Fantasy basketball tips and NBA betting picks for Monday

ESPN's fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips cheat sheet is your pregame destination for basketball betting predictions and our best intel and data, featuring ESPN's proprietary Basketball Power Index (BPI) to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds for Monday, March 27 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.

While playoff-bound NBA teams pursue lasting legacies, some other teams focus on lottery luck. The Portland Trail Blazers tried to contend in a parity-driven Western Conference, but now plan to sit superstar Damian Lillard and several other key starters for the final two weeks as the team pivots to building for the future.

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The future for the Trail Blazers includes rising rookie Shaedon Sharpe, who just delivered a career-high 27 points on Sunday as a key starter and has scored at least 24 in three straight games. Sharpe is a free agent in more than 90% of ESPN leagues and is likely to play a substantial role against the New Orleans Pelicans this evening. The Pelicans' Trey Murphy III (62%) Even teammate Nassir Little (99% available) erupted for 28 in last night's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Even as you pursue fantasy glory deep into a head-to-head battle or in a closely contested roto league, don't forget about the lottery-bound rosters and rotations that are focusing on exciting young talents.

— Jim McCormick

Milwaukee Bucks at Detroit Pistons7 p.m. ET, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Records (Against the Spread) Bucks: 53-21 (40-28-6) Pistons: 16-58 (31-42-1)

Line: Bucks (-17.5)BP