7 3PM)

• Darius Garland, PG: 33.8 FPTS (18.7 pts, 2.3 reb, 5.5 ast, 2.6 3PM)

• Jarrett Allen, C: 31.2 FPTS (15.2 pts, 12.0 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.3 blk)

• Evan Mobley, PF/C: 27.8 FPTS (15.4 pts, 7.8 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.7 blk)

• Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 25.5 FPTS (12.5 pts, 3.4 reb, 3.6 ast)

• Dean Wade, PF: 17.8 FPTS (7.0 pts, 4.9 reb, 1.7 ast)

• Sam Merrill, SG: 15.7 FPTS (7.9 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.5 ast, 2.0 3PM)

Toronto Raptors at LA Clippers
10:30 p.m. ET

Line: Raptors 6.5 (-120) | Clippers -6.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Raptors +200 | Clippers -240
Total: 225.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 8.1, straight up 75%, 227.5 total points.

Injury Report:
Raptors: Garrett Temple, (GTD – Back); Immanuel Quickley, (GTD – Pelvis); Jonathan Mogbo, (GTD – Hip); Ja’Kobe Walter, (OUT – Shoulder); Kelly Olynyk, (OUT – Back); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Orbital); Bruce Brown, (OUT – Knee)
Clippers: Mo Bamba, (OUT – Knee); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT – Knee); P.J. Tucker, (OUT – Not Injury Related)

Raptors projections:

• RJ Barrett, SG/SF: 39.9 FPTS (25.0 pts, 4.9 reb, 6.0 ast, 2.2 3PM)

• Jakob Poeltl, C: 30.6 FPTS (14.2 pts, 10.2 reb, 3.3 ast)

• Gradey Dick, SG/SF: 23.9 FPTS (14.9 pts, 2.5 reb, 2.0 ast, 2.3 3PM)

• Davion Mitchell, PG: 21.2 FPTS (9.9 pts, 2.2 reb, 4.7 ast)

• Ochai Agbaji, SG/SF: 19.6 FPTS (9.4 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.0 ast)

• Jonathan Mogbo, PF: 15.7 FPTS (7.3 pts, 3.9 reb, 2.1 ast)

• Chris Boucher, PF/C: 14.9 FPTS (8.9 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.0 ast)

Clippers projections:

• James Harden, PG/SG: 41.4 FPTS (19.3 pts, 6.3 reb, 8.0 ast, 2.7 3PM)

• Ivica Zubac, C: 33.5 FPTS (17.2 pts, 11.4 reb, 3.0 ast)

• Norman Powell, SG/SF: 30.9 FPTS (19.6 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.3 ast, 3.0 3PM)

• Derrick Jones Jr., SF: 20.8 FPTS (11.0 pts, 3.5 reb, 1.5 ast)

• Kris Dunn, PG: 18.5 FPTS (7.2 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.8 ast)

• Terance Mann, SG/SF: 17.4 FPTS (8.6 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.9 ast)

• Nicolas Batum, PF: 11.9 FPTS (3.4 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.1 ast)

Source: espn.com