Jim McCormick, Special to ESPN.com, February 26, 2024, 12:30 p.m. ET
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- Jim McCormick is a fantasy football and fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com.
ESPN's Fantasy Basketball and Basketball Betting Tips Cheat Sheet is your go-to pre-game basketball betting predictions and our best information and data, including ESPN's proprietary Basketball Power Index (BPI), to help you make smart fantasy and betting decisions meet. Fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
New this season: ESPN Analytics will also produce daily NBA fantasy predictions. By combining historical player and team data and specific game factors, ESPN is able to accurately predict player box score statistics. Taking into account injuries, playing time trends and other factors that impact future performance, the statistical models can be used to help NBA fantasy players gain an edge in their league.
What you need to know for Monday's games
Editor favorites
After Sunday's epic 11-game NBA tournament, Monday features a quieter quartet of contests. The good news for fantasy managers, however, is that several rotations in use today are impacted by a number of suspensions and injuries and therefore have widely available players who deserve our attention.
The Miami Heat, for example, will not have superstar steward Jimmy Butler on the roster due to a suspension as the team visits the Sacramento Kings. Both Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro are listed as questionable due to their respective injuries. This all signals increased value for guys like Duncan Robinson (at 11.5% of ESPN's list), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (18.7%) and Caleb Martin (3.9%), who I prioritize in the order listed would admit. For the Kings, Malik Monk (62.1%), the favorite for Sixth Man of the Year, continues to shine as a goalscorer.
The best offensive climate of the day may be where the All-Star Game just ended: The Indiana Pacers host the Toronto Raptors in a game that has the highest point total on the list with 244.5 points. With Indiana potentially without two-way winger Aaron Nesmith due to injury, sophomore Bennedict Mathurin (16.2%) could continue to perform well.
The New York Knicks have a friendly game against their regular partner, the Detroit Pistons. The Knicks continue to lean heavily on Precious Achiuwa (27.9%), who remains one of the top picks in our streaming section. Detroit, meanwhile, has a rising rookie in Ausar Thompson (45.4%).
However, the most viable streaming roster can be found in Tennessee, where the Memphis Grizzlies have two young forwards in Vince Williams Jr. (36.7%) and GG Jackson (11.1%). They host the Brooklyn Nets, a team that has somehow lost even more of its luster as a fantasy resource since Kevin Ollie started doling out minutes in a deep rotation.
Monday's stream team
This segment nominates three key streaming options ahead of that day's action. By our standards, a streamer is a player who is available in at least half of the ESPN men's basketball leagues.
Men's Tournament Challenge
Complete your bracket by selecting the winner for each game in the 2024 Men's NCAA Tournament. Play the Men's Tournament Challenge
Vince Williams Jr., SG/SF, Grizzlies (listed in 36.7% of ESPN leagues): Memphis is still weeks away from getting some key starters back into the rotation, meaning Williams has more room to develop and put up impressive numbers as both a creator and scorer.
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Knicks (27.9%): Making room for Achiuwa and Josh Hart (43.6%) could prove worthwhile ahead of today's game against Detroit. Achiuwa rarely leaves the court as a busy rebounder and rim protector, while Hart's “glue guy” game often leads to flirtations with triple-double results.
Ausar Thompson, SF/PF, Pistons (45.4%): Motown is sometimes hesitant to bolster its young talent, but Thompson's toughness and work on the glass should play a big role in this matchup against a tough and disciplined Knicks squad. The good news with Thompson is that he can produce an elite fantasy result even when his shot isn't visible, as his defensive stats already prove to be exceptional.
Duncan Robinson, SG/SF, heat (11.5%): A shooting specialist who has breathed more life into his drop game than ever before this season, Robinson's shooting range has been impressive in recent games. Martin and Jaquez have better two-way profiles, but Robinson's shooting and scoring ability appear to be the most reliable.
Predictions and injury reports
Fantasy projections from ESPN Analytics.* Projections assume all players listed as GTD play. Infringement aggregation from Rotowire.com. Players available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues are in italics.
Toronto Raptors at Indiana Pacers
7:00 p.m. Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
BPI forecast: Pacers in the highest-scoring game on the list.
