Fantasy basketball tips and projections for Saturday - 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.

From the Denver Nuggets ending the Boston Celtics' perfect home record, to the first look at Pascal Siakam with the Indiana Pacers, Friday's NBA slate offered a variety of meaningful outcomes. Through a fantasy lens, we can appreciate and act on strong performances from two players who just recently returned from respective injuries.

The Orlando Magic have had Wendell Carter Jr. in the lineup for just 16 games thus far this season, but his productive play since returning to the rotation earlier this week signals growing statistical value. The gifted, if oft-injured, big man was the team's best option in the paint and on the glass in Friday night's loss to the surging Philadelphia 76ers. Handling Joel Embiid is no easy task, but Carter didn't back down en route to a season-high 25 points and his second double-double of the season. Available in free agency in nearly 60% of ESPN men's basketball leagues, the arrow is pointing up for Carter.

Rookie Brandon Miller shined in his return to the court for the Charlotte