What you need to know for Tuesday’s games
Fantasy hoops can help heal the experience of being an NBA fan. For instance, my Philadelphia 76ers have had their fair share of missteps as a franchise, but I’m still able to roster and root for former players as they develop elsewhere.
I purchased and have since donated a scary number of Markelle Fultz t-shirts and jerseys, but now that the former top pick is thriving with the Orlando Magic — such as last nights’ near-triple-double performance — I can enjoy his revival through my fantasy team(s). Despite emerging as a steady playmaker for a fun Orlando roster, Fultz is still a free agent in 51% of ESPN leagues and is listed at just $5,600 on DraftKings for tonight’s tilt with the Toronto Raptors.
What to do with the several “Thy-bully” shirts sitting in a drawer? Well, at least Matisse Thybulle (97% available) seems to have found a new home with the Portland Trail Blazers. The defensive dynamo would pace the entire league in steal percentage if he played enough minutes with Philadelphia to qualify for the leaderboard, but that’s now a possibility given he started in his Portland debut last night en route to nearly 27 minutes of action. This marks his third-highest playing total of the season and saw him establish a new season-high with four made 3-pointers in addition to collecting three blocks and a steal in Monday’s drubbing of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The deadline seems to have empowered both young players; Orlando didn’t acquire a veteran guard to compete with Fultz, while Portland made Thybulle’s elite perimeter defense a clear priority. These ex-Philly prospects are set to shine again tonight in their respective matchups; as each is in the top-10 overall in projected value on DraftKings for Tuesday’s slate.
— Jim McCormick
Breaking down Tuesday’s slate
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Records (Against the Spread)
Magic: 24-34 (33-23-2)
Raptors: 27-31 (28-30-0)
Line: Raptors (-6.5)
BPI Projection: Raptors: 119.6-113.1
Money Line: Magic (+210), Raptors (-260)
BPI Projected winner: Raptors (72.4%)
Total: 223.5 points BPI Projected Total: 232.7 points
Injury Report:
Magic: Cole Anthony, (GTD – Wrist); R.J. Hampton, (OUT – Not Injury Related)
Raptors: Gary Trent Jr., (GTD – Calf); Precious Achiuwa, (GTD – Ankle); O.G. Anunoby, (OUT – Wrist); Otto Porter Jr., (OUT – Foot)
Note: BPI numbers factor players who are ruled out but assumes GTD players will play
Fantasy streamer: Precious Achiuwa (rostered in 16.2% of ESPN leagues) Achiuwa had 11 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday alongside Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam. He should be an effective fantasy play for as long as O.G. Anunoby is sidelined and Poeltl has yet to get it going for his new team. The Wizards allow almost 24 points per game to opposing centers and nearly 21 points to opposing power forwards. — Steve Alexander
Fantasy streamer: Markelle Fultz (rostered in 46.7% of ESPN leagues) Fultz has been superb over the past eight games. He has averaged 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game in 32.9 minutes per game and faces a Raptors team that ranks 17th in points allowed per 100 possessions and allows the second-highest effective field goal percentage in the league (56.7%). — Eric Moody
Best bet: Pascal Siakam over 26.5 points. Siakam has scored 28, 35 and 37 points in each of his past three games and the Raptors have won four of their past five games. Siakam has scored 19, 26 and 36 points against the Magic in their previous three meetings this season. With O.G. Anunoby unavailable tonight, Siakam and Fred VanVleet should run wild again. — Alexander
Trend: The Raptors come in as heavy favorites tonight against the Magic and that’s a dangerous spot. Sure, the Magic played last night in Chicago, but they’ve covered 13 of their past 17 road games. Combine that with the fact that the Raptors are 7-11 ATS (10-8 outright) when favored by at least five points and the visitors could be heading into the All-Star Break on a positive note. — Kyle Soppe
Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks
7:30 p.m. ET, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Records (Against the Spread)
Celtics: 41-16 (30-26-1)
Bucks: 39-17 (31-22-3)
Line: Bucks (-9.5)
BPI Projection: Bucks: 119.6-115.6
Money Line: Celtics (+345), Bucks (-455)
BPI Projected winner: Bucks (58.4%)
Total: 226 points BPI Projected Total: 233.5 points
Injury Report:
Celtics: Grant Williams, (GTD – Elbow); Jayson Tatum, (GTD – Illness); Malcolm Brogdon, (GTD – Achilles); Robert Williams III, (GTD – Ankle); Marcus Smart, (OUT – Ankle); Jaylen Brown, (OUT – Face); Danilo Gallinari, (OUT – Knee)
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – Knee); Pat Connaughton, (GTD – Calf); Bobby Portis, (OUT – Knee); Jae Crowder, (OUT – Not Injury Related)
Note: BPI numbers factor players who are ruled out but assumes GTD players will play
Fantasy streamer: Al Horford (rostered in 44.6% of ESPN leagues) has a high fantasy ceiling against the Bucks on Tuesday night with Robert Williams questionable due to left ankle soreness. Horford is coming off of a 42 fantasy point performance against the Grizzlies on Sunday. — Moody
Best bet: Derrick White over 19.5 points. White has averaged 21.8 points in six February games and had 33 points and 10 assists against the Hornets on Friday, and 23 points and 10 dimes in Sunday’s win over Memphis. He’s also hit 12 3-pointers over those two games and while Malcolm Brogdon should be back from his Achilles injury tonight, the Celtics are still expected to be without Jaylen Brown (face), Jayson Tatum (illness) and Marcus Smart (ankle). I don’t love the fact that Brogdon is back but the Celtics need scoring and White might be the best one left in the lineup. — Alexander
Best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo over 47.5 points and rebounds. With a number of Celtics on the injury report Tuesday night, rebounding chores will fall to Al Horford and Mike Muscala. It’s not hard to see having a field day in this one. He has averaged 50.2 combined points and boards in February and hit this over in three of his past five games. Given Celtics injuries tonight, it’s possible Boston mails it in and lets Giannis go crazy. — Alexander
Best bet: Brook Lopez over 19.5 points and rebounds. Lopez had 22 points and 15 boards against the Clippers on Friday, 19 points and boards on Thursday and went off for 27 points and nine boards on Monday against the Blazers. He averaged 19.3 points and 11.3 rebounds over those three games and the Celtics are going to be without a lot of big bodies tonight. Lopez should be in line for another solid game tonight and he may hit the over in points alone even if he isn’t crashing the boards. — Alexander
Sacramento Kings at Phoenix Suns
9 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Records (Against the Spread)
Kings: 32-24 (30-26-0)
Suns: 31-27 (31-27-0)
Line: Suns (-3)
BPI Projection: Suns (123-121.1)
Money Line: Kings (+140), Suns (-165)
BPI Projected winner: Suns (56.9%)
Total: 234 points BPI Projected Total: 244.1 points
Injury Report:
Kings: KZ Okpala, (GTD – Knee); Malik Monk, (OUT – Ankle)
Suns: Cameron Payne, (OUT – Foot); Kevin Durant, (OUT – Knee); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Foot)
Note: BPI numbers factor players who are ruled out but assumes GTD players will play
Fantasy streamer: Torrey Craig (rostered in 2.4% of ESPN leagues ) Craig had 11 points, 12 rebounds, a block and a 3-pointer in Friday’s win over the Pacers and appears to be one of just a few options for the Suns at small forward now that Mikal Bridges is gone. He totaled just five points in his previous two games despite getting heavy minutes, so he’s about as hit-or-miss as they come. But there are slim pickings tonight with just five games and the Kings are the fourth-worst team against opposing small forwards, giving up 23.4 PPG to them. — Alexander
Fantasy streamer: Terence Davis (rostered in 0.4% of ESPN leagues) Davis is on the streaming radar for managers in deeper formats with Malik Monk unlikely to play Tuesday night. Davis has averaged 20.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per 40 minutes this season. — Moody