Injury report:
Birds of Prey: None reported
Pacer: Aaron Nesmith, (GTD – Ankle)
Raptors predictions:
Scottie Barnes, SF/PF: 40.5 FPTS (20.5 Pts, 7.4 Reb, 6.6 Ast, 1.4 Blk)
Immanuel Quickley, PG/SG: 32.0 FPTS (17.4 Points, 4.0 Reb, 4.0 Ast, 2.4 3PM)
RJ Barrett, SG/SF: 29.6 FPTS (17.2 points, 4.6 reb, 3.2 ast)
Jakob Poeltl, C: 26.5 FPTS (11.4 Pts, 9.1 Reb, 2.3 Ast, 1.7 Blk)
Gary Trent Jr., PG/SG: 20.9 FPTS (11.9 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.1 ast, 2.3 3pm)
Kelly Olynyk, PF/C: 16.9 FPTS (6.3 Points, 4.0 Reb, 2.6 Ast)
Bruce Brown, SG/SF: 16.6 FPTS (7.3 Points, 3.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast)
Pacers Predictions:
Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG: 43.0 FPTS (19.1 pts, 3.6 reb, 8.5 ast, 2.8 3pm)
Pascal Siakam, PF/C: 40.7 FPTS (22.4 points, 6.5 reb, 4.4 ast)
Myles Turner, C: 26.8 FPTS (15.0 Pts, 6.5 Reb, 1.2 Ast, 1.5 Blk)
Andrew Nembhard, PG/SG: 25.3 FPTS (11.4 Points, 2.9 Reb, 4.3 Ast)
Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF: 22.5 FPTS (13.9 points, 3.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast)
Jalen Smith, PF/C: 19.0 FPTS (9.1 Points, 5.5 Reb, 0.9 Ast)
TJ McConnell, PG: 16.9 FPTS (7.2 pts, 2.4 reb, 3.2 ast)
Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks
7:30 p.m. Madison Square Garden, New York
BPI forecast: Knicks in the second-highest scoring game on the list.
Injury report:
Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, (OUT – Suspension); Marcus Sasser, (OUT – knee)
Knicks: Duane Washington Jr., (OUT – Thumb); Julius Randle, (OUT – Shoulder); OG Anunoby, (OUT – Elbow); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT – Ankle)
Piston projections:
Cade Cunningham, PG/SG: 42.1 FPTS (22.9 pts, 3.9 reb, 7.5 ast, 1.8 3pm)
Jalen Duren, C: 30.1 FPTS (13.1 Points, 9.7 Reb, 2.5 Ast)
Jaden Ivey, PG/SG: 27.9 FPTS (16.2 Points, 3.5 Reb, 3.6 Ast)
Ausar Thompson, SG/SF: 24.8 FPTS (11.8 Points, 6.2 Reb, 1.9 Ast)
Simone Fontecchio, SF: 21.3 FPTS (10.0 Points, 4.0 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 1.8 3PM)
Evan Fournier, SG/SF: 13.5 FPTS (7.0 points, 1.6 Reb, 1.0 Ast)
James Wiseman, C: 13.2 FPTS (6.1 Points, 3.8 Reb, 0.8 Ast)
Knicks Predictions:
Jalen Brunson, PG/SG: 44.2 FPTS (26.1 Pts, 3.3 Reb, 6.4 Ast, 2.7 3PM)
Donte DiVincenzo, SG: 33.4 FPTS (18.2 pts, 3.8 reb, 3.0 ast, 3.5 3pm)
Precious Achiuwa, PF/C: 33.0 FPTS (17.5 points, 9.2 Reb, 1.5 Ast)
Josh Hart, SG/SF: 32.2 FPTS (13.2 Points, 7.6 Reb, 3.7 Ast)
Bojan Bogdanovic, SF/PF: 23.2 FPTS (14.3 Points, 2.3 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 2.3 3PM)
Isaiah Hartenstein, PF/C: 19.5 FPTS (8.1 points, 6.2 reb, 1.5 ast)
Alec Burks, SG: 15.7 FPTS (9.5 points, 1.6 reb, 1.2 ast)
Brooklyn Nets at Memphis Grizzlies
8 p.m. FedExForum, Memphis
BPI forecast: Nets in the fourth-highest scoring game on the list.
