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.
The last day of 2025 will be a busy one in the Association, with nine games on the docket starting in the afternoon on the East Coast.
The marquee game of the day is a rematch of the recent NBA Cup championship game, with the New York Knicks traveling to San Antonio to face the Spurs. The Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors face off in another game between two teams with winning records, but this also marks the first for the Nuggets since losing their three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to a knee injury.
The Phoenix Suns bring their four-game winning streak into Cleveland to face a Cavaliers team that’s fresh off a big win over the Spurs in their last game. Both teams would be in the play-in tournament in their respective conferences, making this a big game for both teams.
These and many other storylines are in play tonight. As always, we’ll dig deeper into the action to identify fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS plays of interest.
Bobby Portis, PF, Milwaukee Bucks (rostered in 49.4% of ESPN leagues): Portis has continued to cook even with Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup for the Bucks. Portis dropped a 17-point/11-rebound double-double on Saturday, then followed that up with 25 points on Monday. Tonight, he face a Wizards squad that allows the third-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.
Bilal Coulibaly, SF/SG, Washington Wizards (14.2%): Coulibaly has played three straight strong games since returning from a one-game absence last week, averaging 16.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG and 3.3 stocks (steals + blocks) in that span.
Spencer Jones, SF, Denver Nuggets (5.5%): Jones has been starting for the Nuggets with Christian Braun and Cameron Johnson sidelined, and he has responded with good numbers. In his last three games, he has gotten a whopping 36 MPG and turned that into three straight double-digit scoring efforts with strong 3-point shooting. Jones could have an even larger role for the Nuggets moving forward with Jokic now sidelined as well.
Jonas Valanciunas, C, Denver Nuggets (23.0%): Presumably, Valanciunas should move into the starting lineup and play a much larger role for the Nuggets with Jokic out. Valanciunas started 21 games last season, averaging 12.6 PPG and 10.8 RPG.
Dre’s bets for Wednesday
Victor Wembanyama OVER 25.5 points (-104)
Wembanyama is ramping up his role and his minutes after returning from his injury layoff earlier in the month. He has started the last two games for the Spurs, averaging 29.0 PPG in those starts with at least 26 points in both games. Wembanyama was coming off the bench on a strict minutes restriction when these two teams played in the NBA Cup Finals, but Wemby has a history of big performances against the Knicks in recent seasons. In his last two official matchups against the Knicks over the past two years, Wemby dropped 40 points, 20 rebounds and seven assists in one and 42 points, 18 rebounds and 6 3-pointers in the other.
Collin Gillespie to score 15+ points (-166)
Gillespie has topped this mark in six straight games going back to Dec. 18. He scored 16 points in four straight, then upped to 17 and 25 in his last two outings. Gillespie has also made four or more 3-pointers in four straight, and is locked in heading into his matchup against a Cavaliers defense that ranks 21st in the NBA in points allowed and 27th in 3-point percentage allowed to opposing point guards.
Toronto Raptors -6.5 over Denver Nuggets (-110)
No player has meant as much to their team over the last several seasons as three-time MVP Nikola Jokic has meant to the Nuggets. They run their entire offense through him, and he consistently creates high-level scoring opportunities for both himself and his teammates. On Monday, after Jokic got injured at the end of the first half, the Nuggets were outscored by 24 points in the second half. Playing on the road against a good Raptors team, with a full four-fifths of their starting lineup out injured, the Nuggets look to be in for a tough game.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs ($9,900): Wembanyama is back in the starting lineup and posting big numbers for the Spurs, and he has a history of monster performances against the Knicks.
Jamal Murray, PG, Denver Nuggets ($9,300): With Nikola Jokic sidelined, the Nuggets will depend on Murray to post monster numbers on a nightly basis to keep them in games.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Anthony Black, PG, Orlando Magic ($7,000): Black has exploded as a scorer of late, averaging 24.5 PPG over his last seven outings.
Onyeka Okongwu, C, Atlanta Hawks ($7,600): Okongwu has turned in consecutive games with more than 55 fantasy points.
Brandon Ingram, SF, Toronto Raptors ($7,600): Ingram has notched more than 41 fantasy points in six of his last eight games, and today faces a Nuggets squad missing four of their five starters including their entire starting frontline.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Jonas Valanciunas, C, Denver Nuggets ($5,500): Valanciunas should have a much bigger role for the Nuggets with Jokic sidelined.
