Fantasy basketball tips and projections for Sunday
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Streaming fantasy players shouldn’t be a huge issue on Fantasy Championship Sunday for many of us, as the slate is, as my buddy Zach Whigham would say, ‘slap full’ of 13 games and 26 teams, meaning that most lineups should be stacked as we all look to win a title.
However, our teams are also banged up and could be looking for some last-second help in terms of a warm body that may actually help us fall over the finish line first. Fantasy hoops is a grind and if you’re still playing for something, I’d consider it a victory. But then again, if I don’t win this 30-team league title for the second time tonight, I’m going to be pretty upset
Every NBA team is in action on Sunday night except for the Hawks, Pistons, Nuggets and Grizzlies. And while there are no incredible matchups to watch on ESPN, there are still plenty of intriguing games with many stars questionable for Big Sunday (that’s right, I just named it – unless, of course, it’s already branded).
Miami at Indiana is intriguing with both of them fighting for the coveted sixth spot in the East. The Pacers hold a half game lead on the Heat and this game should have a bit of a playoff mentality. Especially when considering the loser will potentially be in a play-in situation and the winner will be in the first round of the playoffs. Then again, nothing is guaranteed with a week left in the season. But I do look for both teams to go all in tonight, meaning any big name is a good one, as long as you make sure they’re still in their team’s plans before setting your lineups. Myles Turner should be back tonight and Jalen Smith (ankle) is questionable, which is a bummer. This could be a random Isaiah Jackson game for the Pacers.
The Pelicans visit the Suns on Sunday and there should also be plenty of drama there. The two teams are separated by just a ½ game with the Suns holding the advantage and the No. 6 seed right now, and the Pelicans, losers of four straight games, sitting in the play-in group as the No.7 seed. Zion Williamson is questionable with a finger injury and the amount of secrecy around it leads me to believe the Pelicans may know more than they’re telling us and he’s either going to play through it, or announce that he’ll have surgery. I can’t really trust him either way, given his 2.0 rebounding average over his last two games, and am leaning toward him sitting this one out. If that happens, both Naji Marshall and Larry Nance Jr. become intriguing streamer options, although Marshall is also hurt.
Ayo Dosunmu, SG, Bulls (26.9%): With both Alex Caruso (ankle) and Coby White (ankle) iffy for Sunday, look for Dosunmu to have another big game for the Bulls. Dosunmu has averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 3-pointers over his last two games and has scored in double figures in 11 straight games. Add in the fact that both Caruso and White might be out tonight, Dosunmu should have a big game against the Magic. He should be automatic for the people.
Sam Hauser, SF, Celtics (rostered in 3.6% ESPN leagues): Both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are listed as questionable for this game which means we could be in line for another big game from Hauser. He’s a tough guy to trust, having scored 3, 10, 25 and 3 points in his last four games, but if Brown is out against the Blazers I say it feels like another Hauser kind of night. When he’s on he’s a difference maker and it’s about time for him to blow up again. And it only takes one guy sitting on the bench to make it happen (Brown, Tatum or Holiday).
Payton Pritchard, PG, Celtics (6.8%): Anytime the Celtics give guys a rest it seems like Pritchard and Hauser are the two guys who step up. Pritchard had been a bit quiet before Friday’s big 33-minute, 21-point and five 3-pointer affair, but if the Celtics give guys a rest again tonight Pritchard is going to make some noise. While I’d tend to avoid him if the Celtics start the regulars of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday against the Blazers, I still expect Pritchard will still manage to have a decent game tonight.
Corey Kispert, SG/SF, Wizers, (8.7%): Tyus Jones, Kyle Kuzma and Richaun Holmes are all hurt for the Wizards but it really doesn’t matter. Kispert has averaged 18.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 3-pointers on 54% shooting over his last three games. He’s not even a sleeper at this point, regardless of who’s playing and who’s not. Let’s just hope he can keep the looks coming and if Kuzma sits, Kispert should be a lock for a big game. I’m not sure why he’s not rostered in more leagues.
Larry Nance Jr., Pelicans, PF/C (2.8%): With Zion Williamson‘s mysterious finger injury and Naji Marshall‘s right shoulder injury, Nance could end up being a difference maker on Sunday. Make sure Zion and Marshall are out before turning him loose, but Nance has averaged 5.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and nearly 18 minutes over his last three games. If those guys are out, he could go off.
Fantasy projections powered by ESPN Analytics.* Projections assume all players who are listed as GTD will play. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Players available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues are listed in italics.
