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Fantasy streamers and betting tips for Monday's NBA slate

ByAndre Snellings ESPN logo

Monday, October 28, 2024

ESPN's fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you set your lineups for that night's games. Here you'll read our best advice for the night, including a selection of players you can stream as well as game-by-game injury reports and player projections.

The first Monday of the NBA season is packed with 22 teams taking the court. Every team in the league has played either two or three games at this point, so we start the week looking to separate the hot start from the real levels for teams and individuals alike. At the end of Week 1, the leading scorer in the NBA is Anthony Davis (34.0 PPG), the leading rebounder is Ivica Zubac (14.0 RPG) andJordan Poole (3.5 SPG) leads the NBA in steals. It's a bit less surprising that James Harden is the assists leader (11.7 APG), and while Chet Holmgren as the current blocks leader (4.0 BPG) doesn't shock anyone, Victor Wembanyama ranking 11th does.

The dust could start to settle and the league could move more toward expectation in Week 2 ... or maybe some of these starts aren't just as "hot" as we thought they were, but an indication of what to expect at this moment.

Separating the trend from the mirage is one of the most fun and rewarding elements of beginning of the season, so let's look at Monday's matchups and identify some matchups where the expectations haven't quite caught up with the realities, leading to potential fantasy and betting value.

Monday's Stream Team

Santi Aldama, PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies (available in 71.3% of ESPN leagues)

Aldama has been strong in two of his three games thus far, leading the Grizzlies in scoring with 27 points in Wednesday's opening night and again with 22 points on Saturday. His production could continue to be volatile since Jaren Jackson Jr.'s return moves Aldama out of the Grizzlies' starting lineup, but his 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four 3-pointers on Saturday came off the bench.

Jalen Suggs, PG/SG, Orlando Magic (available in 65.9% of ESPN leagues)

Suggs has quietly improved and settled into his role since reclaiming the starting job in the Magic backcourt last season. He isn't a traditional point guard, averaging fewer than three assists per game with Paolo Banchero playing a point-forward role. Suggs plays more off-the-ball on offense, knocking down more than two 3-pointers a night (2.7 3PG through the first week) and contributing strong defensive numbers (2.0 SPG, 4.7 RPG). His combination of long-range shooting and defensive stats makes him more valuable in category/roto leagues, but he still provides solid streaming value in points leagues as well.

Al Horford, C/PF, Boston Celtics (available in 77.3% of ESPN leagues)

At 38 years old in his 18th NBA season, Horford is no longer a player to rely upon for consistent fantasy production in season-long leagues. But, when the Celtics aren't playing in a back-to-back and Kristaps Porzingis is sidelined, Horford has shown he can still be a valuable streamer. Horford has played 30-or-more minutes in two of the first three games, posting 11 points, five assists and three 3-pointers in the opener and topping that with 17 points, five boards and five 3-pointers on Saturday. Expect some production volatility from the veteran on Monday as he facesGiannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in a matchup he has traditionally played well in (11.0 PPG, 64.0 FG%, 5.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.8 3PG in his last four regular season meetings).

Bets for Monday

Cade Cunningham over 37.5 total points, rebounds and assists (-120)

Cunningham has gotten off to an outstanding start in his fourth season. He has averaged 27.3 PPG, 8.0 APG and 5.0 RPG (40.3 PAR) through the first week. He has gone over 37.5 PAR in two of three games, and just missed the mark in the other game with 21 points, 10 assists and 6 boards (37.0 PAR). Cunningham faces a Heat squad on Monday that lacks size in the backcourt, allowing opposing point guards to average 9.3 APG (21st in NBA) and 7.6 RPG (24th) thus far.

Derrick White over 16.5 points (-125)

White has averaged 20.0 PPG through the first week of the season, knocking down 52.6 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from behind the arc. He made 10 3-pointers through the first two games, and managed 17 points in his third game despite going 0-for-6 from behind the arc. White will face a Bucks squad on Monday that has struggled defending shooting guards, giving up 30.5 PPG (27th in NBA) and 4.2 3PG (20th) to opposing two guards.

