Last Updated on January 22, 2025 11:21 am by Gabriel Pérez-Grill | Published: January 22, 2025

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Detroit Pistons @ Atlanta Hawks

Game Time: 07:30 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

DET +2.5 (+120), ATL +5 (-142)
Game Total: 233.5

Key Storylines

Ausar: Ausar Thompson has been starting games since Jaden Ivey went down with an injury, but this has not resulted in strong returns yet. Despite starting, Thompson is just the 146th-ranked player in per-game value in 9-cat formats over the past two weeks (five games). His rank in 9-cat formats is significantly boosted by his lack of turnovers. Production at this level is not worthy of holding on to in standard formats. While there is no denying that Thompson’s potential is very much intriguing, Thompson should be viewed more as a rebounds and defensive stats streaming option than a must-roster player in standard formats until we see an improvement in his production.

New Starter: Onyeka Okongwu replaced Clint Capela in the starting lineup on Monday vs. the Knicks. Whether this move sticks for good remains to be seen, but does help Okongwu’s fantasy outlook for now. Okongwu has proven to be able to produce strong fantasy lines when given extended minutes, and should the lineup switch result in Okongwu getting close to 30 minutes per contest (or even more), he needs to be rostered in all formats.

Stream of the Game

Malik Beasley is always a go-to streaming option for fantasy managers in need of points and 3-pointers.

Alternatives: Vit Krejci and Isaiah Stewart. Ron Holland, Marcus Sasser and Garrison Mathews (deeper formats).

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Phoenix Suns @ Brooklyn Nets

Game Time:  7:30 pm ET

DraftKings Lines

PHO -11.5 (-600), BKN +11.5 (+440)
Game Total: 218.5

Key Storylines

New Starter Part 2: Newly acquired Nick Richards impressed in his first game as a Sun, and was consequently introduced to the starting lineup replacing Mason Plumlee on Monday. Richards can absolutely be rostered in standard formats moving forward. Game 1 most likely set the bar too high, but Richards is not really facing “stiff” competition for minutes on this Suns roster and should continue to see extended minutes for the foreseeable future. The opportunity is there for Richards to impress.

Will Johnson Be Moved?: The Nets started off the season surprisingly well, playing great team basketball and winning games in the process. They played so well, that the Nets’ front office quickly decided to make moves in trading Dorian Finney-Smith and Dennis Schröder to “slow down” the upward trend, as the Nets’ priority this season is to get another high draft pick for the next year. Due to this, Cam Johnson continues to be in trade rumors. From a fantasy perspective, a trade could actually really help Johnson’s value (a lot of variety depending on where he would land), as his minutes are starting to trend in the wrong direction with the Nets slowly but surely moving into “full-tank mode”.

Stream of the Game

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Gabriel Pérez-Grill

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