Houston Rockets at Dallas Mavericks
3:30 p.m. American Airlines Center, Dallas
BPI Projection: Mavericks in the 12th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Rockets: Amen Thompson, (GTD – Ankle); Jae’Sean Tate, (OUT – Ankle); Alperen Sengun, (OUT – Ankle); Steven Adams, (OUT – Knee); Tari Eason, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Mavericks: Luka Doncic, (GTD – Knee); Maxi Kleber, (GTD – Back); Greg Brown III, (OUT – Personal); Josh Green, (OUT – Ankle); Dereck Lively II, (OUT – Knee)
Cleveland Cavaliers at LA Clippers
3:30 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
BPI Projection: Clippers in the 9th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro, (GTD – Toe); Dean Wade, (OUT – Knee); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Ankle)
Clippers: Jordan Miller, (GTD – Thumb); Moussa Diabate, (GTD – Hand); Joshua Primo, (OUT – Ankle); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT – Knee)
Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers
5:00 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
BPI Projection: Pacers in the 4th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Heat: Josh Richardson, (OUT – Shoulder)
Pacers: Jalen Smith, (GTD – Ankle); Tyrese Haliburton, (GTD – Back); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT – Shoulder)
Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics
6:00 p.m. TD Garden, Boston
BPI Projection: Celtics in the 10th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Ibou Badji, (GTD – Back); Jerami Grant, (GTD – Hamstring); Anfernee Simons, (OUT – Knee); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT – Elbow); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Ankle); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT – Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Knee); Toumani Camara, (OUT – Ribs)
Celtics: Jaden Springer, (GTD – Knee); Jaylen Brown, (GTD – Hand); Jayson Tatum, (GTD – Knee)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Charlotte Hornets
6:00 p.m. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
BPI Projection: Thunder in the 2nd highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Thunder: Gordon Hayward, (GTD – Lower Leg); Isaiah Joe, (GTD – Ankle); Jalen Williams, (OUT – Ankle); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (OUT – Quadriceps)
Hornets: Amari Bailey, (GTD – Illness); Leaky Black, (GTD – Abdomen); Nick Richards, (GTD – Foot); Cody Martin, (OUT – Ankle); LaMelo Ball, (OUT – Ankle); Mark Williams, (OUT – Back); Seth Curry, (OUT – Ankle)
Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic
6:00 p.m. Amway Center, Orlando
BPI Projection: Magic in the 13th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Bulls: Alex Caruso, (GTD – Ankle); Coby White, (GTD – Ankle); Torrey Craig, (GTD – Knee); Julian Phillips, (OUT – Foot); Lonzo Ball, (OUT – Knee); Patrick Williams, (OUT – Foot); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Foot)
Magic: Caleb Houstan, (GTD – Ankle)
Washington Wizards at Toronto Raptors
6:00 p.m. Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
BPI Projection: Raptors in the 11th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Kyle Kuzma, (GTD – Ankle); Richaun Holmes, (GTD – Toe); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Calf); Tyus Jones, (OUT – Back); Marvin Bagley III, (OUT – Knee); Bilal Coulibaly, (OUT – Wrist)
Raptors: Bruce Brown, (GTD – Knee); D.J. Carton, (GTD – Ankle); Gary Trent Jr., (GTD – Illness); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Finger); Scottie Barnes, (OUT – Hand); Chris Boucher, (OUT – Knee); Jontay Porter, (OUT – Personal)
New Orleans Pelicans at Phoenix Suns
6:00 p.m. Footprint Center, Phoenix
BPI Projection: Suns in the 6th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Jose Alvarado, (GTD – Oblique); Naji Marshall, (GTD – Shoulder); Zion Williamson, (GTD – Finger); Brandon Ingram, (OUT – Knee)
Suns: Damion Lee, (OUT – Knee)
New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks
7:00 p.m. Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
BPI Projection: Knicks in the 3rd highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Bojan Bogdanovic, (GTD – Hand); Duane Washington Jr., (GTD – Knee); Julius Randle, (OUT – Shoulder)
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – Hamstring); Patrick Beverley, (GTD – Ankle); MarJon Beauchamp, (OUT – Ankle)
Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs
7:00 p.m. Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
BPI Projection: 76ers in the 4th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
76ers: Mo Bamba, (GTD – Illness); Robert Covington, (GTD – Knee); Tobias Harris, (GTD – Knee); De’Anthony Melton, (OUT – Back)
Spurs: Keldon Johnson, (GTD – Foot); Cedi Osman, (OUT – Ankle); Dominick Barlow, (OUT – Knee); Charles Bassey, (OUT – Knee); Devin Vassell, (OUT – Foot); Jeremy Sochan, (OUT – Ankle)
Sacramento Kings at Brooklyn Nets
7:30 p.m. Barclays Center, New York
BPI Projection: Kings in the 8th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Kings: Malik Monk, (OUT – Knee); Kevin Huerter, (OUT – Shoulder)
Nets: Cameron Johnson, (GTD – Toe); Dennis Smith Jr., (GTD – Hip); Ben Simmons, (OUT – Back); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT – Lower Leg); Keita Bates-Diop, (OUT – Lower Leg)
Utah Jazz at Golden State Warriors
8:30 p.m. Chase Center, San Francisco
BPI Projection: Warriors in the highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Jazz: Kris Dunn, (GTD – Foot); John Collins, (OUT – Back); Jordan Clarkson, (OUT – Back); Walker Kessler, (OUT – Nose); Lauri Markkanen, (OUT – Shoulder)
Warriors: Andrew Wiggins, (GTD – Ankle); Gary Payton II, (GTD – Ankle); Jonathan Kuminga, (GTD – Knee); Dario Saric, (OUT – Knee); Stephen Curry, (OUT – Rest)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Los Angeles Lakers
10:00 p.m. Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
BPI Projection: Timberwolves in the 7th highest-scoring game of the slate.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Jaylen Clark, (OUT – Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT – Knee)
Lakers: Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT – Foot); Christian Wood, (OUT – Knee); Jalen Hood-Schifino, (OUT – Back)