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.
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Top streamers | Best bets | Odds & Injury report
What you need to know for Thursday’s games
The NBA features just one game on Thursday night, with the LA Clippers visiting the Phoenix Suns. Both teams are under .500 and looking to rebound from recent losses, but injuries will shape this matchup. The Clippers will be without James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, while the Suns are missing Dillon Brooks. With the spotlight fully on this Western Conference showdown, let’s break down the action and find some fantasy streamers and betting angles to make the most of tonight’s game.
Thursday’s fantasy stream team
Grayson Allen, SG/PG, Phoenix Suns (rostered in 46.9% of ESPN leagues): The Suns have been struggling, but Allen has been one of their few consistent bright spots. He’s logged at least 30 minutes in three straight games, and scored 26+ fantasy points in each — including two games over 40. Allen provides points and threes, with a sprinkle of rebounds, assists, and steals. He also draws a favorable matchup against the Clippers, who have allowed the fifth-most points per game to shooting guards this season.
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Derrick Jones Jr., SF, LA Clippers (8.8%): With Leonard ruled out for Thursday’s game, Jones Jr. is in line for an expanded role. He played 28 minutes and posted 31 fantasy points on Tuesday with Leonard sidelined. Jones’ value as a streamer comes from his ability to chip in across all categories, making him a solid short-term fill-in for managers in need.
Kris Dunn, PG, LA Clippers (4.7%): Dunn benefits not only from Leonard being ruled out, but also Harden being sidelined due to personal reasons. He has shown he can be productive when given minutes, and on a team featuring Leonard, Harden and Bradley Beal, he’s a streamer managers can turn to multiple times this season. He averages 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists per 40 minutes. The matchup also helps, as the Suns rank top-eight in fantasy points allowed to point guards.
Moody’s favorite bets for Thursday
Devin Booker over 39.5 points, rebounds and assists (-115)
Booker has cleared this line in five of eight games this season. He didn’t get there in his last matchup with the Clippers on October 24th, but that game was a blowout and he played only 28 minutes. Even with Jalen Green making his season debut, there’s a strong chance he’s on a minutes restriction, keeping Booker’s usage (33%) secure. The Clippers also allow the most assists per game to point guards, which bodes well for Booker since he’s averaged 16.3 potential assists and 7.0 APG this season. This sets up as a strong spot for him to produce across the board, especially in a matchup whose narrow spread suggests a competitive game.
Projections and Injury Reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds by ESPN BET
LA Clippers at Phoenix Suns
9 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Line: Clippers +3.5 (-115) | Suns -3.5 (-105)
Money line: Clippers +120 | Suns -140
Total: 224.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Suns by 4.3, straight up 63%, 223.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: James Harden, (OUT – Personal); Jordan Miller, (OUT – Hamstring); Kawhi Leonard, (OUT – Ankle); Kobe Sanders, (OUT – Knee)
Suns: Jalen Green, (GTD – Hamstring); Dillon Brooks, (OUT – Groin)
