Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for Sunday's NBA picks

ESPN's daily fantasy basketball cheat sheet is your pregame destination before setting your lineups for that night's games. Read our best advice for the evening here, including a selection of players to stream, as well as match-by-match injury reports and player predictions.

What you need to know for Sunday's games

It's important to note that the first of Sunday's three games takes place in the afternoon, with the Brooklyn Nets as rare favorites at home against the Detroit Pistons. The leading fantasy aspect is the continuous rise of Dennis Schroder (on the roster in 81.2% of ESPN leagues).), who publishes career figures as the main creator of a surprisingly interesting offense so far. Meanwhile, Detroit has a young player who is featured in the players to stream below.

The New Orleans Pelicans host the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of the day. The Pelicans are currently missing as many as four starters due to injury, meaning the rotation behind Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram likely provides value. This game has the highest total on the list by a wide margin, making it an attractive climate for streaming and player props.

In the last game the Orlando Magic will face the Dallas Mavericks. With Paolo Banchero out with an oblique injury, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner are being used more often on offense, with Suggs becoming a fantasy star in the first few weeks of the new season. We focus on this game several times between streaming and prop recommendations.

Some may be taking advantage of the extra hour that daylight savings time provides to rest, while others are focused on putting together the best fantasy basketball lineups amid three NBA games this fall Sunday. If you take some time to read this article, you might be able to achieve both.

Sunday's fantasy players to stream into your lineup

Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons, SG (Available in 32% of ESPN leagues)

Ivey is a choice for those with flatter formats. It goes a little unnoticed how well he played at the start of the season. Ivey has developed into a top offensive defender for Detroit and is thriving as a secondary creator. Sunday's matchup with Brooklyn's backfield is attractive to him. For Brooklyn, Cam Johnson (51.3% available) also saw a valuable number of shots to start the season.

PJ Washington, Dallas Mavericks, PF (37.8% available)

You would miss Washington's diverse statistical production if you only focused on its more modest scoring pattern. The value really comes from Washington's ability to produce multiple steals and blocks while also putting up solid shooting and rebounding numbers. The Magic, meanwhile, are depleted in the frontcourt with both Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. injured.

Jose Alvarado, New Orleans Pelicans, PG (88.9% available)

The Pelicans will be without CJ McCollum, Dejounte Murray, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III for Sunday's game. With so much scoring, creation and perimeter defense missing from the rotation, Alvarado will need to become a two-way creator for New Orleans. With the potential to score above expectations (more on that below) and fill the box with passing and defensive prowess, Alvarado is a top guard addition for the team. For those who yearn to score and shoot to the top, this is one to keep an eye on Jordan Hawkins (85.1% available) when it is active.

Bets for Sunday

Hawks-Pelicans over 230.5 points (-105)

While this is already the highest reading of the day, this is somewhat conservative considering how permeable these respective defenses have proven to be. Atlanta ranks 28th in defensive rating with 118.6 points allowed per 100 possessions, while New Orleans is 20th (115.3). The Hawks run a deliberately fast offense and are third in tempo, which means extra possession for two poor defensive groups.

Jalen Suggs over 5.5 assists (+120)

Suggs is one of the breakout players of the season so far. He has added dynamic shooting and creativity to his elite defensive profile. With Banchero's ball-handling skills off the floor, there is more room for Suggs to create great passing lines, especially on Sunday night against Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks' perimeter defense.

Kyrie Irving over 4.5 assists (-130)

Speaking of Irving, he has been more effective as a creator as Dallas has more catch and shoot threat to distribute the ball off drives and in transition. The Magic lack size and defensive power in the backcourt, meaning Irving could be a miss against second units.

Jose Alvarado over 10.5 points (-135) and over 5.5 assists (-135)

Alvarado is now an integral part of the Pelicans' offense. Since Alvarado has just reached the 30th minute and has taken at least a dozen shots in consecutive games, he has several opportunities to score 11 points. Depending on the pass, he will either lead the team or be second behind Williamson in assists in a duel with a porous Atlanta backcourt.