Best bet: Deandre Ayton over 20.5 points. Ayton has scored 22, 23, 35 and 31 points in each of his past four games and the Kings give up 22.2 points to opposing centers each night. Ayton is on fire right now and if you wanted to bump this up to a points and rebounds combo bet, the over/under is set at 31.5, which should easily be in reach if Ayton’s shot is falling. He’s easily hit this over in three of his past four games. — Moody
Best bet: Devin Booker over 24.5 points. Booker has 19 and 21 points in his first two games back from a groin injury, but that is anything but predictive of the future. Booker’s minutes are only going to increase and the Kings have nobody to deal with him. Booker scored 44 points against the Kings in November. A big game is coming Tuesday. — Eric Karabell
Best bet: De’Aaron Fox over 33.5 points + assists. Fox has surpassed 33.5 PA in five of his past six games and leads the league in clutch points. There is a strong chance Fox’s positive momentum will continue against the Suns on Tuesday night. — Eric Moody
Golden State Warriors at LA Clippers
10 p.m. ET, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Records (Against the Spread)
Warriors: 29-28 (26-30-1)
Clippers: 31-28 (29-30-0)
Line: Clippers (-8.5)
BPI Projection: Clippers (123-107.4)
Money Line: Warriors (+278), Clippers (-355)
BPI Projected winner: Clippers (88.8%)
Total: 229.5 points BPI Projected Total: 227.8 points
Injury Report:
Warriors: Andre Iguodala, (OUT – Hip); Stephen Curry, (OUT – Lower Leg); Gary Payton II, (OUT – Abdomen); Ryan Rollins, (OUT – Foot)
Clippers: None reported
Note: BPI numbers factor players who are ruled out but assumes GTD players will play
Fantasy streamer: Donte DiVincenzo (rostered in 11.2% of ESPN leagues) Divincenzo remains a viable streamer while Stephen Curry is out. He has scored 30 or more fantasy points in three of his past five games while averaging 26.6 MPG. He will remain an integral part of the Warriors’ rotation. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Kawhi Leonard over 22.5 points. The Clippers continue to handle Leonard carefully this season and it may not be a coincidence that he scores more when coming off a day of rest. In Leonard’s previous three games coming off a “load management” absence, he scored 29, 36 and 33 points. He should easily top the line against the Warriors. — Eric Karabell
Trend: The Clippers just can’t find a way to score efficiently when play at home: unders are 21-5-1. That’s a stark difference from under tickets coming through in just 12 of 32 road games this season and a good omen against a Golden State Warriors team that is just 1-4 ATS since New Year’s when a game comes in under the expected total.– Kyle Soppe
Washington Wizards at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET, Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Records (Against the Spread)
Wizards: 26-30 (26-29-1)
Blazers: 28-29 (29-27-1)
Line: Blazers (-3.5)
BPI Projection: Blazers (127.7-125.2)
Money Line: Wizards (+143), Blazers (-170)
BPI Projected winner: Blazers (58.9%)
Total: 236 points BPI Projected Total: 252.9 points
Injury Report:
Wizards: Kyle Kuzma, (OUT – Ankle)
Blazers: Keon Johnson, (GTD – Ankle); Trendon Watford, (GTD – Ankle); Jerami Grant, (OUT – Concussion); Justise Winslow, (OUT – Ankle); Jusuf Nurkic, (OUT – Calf)
Note: BPI numbers factor players who are ruled out but assumes GTD players will play
Fantasy streamer: Daniel Gafford (rostered in 15.2% of ESPN leagues) Gafford has averaged nearly 22 fantasy points per game this season, but we’re late enough in the season to ignore that. He has averaged 34.5 fantasy points per game over his past eight contests, as he hits his shots and blocks others. — Eric Karabell
Trend: The Wizards have been road warriors of late, covering nine of their past 11 games on the road. They are 6-3 ATS this season when facing a team on the second night of a back-to-back, a situation the Blazers find themselves in (seventh game in 12 days). — Kyle Soppe
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