Zach LaVine over 20.5 points (-105)

LaVine has topped this mark in all three games this season, averaging 24.7 PPG on 55.6 FG% through the first week. LaVine has been aggressive as a finisher this season, bouncing back from last season's six-year-low of 19.5 PPG to closer to the 25.2 PPG he averaged in the five seasons before.

Lakers (+3.5) over Suns (-110)

The Lakers are one of the last four undefeated teams after the first week, with one of their wins coming against the Suns. In that game, the Suns got out to a scorching start and a 15-point lead after the first quarter, but the Lakers won all three subsequent quarters and eventually the game. The Lakers are a tough matchup for the Suns because of their size, and new Lakers coach JJ Redick is running the offense entirely through center Anthony Davis. The Suns don't have an answer for Davis, and with his scoring (35 points against the Suns last Friday) collapsing their defense, it allows other Lakers like Austin Reaves (26 points and 8 assists last Friday) to have big games as well.

Projections and Injury Reports

Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic

7 p.m. ET

Line: Pacers 6.5 (-105) | Magic -6.5 (-115)

Money line: Pacers 220 | Magic -270

Total: 224.5 (-110 O, -110 U)

BPI Projection: Pacers by 2, straight up 57%, 225.7 total points.

Injury Report:

Pacers: James Wiseman, (OUT - Achilles)

Magic: Jonathan Isaac, (GTD - Hip); Tristan da Silva, (GTD - Illness)

Pacers projections:

Tyrese Haliburton, PG/SG: 36.3 FPTS (18.6 pts, 4.2 reb, 5.3 ast, 3.0 3PM)
Pascal Siakam, PF: 35.6 FPTS (18.6 pts, 6.7 reb, 4.7 ast)
Myles Turner, C: 25.8 FPTS (15.4 pts, 6.2 reb, 2.2 ast, 2.3 blk)
Andrew Nembhard, PG/SG: 24.1 FPTS (11.5 pts, 3.0 reb, 4.7 ast)
T.J. McConnell, PG: 19.9 FPTS (9.0 pts, 3.0 reb, 3.8 ast)
Bennedict Mathurin, SG/SF: 18.7 FPTS (11.9 pts, 3.6 reb, 1.7 ast)
Obi Toppin, PF: 17.1 FPTS (8.6 pts, 3.2 reb, 2.3 ast)

Magic projections:

Paolo Banchero, SF/PF: 43.6 FPTS (27.0 pts, 8.0 reb, 5.4 ast)
Franz Wagner, SF/PF: 38.7 FPTS (22.7 pts, 5.4 reb, 3.9 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Jalen Suggs, PG/SG: 26.8 FPTS (13.2 pts, 4.9 reb, 2.7 ast, 2.2 3PM)
Wendell Carter Jr., C: 23.4 FPTS (9.6 pts, 8.4 reb, 2.2 ast)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG: 18.7 FPTS (8.6 pts, 2.1 reb, 2.2 ast)
Cole Anthony, PG: 16.3 FPTS (8.3 pts, 1.8 reb, 2.7 ast)
Mac McClung, SG: 14.9 FPTS (7.6 pts, 3.4 reb, 2.2 ast)

Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks

7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Wizards 7.5 (-105) | Hawks -7.5 (-115)

Money line: Wizards 260 | Hawks -320

Total: 233.5 (-115 O, -105 U)

BPI Projection: Wizards by 8.4, straight up 75%, 228.1 total points.

Injury Report:

Wizards: Saddiq Bey, (OUT - Knee); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Thumb)

Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic, (OUT - Hamstring); Cody Zeller, (OUT - Personal); De'Andre Hunter, (GTD - Knee); Dominick Barlow, (OUT - Back); Seth Lundy, (OUT - Ankle); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT - Shoulder)

Wizards projections:

Jordan Poole, PG/SG: 35.6 FPTS (19.1 pts, 2.7 reb, 4.9 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Kyle Kuzma, SF/PF: 34.6 FPTS (21.5 pts, 7.0 reb, 3.3 ast)
Bilal Coulibaly, SF: 23.5 FPTS (11.7 pts, 5.7 reb, 2.9 ast)
Alex Sarr, PF/C: 21.0 FPTS (10.5 pts, 5.2 reb, 1.2 ast, 1.2 blk)
Corey Kispert, SG/SF: 18.5 FPTS (9.5 pts, 2.9 reb, 2.4 ast)
Jonas Valanciunas, C: 18.5 FPTS (9.5 pts, 6.2 reb, 1.8 ast)
Kyshawn George, SG: 17.2 FPTS (7.2 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.6 ast)