Bilal Coulibaly, SG, Washington Wizards ($5,100): Coulibaly has averaged almost 35 fantasy points per game in his last three outings.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Golden State Warriors at Charlotte Hornets
1 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors -7.5 (-108) | Hornets +7.5 (-112)
Money line: Warriors -285 | Hornets +230
Total: 234.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 5.5, straight up 65%, 228.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Seth Curry, (OUT – Back)
Hornets: Mason Plumlee, (OUT – Groin); Ryan Kalkbrenner, (OUT – Elbow); Grant Williams, (OUT – Knee); Kon Knueppel, (GTD – Ankle); Miles Bridges, (GTD – Ankle); Pat Connaughton, (GTD – Ankle)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Atlanta Hawks
3 p.m. ET
Line: Timberwolves -5.5 (-108) | Hawks +5.5 (-112)
Money line: Timberwolves -205 | Hawks +170
Total: 244.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 1.2, straight up 54%, 242.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr., (OUT – Foot)
Hawks: N’Faly Dante, (OFS – Knee); Trae Young, (GTD – Quadriceps)
Orlando Magic at Indiana Pacers
3 p.m. ET
Line: Magic -4.5 (-102) | Pacers +4.5 (-118)
Money line: Magic -170 | Pacers +142
Total: 225.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Magic by 5.3, straight up 65%, 227.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Magic: Colin Castleton, (OUT – Thumb); Franz Wagner, (OUT – Ankle); Moritz Wagner, (OUT – Knee); Desmond Bane, (GTD – Back); Jalen Suggs, (GTD – Hip); Jonathan Isaac, (GTD – Knee)
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson, (OUT – Concussion); Obi Toppin, (OUT – Foot); Tyrese Haliburton, (OFS – Achilles); Ben Sheppard, (GTD – Calf); , (GTD – Hamstring)
Phoenix Suns at Cleveland Cavaliers
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: Suns +6.5 (-108) | Cavaliers -6.5 (-112)
Money line: Suns +205 | Cavaliers -250
Total: 234.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Cavaliers by 6.5, straight up 68%, 237.4 total points.
Injury Report:
Suns: Jalen Green, (OUT – Hamstring); Grayson Allen, (GTD – Knee); Ryan Dunn, (GTD – Knee)
Cavaliers: Larry Nance Jr., (OUT – Calf); Max Strus, (OUT – Foot); Sam Merrill, (GTD – Hip)
New Orleans Pelicans at Chicago Bulls
7 p.m. ET
Line: Pelicans +1.5 (-110) | Bulls -1.5 (-115)
Money line: Pelicans +102 | Bulls -122
Total: 248.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bulls by 1.8, straight up 56%, 246.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Dejounte Murray, (OUT – Achilles); Herbert Jones, (OUT – Ankle); Jose Alvarado, (OUT – Suspension)
Bulls: Coby White, (OUT – Calf); Zach Collins, (OUT – Toe); Josh Giddey, (OUT – Hamstring); Noa Essengue, (OFS – Shoulder)
New York Knicks at San Antonio Spurs
7 p.m. ET
Line: Knicks +2.5 (-115) | Spurs -2.5 (-105)
Money line: Knicks +110 | Spurs -130
Total: 235.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 0, straight up 50%, 235.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Knicks: Josh Hart, (OUT – Ankle); Mitchell Robinson, (OUT – Ankle); Landry Shamet, (OUT – Shoulder); Ariel Hukporti, (GTD – Lips); Tyler Kolek, (GTD – Ankle)
Spurs: Devin Vassell, (OUT – Groin); Stephon Castle, (GTD – Thumb)
Denver Nuggets at Toronto Raptors
7:30 p.m. ET
Line: Nuggets +6.5 (-110) | Raptors -6.5 (-110)
Money line: Nuggets +210 | Raptors -258
Total: 229.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Raptors by 6.5, straight up 68%, 233.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon, (OUT – Hamstring); Christian Braun, (OUT – Ankle); Cameron Johnson, (OUT – Knee); Nikola Jokic, (OUT – Knee); Tamar Bates, (OUT – Foot); Julian Strawther, (GTD – Illness)
Raptors: Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Back)
Washington Wizards at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. ET
Line: Wizards +10.5 (-108) | Bucks -10.5 (-112)
Money line: Wizards +390 | Bucks -520
Total: 233.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Bucks by 11.9, straight up 80%, 235.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Wizards: Corey Kispert, (OUT – Hamstring); Kyshawn George, (OUT – Hip); Cam Whitmore, (OUT – Shoulder); Malaki Branham, (GTD – Calf)
Bucks: Taurean Prince, (OUT – Neck)
Portland Trail Blazers at Oklahoma City Thunder
8 p.m. ET
Line: Blazers +16.5 (-115) | Thunder -16.5 (-105)
Money line: Blazers +750 | Thunder -1200
Total: 232.5 (-112 O, -108 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 16.8, straight up 91%, 233.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Blazers: Jerami Grant, (OUT – Achilles); Jrue Holiday, (OUT – Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Thumb); Scoot Henderson, (OUT – Hamstring); Blake Wesley, (OUT – Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles); Kris Murray, (GTD – Quadriceps)
Thunder: Isaiah Hartenstein, (OUT – Calf); Jaylin Williams, (OUT – Heel); Ousmane Dieng, (OUT – Calf); Nikola Topic, (OUT – Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee); Brooks Barnhizer, (GTD – Ankle)