Jim McCormickDec 28, 2025, 12:05 PM ET
CloseJim McCormick is a contributing writer for fantasy football and men’s basketball at ESPN.
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.
Jump ahead
Top streamers | Best bets | DFS picks | Odds & Injury report
This final Sunday of 2025 features six NBA games. One key theme today is unfamiliar foes; five matchups are between cross-conference opponents, teams that face each other only twice per season. Another theme is quietly important returns impacting rotations.
The LA Clippers expect Derrick Jones Jr. back on the court for the first time in six weeks in a matchup with an athletic and physical Detroit Pistons roster. The Toronto Raptors welcome RJ Barrett to the rotation for the first time in five weeks for today’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Barrett is a free agent in nearly a fifth of ESPN leagues, making him a notable option.
With a number of sizable favorites on the board today, we can look to which teams have the highest implied totals — that is, which teams are expected to score the most. The Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies lead the pack with team totals of 122 points each. On the other end of the spectrum, the Philadelphia 76ers have an expected total of just 105 points, which makes that rotation one to fade in most cases.
With an eye on finding productive fantasy streamers and betting angles of interest, let’s take a look at the day ahead in the NBA.
Play the No. 1 fantasy game for free
Create or join a fantasy basketball league on ESPN. Your championship run starts today!
Sunday’s fantasy stream team
Cedric Coward, SF/SG, Grizzlies (rostered in 35.2% of ESPN leagues): As noted, Memphis has one of today’s most optimistic offensive forecasts. Coward’s stellar rookie season should continue in today’s plus matchup against a Washington Wizards defense that struggles to contain perimeter slashers like Coward.
Cam Spencer, SG/PG, Grizzlies (36.5% rostered): Sticking with this rotation, Spencer has been a major part of the team’s offense in recent weeks. Empowered to create both for himself and for others, Spencer is in a great spot to produce against this porous Washington defense.
Maxime Raynaud, C, Sacramento Kings (14.2%): Thriving in place of Domantas Sabonis, this rising rookie is the rare draft gem for the Kings. The matchup with the Lakers can be viewed positively in that Los Angeles doesn’t have imposing rim protection or great rebounding personnel.
Keon Ellis, SG, Kings (4.3%): A shift to the starting lineup on Saturday saw Ellis deliver 21 points to go with an awesome five combined steals and blocks. If Ellis can replicate this level of 3-and-D production against the Lakers this evening, there’s potential for enduring value to emerge.
McCormick’s bets for Sunday
Payton Pritchard OVER 16.5 points (-116)
The Portland Trail Blazers‘ injury report remains quite long. The team is missing several starting guards, namely Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday. A patchworked Portland backcourt rates among the weakest in the league at containing production from the ball handler in pick-and-roll actions. The Blazers also struggle to close out and get over screens on shooters like Pritchard. This could be a fun return to Oregon for Pritchard.
Ja Morant OVER 25.5 total points and assists (-120)
Delivering 10 dimes in just 25 minutes in his recent return to action, Morant remains a prolific playmaker at his best. The Washington Wizards are last in the league in defensive rating by a sizable margin and particularly struggle to contain guards at the point of attack. With Morant expected to approach 30 minutes in this contest, his usage and shot profile suggest this production threshold is within his grasp.
Top Daily Fantasy values of the day
$8,100+ salaries
Luka Doncic, PG, Lakers ($12,000)
Austin Reaves is sidelined with a calf injury, which means even more touches and shots for the league’s leading scorer. The Kings are 11th in pace, which suggests they’ll help add possessions to this matchup. Added touches against a soft defense is the path for Doncic to erupt with one of his signature massive lines. Pivoting to Cade Cunningham ($10,700) also makes sense for those seeking a more balanced budget.
$6,100-$8,000 salaries
Derrick White, PG/SG, Boston Celtics ($7,600)
With the size and skill to get what he wants against this Wizards defense, White brings a high floor and fun ceiling to the floor tonight. It’s rare to see White have a weak fantasy game in regards to compiling; his hands are on the ball on both sides of the court quite often. It also helps that Washington’s pace (eighth overall) should see Boston put up a few more shots.
DeMar DeRozan, SF, Kings ($7,100)
This LA native returns home to face a Lakers team that struggles to contain gifted perimeter scorers. The Lakers simply lack the size and personnel at the wing to slow down DeRozan from feasting from midrange.
$3,500-$6,000 salaries
Brook Lopez, C, Clippers ($4,500)
Will “Bro Lo” sink seven 3-pointers again today? Unlikely. He will, however, get plenty of run against a huge Detroit lineup. With Ivica Zubac sidelined, Lopez is likely to hover around 30 minutes and play an important role as a floor spacer and rim protector for the Clips.
Projections and injury reports
Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics. Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com. Odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
Golden State Warriors at Toronto Raptors
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: Warriors -4.5 (-108) | Raptors +4.5 (-112)
Money line: Warriors -180 | Raptors +150
Total: 224.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 2.9, straight up 58%, 223.7 total points.
Injury Report:
Warriors: Brandin Podziemski, (GTD – Abdomen); De’Anthony Melton, (OUT – Knee); Seth Curry, (OUT – Thigh)
Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, (GTD – Illness); RJ Barrett, (GTD – Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT – Back)
Philadelphia 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder
3:30 p.m. ET
Line: 76ers +15.5 (-110) | Thunder -15.5 (-110)
Money line: 76ers +650 | Thunder -1000
Total: 226.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 16.5, straight up 90%, 231.3 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Kelly Oubre Jr., (OUT – Knee); Trendon Watford, (OUT – Thigh); Paul George, (GTD – Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT – Ankle)
Thunder: Nikola Topic, (OUT – Groin); Thomas Sorber, (OFS – Knee); Jaylin Williams, (OUT – Heel); Ousmane Dieng, (OUT – Calf)
Memphis Grizzlies at Washington Wizards
6 p.m. ET
Line: Grizzlies -7.5 (-105) | Wizards +7.5 (-115)
Money line: Grizzlies -265 | Wizards +215
Total: 240.5 (-108 O, -112 U)
BPI Projection: Grizzlies by 9.2, straight up 74%, 238.3 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: John Konchar, (OUT – Thumb); Zach Edey, (OUT – Ankle); , (OUT – Calf); Scotty Pippen Jr., (OUT – Toe); Ty Jerome, (OUT – Calf); Jock Landale, (GTD – Calf); Vince Williams Jr., (OUT – Knee)
Wizards: Cam Whitmore, (OUT – Shoulder); Kyshawn George, (GTD – Hip); Malaki Branham, (GTD – Thumb); Corey Kispert, (OUT – Hamstring)
Boston Celtics at Portland Trail Blazers
6 p.m. ET
Line: Celtics -7.5 (-105) | Blazers +7.5 (-115)
Money line: Celtics -250 | Blazers +205
Total: 229.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 6.4, straight up 67%, 230.8 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: Jayson Tatum, (OUT – Achilles); Chris Boucher, (OUT – Personal)
Blazers: Blake Wesley, (OUT – Foot); Damian Lillard, (OFS – Achilles); Jerami Grant, (OUT – Achilles); Jrue Holiday, (OUT – Calf); Matisse Thybulle, (OUT – Thumb); Robert Williams III, (OUT – Rest); Scoot Henderson, (OUT – Hamstring)
Detroit Pistons at LA Clippers
9 p.m. ET
Line: Pistons -3.5 (-105) | Clippers +3.5 (-115)
Money line: Pistons -162 | Clippers +136
Total: 223.5 (-115 O, -105 U)
BPI Projection: Pistons by 2.1, straight up 56%, 226.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Pistons: Isaac Jones, (GTD – Knee)
Clippers: Ivica Zubac, (OUT – Ankle); Bradley Beal, (OFS – Hip); Cam Christie, (GTD – Ankle); Bogdan Bogdanovic, (OUT – Hamstring)
Sacramento Kings at Los Angeles Lakers
9:30 p.m. ET
Line: Kings +13.5 (-112) | Lakers -13.5 (-108)
Money line: Kings +490 | Lakers -675
Total: 232.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 13, straight up 83%, 233.6 total points.
Injury Report:
Kings: Keegan Murray, (OUT – Calf); Drew Eubanks, (OUT – Thumb); Domantas Sabonis, (OUT – Knee); Devin Carter, (GTD – Ankle); Zach LaVine, (OUT – Ankle)
Lakers: Gabe Vincent, (OUT – Back); Austin Reaves, (OUT – Calf); Drew Timme, (GTD – Concussion); Jaxson Hayes, (GTD – Ankle)