Hawks projections:

Trae Young, PG: 44.2 FPTS (25.9 pts, 3.4 reb, 7.8 ast, 2.5 3PM)
Jalen Johnson, PF: 31.8 FPTS (16.5 pts, 8.1 reb, 3.6 ast)
De'Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 25.5 FPTS (15.1 pts, 4.6 reb, 1.8 ast)
Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 22.0 FPTS (8.8 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.5 ast)
Clint Capela, C: 21.7 FPTS (10.0 pts, 8.0 reb, 1.3 ast, 1.3 blk)
Onyeka Okongwu, C: 19.4 FPTS (10.3 pts, 5.8 reb, 1.5 ast)
Zaccharie Risacher, PF/SF: 16.6 FPTS (9.9 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.3 ast)

Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics

7:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV

Line: Bucks 9.5 (-105) | Celtics -9.5 (-115)

Money line: Bucks 350 | Celtics -460

Total: 232.5 (-105 O, -115 U)

BPI Projection: Bucks by 6.2, straight up 70%, 225.6 total points.

Injury Report:

Bucks: Khris Middleton, (OUT - Ankle)

Celtics: Sam Hauser, (GTD - Back); Kristaps Porzingis, (OUT - Foot)

Bucks projections:

Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C: 46.3 FPTS (28.5 pts, 11.1 reb, 6.2 ast)
Damian Lillard, PG: 40.7 FPTS (25.3 pts, 4.4 reb, 5.9 ast, 3.3 3PM)
Khris Middleton, SF: 25.4 FPTS (10.5 pts, 4.5 reb, 5.1 ast)
Gary Trent Jr., SG: 22.7 FPTS (13.6 pts, 2.0 reb, 2.0 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Bobby Portis, PF: 22.5 FPTS (10.6 pts, 6.9 reb, 1.8 ast)
Brook Lopez, C: 21.9 FPTS (12.6 pts, 4.6 reb, 2.2 ast, 1.8 3PM, 2.1 blk)
Taurean Prince, SF: 16.0 FPTS (6.9 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.4 ast)

Celtics projections:

Jayson Tatum, SF/PF: 52.0 FPTS (29.9 pts, 7.8 reb, 5.9 ast, 4.4 3PM)
Jaylen Brown, SG/SF: 42.8 FPTS (26.1 pts, 6.6 reb, 3.5 ast, 2.5 3PM)
Derrick White, PG/SG: 32.3 FPTS (16.8 pts, 4.7 reb, 4.0 ast, 3.0 3PM)
Jrue Holiday, PG/SG: 24.1 FPTS (12.6 pts, 4.7 reb, 3.4 ast)
Al Horford, PF/C: 18.0 FPTS (6.4 pts, 5.4 reb, 2.2 ast)
Payton Pritchard, PG: 17.7 FPTS (8.9 pts, 2.3 reb, 2.2 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Sam Hauser, SF: 16.4 FPTS (8.3 pts, 3.2 reb, 1.2 ast, 2.2 3PM)

Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat

7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Pistons 8.5 (-105) | Heat -8.5 (-115)

Money line: Pistons 280 | Heat -350

Total: 219.5 (-110 O, -110 U)

BPI Projection: Pistons by 6.7, straight up 71%, 216.4 total points.

Injury Report:

Pistons: Bobi Klintman, (OUT - Calf); Ausar Thompson, (OUT - Illness)

Heat: Kevin Love, (GTD - Personal)

Pistons projections:

Cade Cunningham, PG/SG: 43.5 FPTS (26.1 pts, 4.4 reb, 7.1 ast, 1.9 3PM)
Jaden Ivey, SG: 28.3 FPTS (17.3 pts, 3.8 reb, 3.9 ast)
Tobias Harris, SF/PF: 27.9 FPTS (14.9 pts, 6.0 reb, 2.8 ast)
Jalen Duren, C: 24.4 FPTS (11.7 pts, 9.0 reb, 2.4 ast)
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF: 18.3 FPTS (11.2 pts, 2.3 reb, 1.3 ast, 1.8 3PM)
Marcus Sasser, PG: 15.3 FPTS (8.1 pts, 1.8 reb, 2.6 ast)

