Fantasy basketball picks and betting ideas for Thursday’s NBA video games

ESPN’s fantasy basketball day by day cheat sheet is your pregame vacation spot earlier than you set your lineups for that night time’s video games. Here you will learn our greatest recommendation for the night time, together with a choice of gamers you’ll be able to stream in addition to game-by-game damage reviews.

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What you could know for Thursday’s video games

Thursday provides simply two video games, however each characteristic championship storylines and MVP star energy. Out East, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder go to the Indiana Pacers in a rematch of final season’s NBA Finals. Indiana begins life with out Tyrese Haliburton, whereas Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appears to proceed his MVP tempo.

In San Francisco, Stephen Curry and the veteran Golden State Warriors host Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in a conflict between two title-tested groups preventing to maintain their championship home windows open. Both video games ship elite expertise, compelling storylines, and loads of fantasy and betting intrigue.

Thursday’s fantasy stream group

Buddy Hield, SG/SF, Golden State Warriors (rostered in 30.5% of ESPN leagues)

Hield posted 24 fantasy factors in 22 minutes throughout Tuesday’s sport towards the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems he’ll function because the Warriors’ sixth or seventh man in most video games. He’s in a good spot towards a Nuggets group that ranked among the many high 10 final season in fantasy factors allowed to taking pictures guards.

Cason Wallace, SG, Oklahoma City Thunder (26.6%)

Wallace scored 45 fantasy factors in 32 minutes throughout the Thunder’s double-overtime win over the Rockets on Tuesday. He’s at the moment questionable with a knee damage, so monitor his standing earlier than inserting him into lineups. Wallace stays firmly on the streaming radar with Jalen Williams (wrist), Isaiah Joe (knee), and Alex Caruso (concussion) all sidelined. If Wallace cannot go, fantasy managers can pivot to Aaron Wiggins.

Isaiah Jackson, C, Indiana Pacers (6.1%)

Jackson ought to see an expanded function this season because the Pacers beginning middle. With little competitors behind him with Jay Huff and James Wiseman, he carries a excessive fantasy ceiling. In his profession, Jackson has averaged 13.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and a pair of.5 BPG in video games the place he is performed 25 or extra minutes. He has the makings of a double-double machine this season.

Moody’s favourite bets for Thursday

Chet Holmgren Over 17.5 points (-120)

Holmgren got here out sizzling in Tuesday’s opener towards the Houston Rockets, making his first seven photographs and protecting the Thunder in it early. He completed with 28 factors of their double-overtime win, together with 22 in regulation, stepping up offensively for an Oklahoma City group with out Jalen Williams. The Pacers struggled to defend energy forwards final season and misplaced key bigs this offseason. Holmgren cleared this line in three of his previous 5 video games with out Jalen Williams final season, with each unders coming in blowouts. While he did not carry out nicely towards Indiana within the Finals because the tempo slowed and physicality elevated, the Pacers play a lot sooner within the common season. That’s the tempo I count on to see Thursday night time.

Aaron Nesmith Under 14.5 points (-125)

The Pacers will likely be with out Tyrese Haliburton for the season and T.J. McConnell for the subsequent month, which does not bode nicely for Nesmith. He’s not the kind of participant who can constantly create his personal shot and depends on a degree guard to set him up. Nesmith went beneath this line in 71% of his 88 video games final season, together with the postseason, and in all eight matchups towards the Thunder’s elite protection.

Stephen Curry Over 34.5 points, rebounds and assists (-114)

Curry seemed sharp within the Warriors’ season opener on the street towards the Lakers, delivering an entire stat line and constantly attending to the free-throw line. The 37-year-old veteran will look to provide a classic efficiency in Golden State’s dwelling opener. Curry cleared this line in 57% of 35 video games with Butler final season and in 77% of twenty-two such video games when enjoying 33 or extra minutes. He additionally cleared this mark in two of three matchups towards the Nuggets, and with a slim unfold suggesting an in depth sport, Curry ought to play heavy minutes and have each alternative to clear the road.

Jonathan Kuminga Over 15.5 points (-120)

Kuminga scored 17 factors in 33 minutes throughout Tuesday’s win over the Lakers. It was an encouraging exhibiting after the offseason contract drama, and his minutes counsel he’ll be an important a part of the Warriors’ rotation this 12 months. He cleared this line in solely 47% of his 55 video games final season, however within the 12 video games the place he performed 29 or extra minutes, he went over each time.

Projections and Injury Reports

Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET

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Oklahoma City Thunder at Indiana Pacers
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Thunder -8.5 (-105) | Pacers +8.5 (-115)
Money line: Thunder -290 | Pacers +240
Total: 232.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 3.5, straight up 60%, 232.4 complete factors.

Injury Report:

Thunder: Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee); Cason Wallace, (GTD – Knee); Luguentz Dort, (GTD – Ankle); Isaiah Joe, (OUT – Knee); Jalen Williams, (OUT – Wrist); Alex Caruso, (OUT – Concussion); Kenrich Williams, (OUT – Knee); Nikola Topic, (OUT – Groin)

Pacers: Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS – Achilles); Quenton Jackson, (OUT – Hamstring); Kam Jones, (OUT – Back); T.J. McConnell, (OUT – Hamstring)

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Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET

Line: Nuggets +1.5 (-105) | Warriors -1.5 (-115)
Money line: Nuggets +110 | Warriors -130
Total: 234.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Nuggets by 1.8, straight up 55%, 232.3 complete factors.

Injury Report:

Nuggets: None reported

Warriors: Alex Toohey, (OUT – Knee); Moses Moody, (OUT – Calf); De’Anthony Melton, (OUT – Knee)