The Sportzshala Fantasy Basketball Betting Tips and Basketball Betting Cheat Sheet is where you can get pre-game basketball betting predictions and our best intelligence and data, including Sportzshala’s own Basketball Power Index (BPI), which will help you make smart betting and fantasy decisions. Odds for NBA games for Tuesday, February 28th are provided by Caesars Sportsbook and fantasy tips are based on Sportzshala’s 10-team leagues.
What you need to know about Tuesday games
Tuesday’s top news is sadly injury-focused as LeBron James and LaMelo Ball battle significant ailments. Ball is likely to miss the season with a broken ankle last night, while James is dealing with a foot injury that comes from a multi-week season with only weeks left.
The fantasy implications for the Charlotte Hornets indicate that veteran wing Gordon Hayward (39% available in Sportzshala leagues) sees more usage and playing duties. Those playing in the deeper leagues might consider Dennis Smith Jr given the fun passing and stealing production he showed in place of Ball to open the season. Smith is a free agent in 82% of the leagues.
The absence of James is a little more difficult in a lineup without much play after Dennis Schroeder (71%), who immediately becomes a source of funny fantasies for today’s meeting with the Memphis Grizzlies. There is also a reason to stalk Malik Beasley ahead of today’s Tennessee game for streaming, DFS and filming, as detailed by Eric Moody below.
My favorite strategy on Tuesday’s roster is probably to get Chris Dunn (98% available) and Walker Kessler (53%) of the Utah Jazz on fantasy rosters ahead of today’s game against the San Antonio Spurs. , which claims to be the worst defense in the league. rating by a wide margin. Kessler is already among the top rim guards in the league, while Dunn should play a bigger role with guards Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton left out.
— Jim McCormick
Breaking down Tuesday’s list
Washington Wizards – Atlanta Hawks.
7:30 pm ET, State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Records (against spread)
Wizards: 28-32 (28-31-1)
Hawks: 31-30 (27-32-2)
Line: Hawks (-7)
Performance Index Forecast: Hawks (124.9–118.8)
Money line: Wizards (+222), Hawks (-278)
Predicted BPI Winner: Hawks (71.3%)
General: 234 points Predicted BPI: 243.7 points
Injury Report:
Wizards: Kristaps Porzingis, (GTD – Knee); Monte Morris, (GTD – Back)
Hawks: not reported
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Delon Wright (participant in 8.0% of Sportzshala leagues) continues to be a viable streamer, with Monte Morris not eligible for Tuesday’s game due to lower back pain. Wright has 20 or more fantasy points in six of his last seven games, including 35 or more in three of them. The Hawks are 21st in points scored per 100 possessions. — Eric Moody
Milwaukee Bucks to Brooklyn Nets
7:30 pm ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Records (against spread)
Bucks: 43-17 (33-23-4)
Networks: 34-26 (32-28-0)
Line: Bucks (-6.5)
Performance Index Forecast: Bucks (124.9-115.3)
Money line: Bucks (-260), Nets (+210)
Predicted BPI Winner: Bucks (60.2%)
General: 230.5 points Predicted BPI: 233.4 points
Injury Report:
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – Quadriceps); Wesley Matthews (REDACTED – Calf)
Nets: Ben Simmons (KILL – Knee)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Cam Thomas (31.5% on the list) still thriving despite not being in the Nets starting lineup. He has scored at least 19 points in each of his last three games. Because Thomas doesn’t rack up many rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks, you’d be better off streaming him in fantasy points format rather than category format. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Jrue Holiday over 18.5 points. Holiday has averaged over 30 points per game over the past four games, some of which have seen Giannis Antetokounmpo off the roster, but even with the team playing MVP, Holiday deserves more attention. Each of the past three months, the All-Stars have averaged over 20 points per game. — Eric Carabelle
Chicago Bulls – Toronto Raptors.