Heat projections:

Bam Adebayo, C: 36.4 FPTS (19.8 pts, 9.9 reb, 3.1 ast)
Jimmy Butler, SG/SF/PF: 35.7 FPTS (19.5 pts, 5.1 reb, 5.4 ast)
Terry Rozier, PG/SG: 31.6 FPTS (18.3 pts, 4.3 reb, 3.8 ast, 2.1 3PM)
Tyler Herro, PG/SG: 30.4 FPTS (17.5 pts, 4.8 reb, 4.2 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Nikola Jovic, PF: 21.9 FPTS (10.1 pts, 5.1 reb, 2.4 ast)
Jaime Jaquez Jr., SG/SF: 18.8 FPTS (9.7 pts, 3.6 reb, 2.6 ast)
Haywood Highsmith, SF: 15.5 FPTS (5.4 pts, 3.8 reb, 1.8 ast)

Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks

7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Cavaliers 2.5 (-110) | Knicks -2.5 (-110)

Money line: Cavaliers 120 | Knicks -140

Total: 223.5 (-105 O, -115 U)

BPI Projection: Knicks by 3.4, straight up 61%, 219.6 total points.

Injury Report:

Cavaliers: Emoni Bates, (OUT - Knee); Max Strus, (OUT - Ankle)

Knicks: Josh Hart, (GTD - Ankle); Miles McBride, (GTD - Knee); Kevin McCullar Jr., (OUT - Knee); Precious Achiuwa, (OUT - Hamstring); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT - Ankle)

Cavaliers projections:

Donovan Mitchell, PG/SG: 41.8 FPTS (26.3 pts, 4.2 reb, 4.6 ast, 2.7 3PM)
Evan Mobley, PF/C: 33.7 FPTS (18.4 pts, 9.2 reb, 3.1 ast, 1.8 blk)
Darius Garland, PG: 31.5 FPTS (17.5 pts, 3.0 reb, 5.0 ast, 2.0 3PM)
Jarrett Allen, C: 26.9 FPTS (14.7 pts, 8.0 reb, 1.6 ast)
Caris LeVert, SG/SF: 20.2 FPTS (10.4 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.9 ast)
Dean Wade, PF: 16.9 FPTS (5.7 pts, 5.1 reb, 1.2 ast)
Isaac Okoro, SG/SF: 13.2 FPTS (5.6 pts, 2.7 reb, 1.9 ast)

Knicks projections:

Jalen Brunson, PG: 36.6 FPTS (24.8 pts, 3.4 reb, 4.7 ast)
Karl-Anthony Towns, PF/C: 31.8 FPTS (18.3 pts, 8.8 reb, 2.5 ast)
Josh Hart, SG/SF: 30.1 FPTS (15.2 pts, 8.9 reb, 3.6 ast)
Mikal Bridges, SG/SF: 28.7 FPTS (17.9 pts, 2.1 reb, 3.6 ast, 1.9 3PM)
OG Anunoby, SF/PF: 25.7 FPTS (14.4 pts, 4.7 reb, 1.8 ast)
Cameron Payne, PG/SG: 18.9 FPTS (9.0 pts, 1.9 reb, 3.2 ast)
Miles McBride, PG: 16.0 FPTS (8.5 pts, 1.6 reb, 2.1 ast)

Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors

7:30 p.m. ET on TSN

Line: Nuggets -8.5 (EVEN) | Raptors 8.5 (-120)

Money line: Nuggets -400 | Raptors 300

Total: 220.5 (-105 O, -115 U)

BPI Projection: Raptors by 7.9, straight up 74%, 217.3 total points.

Injury Report:

Nuggets: DaRon Holmes II, (OUT - Achilles)

Raptors: Immanuel Quickley, (GTD - Pelvis); RJ Barrett, (GTD - Shoulder); Kelly Olynyk, (OUT - Back); Bruce Brown, (OUT - Knee); Ja'Kobe Walter, (OUT - Shoulder)

Nuggets projections: