As the NBA in-season tournament heats up, fantasy managers are laser-focused on squeezing maximum value from every roster spot. Luckily, we’ve crunched the numbers and consulted our fantasy experts to bring you the definitive playbook for Tuesday night’s five-game slate. From must-start stars to sneaky streaming options, we’ve got all the angles covered.
Stream Team: Plug-and-Play Options for Every Budget
Before we dive into specific player recommendations, let’s highlight a few widely-available assets who can provide an immediate boost to your fantasy fortunes:
Bilal Coulibaly, SG/SF, Wizards (62.1% available)
The breakout campaign continues for the versatile Wizards wing. Coulibaly has been stuffing the stat sheet of late, averaging a robust 35.1 minutes and 30.5 fantasy points per contest. He’s an elite streaming option with multi-category upside.
Harrison Barnes, PF, Spurs (84.9% available)
Barnes draws a mouth-watering matchup against a generous Jazz defense on Tuesday. The veteran forward has been locked in, posting 35+ fantasy points in three straight while playing a steady 29.2 minutes per night. In a plus scoring environment, Barnes is a virtual must-start.
Player Prop Bets: Finding Value in the Odds
For those looking to spice up the viewing experience, our experts have pinpointed a few prop bets that jump off the page:
Victor Wembanyama over 13.5 assists and rebounds (-120)
The presumptive number one pick is a walking double-double. Wemby has topped this combined threshold in four of his last five, averaging 8.0 assists and 18.8 rebounds over that span. Against a floundering Jazz squad, expect the Frenchman to feast on the glass and as a facilitator.
Austin Reaves over 2.5 three-pointers made (-110)
Reaves has been letting it fly from deep, hoisting 8.5 triples per game over his last 10. He’s cashed this over in seven of those contests, and draws a pace-up spot against a Suns defense that hemorrhages perimeter scoring. In a projected shootout, back the sharpshooter to stay hot.
Zach LaVine over 27.5 points and rebounds (-120)
The Bulls are desperate for a win, which means a heavy workload for their All-Star guard. LaVine has crested this points-plus-boards prop in four of his last five, averaging a massive 32.4 minutes while shooting a blistering 54% from the field. Against the NBA’s most generous defense in Washington, he should stuff the box score once again.
Game-by-Game Projections: What to Watch For
Finally, we’ll run through a few key storylines and statistical nuggets for each matchup on deck:
Bulls at Wizards (-4.5)
We’ve already hit on LaVine’s lofty projections, but don’t sleep on Nikola Vucevic (36.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists) or Coby White (18.4 points, 2.8 triples) in this fantasy-friendly environment. On the Wizards’ side, Kyle Kuzma (27.3 points) is always capable of a ceiling game, though his supporting cast is thin with Bradley Beal sidelined again.
Bucks at Heat (+3.5)
The Bucks have been scorching hot, winners of six of seven. But they’ll have their hands full in a slugfest with the Heat.
An Eastern Conference scout
Expect a hard-fought battle between these rivals. Giannis Antetokounmpo (48.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists) and Damian Lillard (41.2 points, 6.3 assists) will have to carry the scoring load for Milwaukee, especially if Khris Middleton sits again. For Miami, it’s the Jimmy Butler (36.1 points) and Tyler Herro (23.6 points, 3.5 threes) show until further notice.
Rockets at Timberwolves (-2.5)
A potential trap game for the Wolves, who need a win to keep their tournament hopes alive. Alperen Sengun (36.7 points, 9.7 rebounds) has been an interior force for the Rockets, while Anthony Edwards (44.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists) is always a threat for a monster outing. Keep an eye on Tari Eason as a value play – he’s quietly averaging 23.0 points over his last three.
Spurs at Jazz (+2.5)
This game features the slate’s brightest star in Wembanyama (43.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists), as well as an intriguing battle of point guards in Keyonte George (27.2 points, 5.6 assists) and Chris Paul (26.5 points, 5.7 assists). The Spurs are slight favorites, but don’t count out a desperate Utah squad fighting for their postseason lives.
Lakers at Suns (-4)
The nightcap is shaping up as an offensive bonanza, with superstars like LeBron James (45.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists), Anthony Davis (46.9 points, 11.3 rebounds), and Devin Booker (45.4 points, 6.4 assists) all poised for ceiling games. The wild card is the potential return of Kevin Durant, who would immediately vault near the top of the slate’s fantasy rankings. Buckle up and enjoy the fireworks!
Putting It All Together: Lineup Recommendations
Ultimately, striking the right balance of floor and ceiling is critical to constructing a winning lineup. To recap, here are a few of our favorite plays to click into your lineups on Tuesday night:
- Anthony Edwards (MIN) – Elite ceiling in must-win spot
- Victor Wembanyama (SAS) – Double-double machine with triple-double upside
- Devin Booker (PHO) – Could go nuclear if Durant sits again
- Bilal Coulibaly (WAS) – Affordable option with nightly 40-point upside
- Harrison Barnes (SAS) – All the makings of a smash spot
As always, stay locked into our Fantasy Basketball Heatmap Tool for real-time updates as lineups and injury reports trickle in. We’ll continue to crunch the numbers so you can focus on cashing those tournament tickets. Best of luck, fantasy managers!