Clint Capela over 7.5 rebounds (-115)

With the Pelicans looking smaller than expected and Capela's ability to pick up boards in binges, he can reasonably exceed that number even with a limited role in the rotation. Remember, New Orleans ranks 22nd in defensive rebound percentage.

Predictions and injury reports

Basketball Power Index from ESPN Analytics. Infringement aggregation from Rotowire.com. Odds according to ESPN BET

Players in italics are available in most ESPN leagues

Detroit Pistons at Brooklyn Nets
3:30 p.m. ET

Line: Piston 2.5 (-110) | Nets -2.5 (-110)
Money line: Piston 120 | Nets -140
In total: 218.5 (-115 E, -105 U)
BPI forecast: Net gains of 1.8, direct increase of 56%, 223.7 total points.

Injury report:
Pistons: Ausar Thompson, (OUT – Illness); Bobi Klintman, (OUT – Wade)
Nets: Ben Simmons, (GTD – Back); Bojan Bogdanovic, (OUT – foot); Trendon Watford, (OUT – Hamstring); Day'Ron Sharpe, (OUT – Hamstring)

Piston projections:

• Cade Cunningham, PG/SG: 43.3 FPTS (25.0 pts, 5.1 reb, 6.9 ast, 2.0 3pm)

• Jaden Ivey, SG: 27.4 FPTS (17.0 Points, 3.6 Reb, 3.3 Ast)

• Tobias Harris, SF/PF: 23.8 FPTS (9.8 points, 7.7 reb, 2.8 ast)

• Jalen Duren, C: 20.3 FPTS (9.9 Points, 8.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast)

• Malik Beasley, SG: 16.2 FPTS (9.0 pts, 2.1 reb, 1.3 ast, 2.2 3pm)

• Marcus Sasser, PG: 13.4 FPTS (6.7 Points, 1.7 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

• Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF: 12.6 FPTS (6.5 Points, 1.7 Reb, 1.4 Ast)

Network forecasts:

• Cam Thomas, SG: 39.0 FPTS (26.7 pts, 3.6 reb, 3.3 ast, 2.7 3pm)

• Dennis Schroder, PG: 38.0 FPTS (19.7 pts, 3.5 reb, 6.6 ast, 2.6 3pm)

• Cameron Johnson, SF/PF: 27.7 FPTS (14.3 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.9 ast, 2.5 3pm)

• Nic Claxton, C: 20.4 FPTS (8.7 Pts, 8.0 Reb, 1.5 Ast, 1.2 BLK)

• Ben Simmons, PG/PF: 20.3 FPTS (6.7 pts, 5.9 reb, 4.3 ast)

• Dorian Finney-Smith, SF/PF: 20.0 FPTS (8.7 Points, 4.7 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 1.8 3PM)

• Ziaire Williams, SF: 17.1 FPTS (8.9 Points, 3.3 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

Atlanta Hawks at New Orleans Pelicans
7pm ET

Line: Hawks 3.5 (-110) | Pelicans -3.5 (-110)
Money line: Falcons 140 | Pelicans -165
In total: 230.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI forecast: Hawks by 1.2, 54% direct increase, 231.1 total points.

Injury report:
Hawks: Dyson Daniels, (GTD – Hip); Cody Zeller, (OUT – Personal); De'Andre Hunter, (OUT – knee); Dominick Barlow, (OUT – Rear); Seth Lundy, (OUT – Ankle); Vit Krejci, (OUT – Thigh); Bogdan Bogdanovic, (OUT – Hamstring); Kobe Bufkin, (OUT – Shoulder)
Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins, (GTD – Back); Trey Murphy III, (OUT – Hamstring); CJ McCollum, (OUT – Thigh); Herbert Jones, (OUT – Shoulder); Dejounte Murray, (OUT – Hand)

Hawks predictions:

