Fantasy basketball tips and NBA betting picks for Tuesday
ESPN’s fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips cheat sheet is your pregame destination for basketball betting predictions and our best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds for November 1 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
Tuesday Targets: The NBA often schedules lighter slates on Tuesdays, such as today’s four-game setup. Such slates benefit more active fantasy managers; those willing to churn roster spots with strong streaming options from the free agency. For instance, Oklahoma City will be without point guard Josh Giddey as he recovers from an ankle injury, vaulting Tre Mann (91% available in ESPN leagues) into a busy scoring and playmaking role. Thunder rookie forward Jalen Williams (96%) is also an intriguing option, as he just posted 13 points and five combined steals and blocks in Dallas a few nights ago. Picking up a few extra games from productive young players for Tuesday’s light slate is a savvy way to gain an early-week edge.
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Betting on Bol: Over the weekend, we suggested you give Bol Bol (80% available) a spot on your fantasy roster. The emergent big man has enjoyed real success since shifting into a more important role in Orlando’s rotation, including several recent starts. Fresh from his first career double-double and currently leading the entire league in block percentage, Bol is in a good spot to hit his rebounding and defensive props against an Oklahoma City roster that lacks size inside.
Phoenix Pivot: The Suns won’t have Deandre Ayton for several games due to an ankle injury. Veteran big man Bismack Biyombo (97% available) has averaged 3.5 blocks and respectable rebounding rates in Ayton’s place during the team’s last two games. Set to start as an important screen and roll valve while serving as the team’s top protector, leaning on Biyombo in both redraft and DFS play appears appealing. Stock Watch: There are two players in the NBA currently averaging at least 1.7 blocks and 1.7 steals per game; the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels (68% available). While his scoring and peripheral offensive rates are modest, McDaniels is delivering such incredible defensive rates that he’s still an impact contributor for fantasy purposes. Set to start tonight against the Suns, McDaniels makes for a great plug-and-play option and as a target for steal and block props.
— Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe
Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Line: Nets (-1)
Money line: Nets (-120), Bulls (+100)
Total: 230.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 238.5 points
BPI Win%: Nets (64.4%)
Questionable: Seth Curry, Ben Simmons, Zach LaVine (knee), Ayo Dosunmu (chest), Coby White
Ruled Out: Andre Drummond
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Nic Claxton (rostered in 56.2% of ESPN leagues) is off to a fast start this season and is firmly on the streaming radar for fantasy managers. Through seven games, he’s averaging 12.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 2.3 BPG while shooting 67.9% from the field in 28.1 MPG. The Bulls are one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the league, so Claxton will be busy on the boards here. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Zach LaVine over 2.5 3 pointers. LaVine is expected to play tonight and sit Wednesday against the Hornets. Over his last two games he’s averaged 8.5 three pointers attempts and 4.0 three pointers made. He will face a Nets defense that leads the league in three pointers made from shooting guards. — Moody
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat
7:30 p.m. ET, FTX Arena, Miami, Florida
Line: PICK
Money line: Warriors (-110), Heat (-110)
Total: 226.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 229.2 points
BPI Win%: Heat (54.4%)
Ruled Out: Victor Oladipo (knee), Andre Iguodala (hip)
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Best bet: Kyle Lowry over 11.5 points. Lowry is off to a rough start shooting 35% from the field, but he’s still reached 12 points in five of the past six games, in part because he’s earning more trips to the free throw line than at any point the past few seasons. The Warriors are winless on the road and permitting the most points per game of any NBA team. Lowry and several other teammates should eclipse the over on scoring. — Eric Karabell
Best bet: Andrew Wiggins over 24.5 points + assists + rebounds. Wiggins has scored only 20 points over the last two games, while shooting 28.5% from the field. His season averages are 17.3 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 6.3 RPG. Wiggins should bounce back and succeed offensively against the Heat, who rank 18th in points allowed per 100 possessions. — Moody
Orlando Magic at Oklahoma City Thunder
8:10 p.m. ET, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Line: Thunder (-3)
Money line: Thunder (-155), Magic (+130)
Total: 216 points
BPI Projected Total: 226.1 points
BPI Win%: Thunder (64.2%)
Ruled Out: Gary Harris (knee), Moritz Wagner (foot), Jalen Suggs (ankle), Cole Anthony (oblique), Markelle Fultz (toe), Josh Giddey (ankle)
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Bol Bol (rostered in 27.4% of ESPN leagues) enters Tuesday having started in consecutive games and producing numbers that should interest every fantasy manager. Bol delivered 27 points, 18 rebounds and 4 blocked shots in those two games, and as long as the minutes are there — and why wouldn’t they be at this point? — he should be far more popular in fantasy leagues. At 7-foot-2, Bol can’t help but play a key defensive role and he’s contributing offensively. What’s not to like? — Karabell
Minnesota Timberwolves at Phoenix Suns
10 p.m. ET, Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Line: Suns (-3.5)
Money line: Suns (-165), Timberwolves (+140)
Total: 227.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 240.5 points
BPI Win%: Suns (64.8%)
Ruled Out: Deandre Ayton (ankle)
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Best bet: Bismack Biyombo over 7.5 rebounds. Biyombo continues to start with Deandre Ayton sidelined and while he was largely quiet in his first start against the Rockets, the Timberwolves offer a bigger, more veteran front line with Rudy Gobert in charge. This is a good thing; Biyombo will play. As long as he can avoid foul trouble, he’s a good bet for double-digit rebounds. Biyombo made only three starts last season, but he averaged 9.7 RPG in those outings. — Karabell
Best bet: Under 227.5. You can’t help but be captivated by the household names in this game, such as Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Rudy Gobert. With that said the matchup between the Suns and Timberwolves has the makings over a low scoring game. Phoenix ranks fifth in points allowed per 100 possessions while Minnesota ranks fourth. In addition, the Suns have been playing at the seventh slowest tempo this season. There is a strong chance that this will be a low scoring game. — Moody
1. Brooklyn Nets (121.3 points)
2. Phoenix Suns (122.4 points)
3. Miami Heat (115.2 points)
1. Orlando Magic (111.0 points)
2. Golden State Warriors (114.0 points)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (115.1 points)
1. Phoenix Suns (64.8%)
2. Brooklyn Nets (64.4%)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (64.2%)