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 29 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
What you need to know for Tuesday’s games
Killian Them Softly: The Pistons have been hit by a wave of injuries lately, most notably the significant shin injury Cade Cunningham suffered. With Cunningham ruled out and several other key players listed as questionable for Detroit against the Knicks tonight, Killian Hayes could continue his hot streak as the team’s lead creator lately. Hayes, available in 88% of ESPN leagues, has at least eight assists in four of his last six games to go with an uptick in scoring. Given the likelihood he leads the Pistons in touches and passes in the Garden tonight, Hayes is an ideal target for passing props and DFS lineups. If you need some scoring pop, Alec Burks (93% available) has averaged 18.7 points across his past six appearances.
Waiver Winslow: During a light three-game slate, it’s helpful in head-to-head fantasy formats to stream productive options in order to gain games played. Portland’s Justise Winslow, for instance, is a free agent in 96% of leagues and yet has 10 dimes and 18 boards across his last two games while playing heavy minutes for coach Chauncey Billups. With the Clippers still without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Winslow could produce another strong line tonight.
Next Mann Up: Speaking of those ailing Clippers, two wings stand out as values in DFS and for streaming potential, as well. Terance Mann (93% available) has averaged nearly 34 minutes in three games over the past week, helping drive a slash of 15.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 4.0 APG as a key two-way perimeter player for Los Angeles. Norman Powell (76%), meanwhile, has averaged 20.6 PPG during his last five games and is particularly productive from deep, suggesting there’s room for him to top his shooting props against the Trail Blazers.
Point Total Pistons: Sportsbooks have been telling you what side of the total to bet in Detroit games this season. In eight of nine games with a projected total of at least 226 points, over tickets have cashed and in nine of the other 13 games, under bets have come through.
When November Ends: Dallas is 1-12 ATS this month. Which means this is your last look at the November Mavs!
— Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe
Games of the night
Golden State Warriors at Dallas Mavericks
7 p.m. ET, American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Line: Warriors (-1.5)
Money line: Warriors (-125), Mavericks (+105)
Total: 228 points
BPI Projected Total: 231.5 points
BPI Win%: Mavericks (56.9%)
Best bet: Klay Thompson over 17.5 points. In the last three games, the Mavericks’ defensive rating has dropped significantly. A fundamental element of Dallas’ defense is limiting the number of triples an opponent makes. Thompson and the Warriors are well suited to exploit this weakness. Over the last six games, he has averaged 23.2 points per game. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Luka Doncic over 8.5 rebounds and assists. The Warriors are struggling on the boards, among the top 10 in permitting opponents’ rebounds and they are having trouble in road games, having won only two of 11 contests. Doncic’s scoring and rebounding have been a bit recently against defensive-minded teams, but the Warriors are not playing great defense. Doncic has decent odds for triple-double, and I’d take the over on the rebounds and assists. — Eric Karabell
New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons
7:30 p.m. ET, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Line: Knicks (-5)
Money line: Knicks (-210), Pistons (+175)
Total: 226.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 224.9 points
BPI Win%: Knicks (65.4%)
Probable: Isaiah Stewart (toe)
Questionable: Marvin Bagley III, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jaden Ivey
Ruled Out: Cade Cunningham
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Mitchell Robinson (rostered in 54.6% of ESPN leagues) has worked his way back from his knee injury and has played very well over the last two games. Over that time frame, he has scored 29 or more fantasy points. Considering the matchup, Robinson is well-positioned to succeed. — Moody
Best bet: Knicks -5.0. A number of injuries are plaguing the Pistons and I believe they will have a difficult time overcoming that even against a Knicks team that ranks 27th in points allowed per possession. New York is a better offensive team ranking 13th in points scored per 100 possessions. The Knicks are 8-1-1 against the spread in their last 10 matchups against the Pistons. Furthermore, New York is 4-1 against the spread in its last five road games against Detroit. — Moody
Best bet: Jalen Brunson over 22.5 points. Brunson has scored 27 or more points in four consecutive games, as each Knicks game seems like a shootout, and he has the ball in his hands the most. Brunson’s usage is sky high and he’s not only getting more than three more field goals per game than last season, but he is more than doubling his output from the free throw line. Brunson should surpass 23 points yet again. — Eric Karabell
LA Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET, Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Line: Blazers (-3.5)
Money line: Blazers (-170), Clippers (+143)
Total: 211 points
BPI Projected Total: 220.4 points
BPI Win%: Blazers (56.4%)
Ruled Out: John Wall, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Luke Kennard, Keon Johnson, Damian Lillard
Note: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play
Fantasy streamer: Norman Powell (rostered in 23.6% of ESPN leagues) has never contributed much when it comes to rebounds or assists but he sure likes to shoot, and he’s become fairly adept at scoring points in limited minutes. In fact, Powell averages 14 PPG in only 25.3 MPG this season, and with no sign of Leonard playing soon he’s scored 103 points over the past five games, in only 138 minutes. Portland is far from a defensive juggernaut, and Powell should sail past his season average of 20 fantasy points. — Karabell