Fantasy basketball tips and projections for Monday - ESPN

April opens not just with a series of well-intentioned jokes, but also compelling basketball on both the collegiate and professional levels. While Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese and their powerhouse teams meet on ESPN in a rematch of last season's epic title game, we also get a six-pack of NBA action to enjoy.

Many fantasy leagues will be decided this week, adding to the gravity of Monday's games. Two of the six games have spreads of at least 15 points — the Boston Celtics (-16.5) against the Charlotte Hornets and the Portland Trail Blazers visiting the Orlando Magic (-15.5). Such lines can make these contests less than ideal targets for streaming and DFS lineups given the obvious blowout implications. This doesn't mean we should avoid the stars from the Celtics and Magic, but rather we might want to find value on the margins in other matchups.

The Brooklyn Nets are also heavy underdogs in Indianapolis against the Pacers in a contest with the slate's highest total (227.5 at ESPN BET). Indiana ranks second in the league in pace and more trips down the court is always invited for fantasy purposes, as is the Nets' leaky defense. DFS lineups and scoring props centered around human bucket Cam Thomas could prove prudent, while the Pacers bring some value in the likes of two-way wing Aaron Nesmith (8.4% rostered in ESPN men's basketball leagues). Given Brooklyn's tired legs after a tilt with the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday, don't be surprised if this game goes over.

The Atlanta Hawks visit the Chicago Bulls in a game that doesn't really mean much in the sense of playoff seeding or contention consequences, but we do find multiple streaming options emerge from this contest in the section below. The Memphis Grizzlies are uniquely