Last Updated on December 10, 2025 12:01 am by Mike Passador | Published: December 10, 2025

Perhaps the weirdest week in the fantasy schedule is at its midpoint, with the second night of NBA Cup quarterfinals on deck.

Last night saw the Magic, fueled by Desmond Bane, take down a Heat squad that was at full health for the first time all season. Tyler Herro struggled with his shot while Bane had it stuck on automatic to bounce back from a five-point effort in the last matchup between the two teams. In the other matchup, the Knicks were just too much for a depleted Raptors team that was down two starters and has Jakob Poeltl clearly laboring through back troubles. Jalen Brunson dropped 20 points in a scorching first quarter and while it looked like Brandon Ingram would be able to match him shot-for-shot, New York’s depth of talent put the game out of reach in the second quarter.

Tonight we have the Suns facing off against the Thunder in the first matchup. Devin Booker might return after missing the last week with a groin problem, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should be feeling fresh and ready to go after sitting out Sunday’s easy win over Utah. The upstart Suns are one of the league’s more surprising groups to start the season, but they have found a new identity and are getting key contributions from a collection of guys who had been cast aside by their previous teams. The Thunder are a total juggernaut, and their collection of wings is going to present a major challenge for a Phoenix group that seems to love to grind.

The Spurs and Lakers close out this light two-game slate and unfortunately we will not see Victor Wembanyama, who remains sidelined with his calf injury after it was reported that he might have a chance to play. It’ll take a lot of star power out of the matchup but the rest of the Spurs, led by De’Aaron Fox, can certainly compete with anyone. The Lakers have all three of their stars rolling right now, with LeBron James delivering his first true LeBron James Performance of the season in a win over the Sixers. Even without Wemby, this should be a strong night of hoops.

For broader perspectives on the entirety of Week 8, check out the Fantasy Basketball Week Ahead here, where we discussed the best teams to target alongside potential streaming strategies.

Top Pickups

This is the “general must-add” section regardless of the slate. If these players are being overlooked and remain chilling on the waiver wire, consider adding them to your squad.

Anthony Black (31%)

Black moved into the starting five in the absence of Franz Wagner, who is slated to miss at least a couple of weeks with a high ankle sprain. This only cements Black’s pickup status, as he was already doing enough to be rostered in competitive leagues as Orlando’s sixth man. Tuesday’s 10 points on 5-of-15 shooting isn’t great but he did add three rebounds, seven assists, a steal and a block in 34 minutes. We’d make space for him on 12-team rosters.

 Jamal Shead (6%)

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