• Trae Young, PG: 46.0 FPTS (25.3 pts, 4.2 reb, 8.8 ast, 2.7 3pm)

• Jalen Johnson, PF: 35.4 FPTS (17.1 pts, 8.5 reb, 4.9 ast)

• Clint Capela, C: 21.0 FPTS (10.5 pts, 7.8 Reb, 1.1 Ast)

• Larry Nance Jr., PF/C: 20.2 FPTS (8.2 pts, 4.7 reb, 2.4 ast)

• Onyeka Okongwu, C: 19.5 FPTS (10.7 pts, 5.6 reb, 1.4 ast)

• Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 19.1 FPTS (8.3 Points, 2.8 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

• Garrison Mathews, SG/SF: 15.5 FPTS (8.7 pts, 1.3 reb, 1.4 ast, 2.3 3pm)

Pelicans projections:

• Brandon Ingram, SF: 42.4 FPTS (25.2 pts, 5.6 reb, 4.8 ast, 2.0 3 p.m.)

• Zion Williamson, PF: 40.9 FPTS (26.4 pts, 6.9 reb, 5.7 ast)

• Jose Alvarado, PG: 23.8 FPTS (10.2 Points, 2.8 Reb, 3.9 Ast)

• Javonte Green, SF: 17.5 FPTS (7.8 points, 4.3 reb, 1.3 ast)

• Jordan Hawkins, SG: 16.5 FPTS (8.1 Points, 4.0 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

• Yves Missi, C: 16.4 FPTS (7.2 Pts, 5.7 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 1.3 BLK)

• Trey Jemison, C: 15.7 FPTS (8.0 Points, 5.6 Reb, 1.3 Ast)

Orlando Magic at Dallas Mavericks
7:30 p.m. ET

Line: Magic 7.5 (-120) | Mavericks -7.5 (EVEN)
Money line: Magic 210 | Mavericks -250
In total: 220.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
BPI forecast: Mavericks by 8.8, 76% direct increase, 222.3 total points.

Injury report:
Magic: Goga Bitadze, (GTD – Foot); Wendell Carter Jr., (GTD – knee); Paolo Banchero, (OUT – Oblique)
Mavericks: None reported

Magical projections:

• Jalen Suggs, PG/SG: 32.5 FPTS (16.0 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 3.9 Ast, 2.7 3PM)

• Franz Wagner, SF/PF: 30.1 FPTS (16.3 points, 4.4 Reb, 3.5 Ast)

• Wendell Carter Jr., C: 20.8 FPTS (9.2 Points, 6.6 Reb, 1.7 Ast)

• Tristan da Silva, SF: 20.3 FPTS (11.1 Points, 4.0 Reb, 2.0 Ast)

• Moritz Wagner, C: 18.6 FPTS (12.1 points, 4.6 Reb, 1.1 Ast)

• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG: 17.5 FPTS (8.6 Points, 1.9 Reb, 1.8 Ast)

• Mac McClung, SG: 15.4 FPTS (7.9 Points, 3.2 Reb, 2.4 Ast)

Mavericks predictions:

• Luka Doncic, PG: 52.3 FPTS (28.9 pts, 8.3 reb, 6.8 ast, 3.4 3pm)

• Kyrie Irving, PG/SG: 40.8 FPTS (23.1 Pts, 4.0 Reb, 5.7 Ast, 2.3 3PM)

• PJ Washington, PF: 27.0 FPTS (13.1 Pts, 7.3 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 1.2 Blk)

• Klay Thompson, SG/SF: 23.9 FPTS (13.4 Pts, 2.9 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 2.8 3PM)

• Daniel Gafford, C: 17.0 FPTS (8.2 pts, 5.4 reb, 1.4 ast, 1.4 blk)

• Dereck Lively II, C: 17.0 FPTS (7.3 Points, 5.9 Reb, 1.9 Ast)

• Naji Marshall, SF: 16.3 FPTS (6.7 Points, 2.7 Reb, 2.7 Ast)