Injury report:
Nets: Ben Simmons, (GTD – Leg); Dariq Whitehead, (OUT – lower leg)
Grizzlies: John Konchar, (OUT – Thumb); Brandon Clarke, (OUT – Achilles); Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT-Back); Desmond Bane, (OUT – Ankle); Marcus Smart, (OUT – fingers); Ja Morant, (OUT – Shoulder)
Network forecasts:
Mikal Bridges, SG/SF: 35.7 FPTS (21.3 pts, 4.2 reb, 3.7 ast, 2.5 3pm)
Cam Thomas, SG: 29.7 FPTS (19.4 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.0 ast, 1.9 3pm)
Nic Claxton, PF/C: 26.4 FPTS (11.3 Pts, 9.7 Reb, 1.8 Ast, 2.1 BLK)
Ben Simmons, PG/PF: 22.5 FPTS (7.2 pts, 6.7 reb, 4.6 ast)
Dennis Schroder, PG: 21.4 FPTS (9.5 Points, 2.3 Reb, 4.2 Ast)
Cameron Johnson, SF/PF: 19.7 FPTS (9.2 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.1 ast, 1.8 3pm)
Dennis Smith Jr., PG: 17.6 FPTS (5.6 pts, 3.0 reb, 3.2 ast)
Grizzlies Predictions:
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C: 35.7 FPTS (25.5 Pts, 5.0 Reb, 2.8 Ast, 2.1 3PM, 1.6 Blk)
Vince Williams Jr., SG/SF: 34.8 FPTS (15.1 pts, 7.0 reb, 4.7 ast, 1.9 3pm)
Santi Aldama, PF/C: 26.2 FPTS (12.7 Pts, 5.9 Reb, 2.7 Ast, 1.8 3PM)
Luke Kennard, SG: 22.0 FPTS (10.8 pts, 3.3 reb, 2.7 ast, 2.6 3pm)
GG Jackson, PF: 21.1 FPTS (13.1 Pts, 4.2 Reb, 0.9 Ast, 1.8 3PM)
Ziaire Williams, SG: 20.6 FPTS (11.6 Points, 4.0 Reb, 1.6 Ast)
Derrick Rose, PG: 15.4 FPTS (7.2 pts, 1.8 reb, 2.8 ast)
Miami Heat at Sacramento Kings
10 p.m. Golden 1 Center, Sacramento
BPI forecast: Kings in the third highest game on the list.
Injury report:
Heat: Orlando Robinson, (GTD – Back); Terry Rozier, (GTD – knee); Tyler Herro, (GTD – knee); Jimmy Butler, (Out – Suspension); Nikola Jovic, (Out – Suspension); Josh Richardson, (OUT – Shoulder); Thomas Bryant, (OUT – Suspension); Dru Smith, (OUT – Knee)
Kings: Alex Len, (GTD – Illness); Sasha Vezenkov, (OUT – Ankle)
Heat forecasts:
Bam Adebayo, C: 41.3 FPTS (20.6 Points, 11.3 Reb, 4.7 Ast)
Tyler Herro, PG/SG: 40.6 FPTS (23.8 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 5.0 Ast, 3.4 3PM)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., SF: 30.0 FPTS (16.5 pts, 4.6 reb, 2.7 ast)
Caleb Martin, SG/SF: 26.7 FPTS (13.5 points, 5.3 reb, 2.1 ast)
Duncan Robinson, SG/SF: 25.3 FPTS (12.5 pts, 2.8 reb, 2.8 ast, 2.6 3pm)
Kevin Love, PF/C: 19.2 FPTS (6.8 Points, 6.0 Reb, 1.9 Ast)
Haywood Highsmith, SF: 16.5 FPTS (6.9 pts, 3.4 reb, 1.2 ast)
Kings projections:
De'Aaron Fox, PG: 51.5 FPTS (27.9 pts, 4.2 reb, 6.1 ast, 3.0 3pm)
Domantas Sabonis, PF/C: 44.3 FPTS (19.7 Pts, 11.9 Reb, 7.3 Ast)
Keegan Murray, SF/PF: 25.6 FPTS (13.4 pts, 4.8 reb, 1.5 ast, 2.3 3pm)
Malik Monk, SG/SF: 25.3 FPTS (13.8 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 3.8 Ast, 2.2 3PM)
Kevin Huerter, SG/SF: 23.4 FPTS (11.6 Points, 3.8 Reb, 2.2 Ast, 2.1 3PM)
Harrison Barnes, SF/PF: 18.1 FPTS (9.9 Points, 2.6 Reb, 0.9 Ast)
Trey Lyles, PF: 15.9 FPTS (7.8 pts, 4.0 reb, 1.0 ast)