ESPN’s Fantasy Basketball and Basketball Betting Tips Cheat Sheet is your pre-game goal for basketball betting predictions and our best information and data, with ESPN’s proprietary Basketball Power Index (BPI) to help you create smart imaginations – and make betting decisions. NBA game odds for January 29 are provided by Caesars Sportsbook and Fantasy Advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.
What you need to know for Sunday’s games
Pass on the pacers: With Tyrese Haliburton likely sidelined, the Indiana Pacers’ struggles, particularly on the road, look likely to continue. They have failed to cover each of their last six away games and lost an average of 7.6 points more than the spread had predicted.
Point Happy Hornets: Say what you will about the Charlotte Hornets, but they play exciting basketball that inspires goal-scoring. Will this work against the Miami Heat? It’s up to you to decide, but if so, support the home team. Only twice since early December has the Hornets scored under 220 in a game…the Heat are 6-12-1 ATS in games that reach that number.
Overloading on overs: Sportsbook, by and large, has been good at adjusting to the pace and pace of 2023, but two games on this limited list continue to buck that trend. The Milwaukee Bucks (vs. New Orleans Pelicans) have seen 12 of their last 15 home games go over totals, and overs are 7-2-1 with the Memphis Grizzlies (vs. Indiana Pacers) in their last 10 home contests.
– Jim McCormick & Kyle Soppe
Dismantling the Sunday table
Miami Heat at Charlotte Hornets
1 p.m. ET, Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Records (against the spread)
Heat: 28-22 (19-28-3)
Hornets: 14-36 (21-27-2)
Line: Heat (-6)
BPI forecast: Heat (113.8-111.5)
money line: Heat (-225), Hornets (+185)
Estimated BPI Winner: Heat (58.6%)
In total: 224 points BPI forecast sum: 233.1 points
Injury Report:
Heat: Caleb Martin, (GTD – quadriceps); Haywood Highsmith, (GTD – lower leg); Max Strus, (GTD – shoulder); Duncan Robinson, (AUS – Fingers); Nikola Jovic, (OUT – Back); Omer Yurtseven, (RAUS – ankle)
Hornets: Cody Martin, (GTD – knees); Kelly Oubre Jr., (AUS – Hand)
Note: BPI numbers account for players who are banned but expect GTD players to play
Best Bet: LaMelo Ball over 13.5 total rebounds + assists. Ball averaged 9.4 APG and 5.3 RPG in the 10 games before injuring his ankle, averaging over 13.5 overall in six of them. In his first game from injury on Thursday, he grabbed 11 boards and dished out eight assists. Ball should have a clear size advantage over Kyle Lowry or Tyler Herro, giving him a rebound window, and he always has a clear double-digit assist up every game. — Andre Snellings
Indiana Pacers at Memphis Grizzlies
6 p.m. ET, FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Records (against the spread)
Pacer: 24-27 (27-24-0)
Grizzly Bears: 31-18 (23-23-3)
Line: Grizzly Bears (-9.5)
BPI forecast: Grizzlies (121.5-114.0)
money line: Pacers (+345), Grizzlies (-455)
Estimated BPI Winner: Grizzlies (75%)
In total: 241 points BPI forecast sum: 240.1 points
Injury Report:
Pacer: Aaron Nesmith, (GTD – wrist); Andrew Nembhard, (GTD – Disease); Myles Turner, (GTD – ankle); Daniel Theis, (AUS – knee); Tyrese Haliburton, (AUS – Knee)
Grizzly Bears: Desmond Bane, (GTD – knee); John Konchar, (OUT – concussion); Danny Green, (AUS – knee); Steven Adams, (AUS – Knee)
Note: BPI numbers account for players who are banned but expect GTD players to play
Fantasy Streamer: TJ McConnell (Available in 67.9% of leagues) McConnell should be a starter in every game for fantasy managers while Tyrese Haliburton is out. He’s drafted into the starting lineup for the Pacers and has averaged 18.5 PPG, 9.8 APG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 SPG, and 0.5 3PG in 36.3 MPG over his last four appearances. – Snellings
Fantasy Streamer: Chris Duarte (Available in 92.9% of leagues) Duarte finally woke up after an incredibly slow start to the season. In his last three games, he’s made the starting roster, averaging 14.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 4.7 APG, 2.7 SPG, and 2.0 3PG in 33.0 MPG. – Snellings
LA Clippers with the Cleveland Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, Ohio
Records (against the spread)
Clipper: 28-24 (26-26-0)
Cavaliers: 30-21 (25-24-2)
Line: Cavaliers (-5.5)
BPI forecast: Cavaliers (115.7.1-113.2)
money line: Clippers (+185), Cavaliers (-225)
Estimated BPI Winner: Cavaliers (59.1%)
In total: 215 points BPI forecast sum: 224 points
Injury Report:
Clippers: Marcus Morris Sr., (GTD – ribs); John Wall, (OUT – Belly)
Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell, (GTD – bar); Kevin Love, (GTD – back); Dylan Windler, (AUS – Achilles tendon)
Note: BPI numbers account for players who are banned but expect GTD players to play
Fantasy Streamer: Norman Powell (Available in 69.9% of leagues) Powell appears to be getting more run with the Clippers in the second half of a back-to-back on Sunday. Powell has averaged 19.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 3.2 3PG, 1.8 APG, and 0.6 SPG in 27.1 MPG over his last 12 games. – Snellings
Best Bet: Cavaliers -5.5. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are doubtful for Sunday’s game, which seems unlikely given their typical history. While Donovan Mitchell is also listed as questionable, the Cavaliers should be better placed to handle Mitchell’s absence at home than the Clippers to handle Leonard and George’s potential absences. – Snellings
New Orleans Pelicans at Milwaukee Bucks
8 p.m. ET, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Records (against the spread)
Pelicans: 26-24 (24-26-0)
Dollars: 32-17 (26-20-3)
Line: dollars (-10)
BPI forecast: Dollars: (120-114.1)
money line: Pelicans (+360), Bucks (-480)
Estimated BPI Winner: dollars (70.3%)
In total: 233.5 points BPI forecast sum: 229.8 points
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, (OUT – ankles); Zion Williamson, (OUT – hamstring); EJ Liddell, (AUS – Knee)
Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – knee); MarJon Beauchamp, (GTD – knee); Bobby Portis, (AUS – knee); Serge Ibaka, (OUT – Personal)
Note: BPI numbers account for players who are banned but expect GTD players to play
Best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo over 31.5 points. Antetokounmpo has the potential to average 35 PPG when healthy. He’s had a couple of poor performances trying to overcome knee pain but has already bounced back in form in his last two games, scoring 33 and 41 points respectively. I expect more of that on Sunday against the Pelicans. – Snellings