Fantasy basketball tips and projections for Thursday - ESPN

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. Fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.

New this season, ESPN Analytics will also generate daily NBA fantasy projections. By combining historical player and team data and specific game factors ESPN is able to accurately predict player box score stats. Accounting for injuries, trends in playing time, and other factors impacting future performance the statistical models can be used to help NBA fantasy players gain an edge in their league.

Wednesday featured several competitive games and strong showings from some emergent young players, like Houston Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore (1.4% rostered in ESPN leagues). Whitmore logged a career-high 33 minutes to notch his fifth-straight game scoring in double figures. It might not be time to roster Whitmore universally, but interest is growing.

We already know Immanuel Quickley (58.7%) is shining since joining the Toronto Raptors, including last night's 25-point showing, although RJ Barrettmerits mention as well. The Raptors are unleashing Barrett as a slasher and shooter in ways New York might have overlooked, with the results proving impressive. Barrett, meanwhile, is a free agent in a third of ESPN leagues.

Thursday's slate tips early in the afternoon with a 2 p.m. ET start featuring the Brooklyn Nets facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Paris. You'll want to get lineups set before this international game gets going. The injury report reveals Darius Garland and Evan Mobley remain sidelined for Cleveland