7:30 pm ET, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Records (against spread)
Bulls: 28-33 (32-29-0)
Raptors: 30-32 (30-32-0)
Line: Predators (-5)
Performance Index Forecast: Predators (118.1-110.9)
Money line: Bulls (+170), Predators (-205)
Predicted BPI Winner: Predators (61.7%)
General: 219.5 points Predicted BPI: 224.9 points
Injury Report:
Bulls: Goran Dragic, (OUT – Knee); Javonte Green (CARE – Knee); Lonzo Ball (EXIT – Knee)
Raptors: Otto Porter, Jr., (OUT – ft)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
7:30 pm ET, FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Records (against spread)
Lakers: 29-32 (28-31-2)
Grizzlies: 36-23 (27-29-3)
Line: Grizzly (-9)
Performance Index Forecast: Grizzlies (126.7–116.1)
Money line: Lakers (+320), Grizzlies (-420)
Predicted BPI Winner: Grizzly (81.9%)
General: 230.5 points Predicted BPI: 242.8 points
Injury Report:
Lakers: Anthony Davis (GTD – ft.) D’Angelo Russell (GTD – ankle); LeBron James, (OUT – Leg)
Grizzlies: Steven Adams (EXIT – Knee)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Dennis Schroeder (reported in 28.9% of Sportzshala leagues) established itself on the streaming radar while LeBron James was out indefinitely with a right leg injury. Schroeder scored 29 fantasy points in two consecutive games. For fantasy managers in category formats, it is a reliable source of points. — Eric Moody
Fantasy streamer: Malik Beasley (participant in 40.8% of Sportzshala leagues) should also see some play as King James is hard to replace statistically. The lack of perimeter shooting led to the Lakers being traded for Beasley. He averages 22.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 40 minutes. — Eric Moody
Best bet: Ja Morant over 42.5 points + assists + rebounds. Morant averaged 24.8 points, 6.8 assists and 6.5 rebounds per game in his last six games. It would be shocking if Morant didn’t shine against the Lakers without LeBron James on Tuesday night. Los Angeles is 19th in points per 100 possessions this season. — Eric Moody
Trend: The Lakers played a nationally televised Mavs over the weekend and won three games in a row, hoping the season would go ahead. Good for them. None of this matters for tonight’s ticket betting. The Lake Show is only 5-11 ATS points this season when they score at least seven points, which is a sign that the bookies know when this team outperforms the competition. Whatever the case, in the last five weeks, the Grizzlies have won at least seven points five times in the last five weeks, and all five of those games have gone below the total. — Kyle Soppe
Denver Nuggets – Houston Rockets.
8:00 pm ET, Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
Records (against spread)
Nuggets: 43-19 (34-27-1)
Rockets: 13-47 (22-35-3)
Line: Nuggets (-10.5)
Performance Index Forecast: Nuggets: 127.2–114.6
Money line: Nuggets (-550), Rockets (+400)
Predicted BPI Winner: Nuggets (87.3%)
General: 232 points Predicted BPI: 241.8 points
Injury Report:
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon (GTD – ribs); Zeke Nnaji, (EXIT – Shoulder)
Rockets: Kevin Porter, Jr. (GTD – Foot); Ja’Shon Tate, (REDACTED – Rest)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Bruce Brown (played in 23.8% of Sportzshala leagues) has a very high ceiling against the Rockets, and Jamal Murray is questionable due to lower back pain. Over the last 10 games, he averaged 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals. The Rockets are 29th in points per 100 possessions. Houston also allows opposition to hit 56.3% of effective field goals, fourth most in the league. — Eric Moody
Sacramento Kings at Oklahoma City Thunder
8:00 pm ET, Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Records (against spread)
Kings: 35-25 (33-27-0)
Thunder: 28-32 (37-22-1)
Line: Kings (-3)
Performance Index Forecast: Kings (127.2-122.8)
Money line: Kings (-165), Thunder (+140)
Predicted BPI Winner: Kings (60.5%)
General: 236 points Predicted BPI: 248.6 points
Injury Report:
Kings: De’Aaron Fox, (GTD – Wrist)
Thunder: Alexey Pokusevsky, (LEAVING – Calf); Shai Giljeus-Alexander (OUT – Ankle); Chet Holmgren (EXIT – Leg)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Fantasy streamer: Isaiah Joe (listed in 2.1% of Sportzshala leagues) scored 28 or more fantasy points in two consecutive games. With right ankle pain and abdominal strain, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ruled out of Tuesday’s game, which bodes well for Joe’s streaming appeal. He is the best option in fantasy glasses formats. — Eric Moody
Indiana Pacers to Dallas Mavericks
8:30 pm ET, American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Records (against spread)
Pacers: 27-35 (33-29-0)
Mavericks: 32–30 (22–37–3)
Line: Mavericks (-8)
Performance Index Forecast: Mavericks (126.5-120)
Money line: Pacers (+270), Mavericks (-345)
Predicted BPI Winner: Mavericks (72.7%)
General: 237 points Predicted BPI: 246.5 points
Injury Report:
Pacers: Kendall Brown (EXIT – shin)
Mavericks: Maxi Kleber (GTD – Hamstring); Davis Bertans (KILL – Calf)
Note: BPI figures include players who are excluded but assume that GTD players will play.
Trend: The Pacers haven’t traveled very well in general, having failed to cover eight of the last 10 road games. Will it continue in Dallas? Well, overs this season are 16-10 with the Mavericks more than five points ahead. If we take this into account, it’s important to note that the Pacers have only 3-7 ATS in the last 10 games that have exceeded the predicted number. — Soups
San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
9:00 pm ET, Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Records (against spread)
Spurs: 14-47 (24-37-0)
Jazz: 31-31 (34-28-0)
Line: Jazz (-10)
Performance Index Forecast: Jazz (128.5-118.8)
Money line: Spurs (+360), Jazz (-480)
Predicted BPI Winner: Jazz (80.5%)
General: 236…
Source: www.espn.com
