Fantasy basketball picks and betting tips for the NBA Cup semifinals

There are only two games on Saturday and both are semi-finals of the Emirates Cup, which will determine the finalists for the cup on Tuesday night in Vegas. That means a slim pick for today, while Tuesday’s championship game doesn’t count in most fantasy leagues.

Note that the Atlanta Hawks play the Milwaukee Bucks at 4:30 p.m. ET and the Houston Rockets play the Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Here are our fantasy streamers and best bets for today’s games.

The Fantasy Stream Team from Saturday

De’Andre Hunter, Atlanta Hawks (Available in 70.7% of ESPN leagues)

Hunter has been shockingly good this season and is having a memorable December. In his five games this month, he averaged 22.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 3.6 3-pointers. He averages nearly 29 minutes per game and has found a way to coexist with Jalen Johnson, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Dyson Daniels and Trae Young. He scored at least 20 points in all five games in December and will look to continue on Saturday night against the Bucks.

Bogdan Bogdanovic, Atlanta Hawks (Available in 55.7% of ESPN leagues)

Bogdanovic wasn’t as good as Hunter, but he was still productive. He was a fool against the Knicks on Wednesday, making just 3 of 9 shots and a 3-pointer for seven points, but he also had a steal, a block and a 3-pointer. He had 20 points and six boards in his last game against the Lakers and averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.3 3-pointers in his four games in December. If Hunter isn’t available, Bogi is your next best streaming option for the suddenly hot Hawks.

Tari Eason, Houston Rockets (Available in 60.2% of ESPN leagues)

Eason is hot and cold and he can be a real dice roll when it comes to scoring points. But he managed to put up 10.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals and a 3-pointer in three games in December, but shot just 36.7 percent from the floor. The Rockets will likely lean on him defensively against the Thunder and I suspect Eason will get at least 25 minutes. If his shot falls, he should be able to put together a solid fantasy line against the Thunder.

Luguentz Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder (Available in 82.6% of ESPN leagues)

In his first three appearances in December, Dort’s shot disappeared, but he was better in his last two, hitting 9 of 20 shots and seven three-pointers. He averaged 12.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.5 SPG and 1.0 BPG over that stretch. There starts and plays about 30 minutes per game and now that he’s starting to take shots again, he should be good for at least 10 points, two triples, five boards, a steal and a block, making him an interesting streaming option makes for Saturday.

Best bets for Saturday

Odds according to ESPN BET

Trae Young scores first 3-point field goal (+500)

If you want to try to hit a home run and get lucky, this seems like a reasonable gamble. Young has been one of the most prolific 3-pointers in the league throughout his career, making at least one three-pointer in all but three games this season. If you’re feeling really adventurous, Jalen Johnson is +1000 to score first and has also made a 3-pointer in all but three of his games.

Damian Lillard scores over 24.5 points (-125)

Lillard has scored 25 points in seven of his last eight games and scored exactly 25 points against this Hawks team on December 4th. Dyson Daniels could be tasked with trying to hold onto Lillard tonight, which would hurt, but Dame Time is hot enough, right? Now it’s hard to imagine him not being eliminated in such an important game. And I like the chances of him scoring at least 25 points a lot more than I like Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring at least 34 points (-105).

Jalen Johnson Total points, rebounds and assists over 33.5 (-115)

Johnson has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, had a total of 43 PRA in his last game on Wednesday in New York and also had a 41 PRA against the same Bucks on December 4th. The Hawks are clearly excited to be in Vegas and outside Antetokounmpo isn’t exactly a strong defensive player. Johnson should be ready for another big game at the national level.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 30.5 total points (-125)

SGA has scored 31 or more points in seven of its last nine games, including a 32-point night against these Rockets on December 1st. The stage is huge, a trip to the Cup final is on the line, and Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the most reliable stars in the entire league this season. With everything on the line, expect him to take matters into his own hands tonight and put up another massive line against the Rockets.

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

Atlanta Hawks vs. Milwaukee Bucks
4:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Line: Falcons +4.5 (-115) | Dollar -4.5 (-105)
Money line: Falcons +150 | Dollars -175
In total: 229.5 (-115 E, -105 U)
BPI forecast: Increase of 5.3, direct increase of 67%, 236.9 total points.

Injury report:

Hawks: Bogdan Bogdanovic, (GTD – Quadriceps); De’Andre Hunter, (GTD – knee); Jalen Johnson, (GTD – ankle); Trae Young, (GTD – Achilles); Seth Lundy, (OUT – Ankle); Cody Zeller, (OUT – Personal)
Bucks: Chris Livingston, (GTD – Ankle); Giannis Antetokounmpo, (GTD – knee); Khris Middleton, (GTD – Ankle); MarJon Beauchamp, (GTD – Hamstrings)

Hawks predictions:

• Trae Young, PG: 42.5 FPTS (20.8 pts, 3.6 reb, 8.9 ast, 2.4 3pm)

• Jalen Johnson, PF: 38.4 FPTS (18.6 pts, 9.4 reb, 5.5 ast)

• Dyson Daniels, PG/SG: 27.7 FPTS (11.9 points, 4.6 reb, 3.5 ast)

• De’Andre Hunter, SF/PF: 25.0 FPTS (16.4 Pts, 3.2 Reb, 1.2 Ast, 2.1 3PM)

• Clint Capela, C: 23.9 FPTS (10.5 Points, 9.6 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

• Bogdan Bogdanovic, SG/SF: 23.2 FPTS (12.2 Points, 3.2 Reb, 2.6 Ast, 2.1 3PM)

• Onyeka Okongwu, C: 19.2 FPTS (9.7 Points, 6.4 Reb, 1.3 Ast)

Bucks predictions:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo, PF/C: 44.7 FPTS (30.0 Pts, 10.5 Reb, 5.9 Ast, 1.3 Blk)

• Damian Lillard, PG: 43.4 FPTS (26.0 pts, 4.0 reb, 7.1 ast, 3.3 3pm)

• Bobby Portis, PF: 26.3 FPTS (13.4 pts, 7.0 reb, 2.2 ast)

• Brook Lopez, C: 21.5 FPTS (11.4 Pts, 4.5 Reb, 1.6 Ast, 1.9 BLK)

• Khris Middleton, SF: 21.4 FPTS (10.9 pts, 3.3 reb, 3.6 ast)

• Gary Trent Jr., SG: 17.9 FPTS (10.4 pts, 1.7 reb, 1.2 ast, 1.8 3pm)

• Taurean Prince, SF: 15.8 FPTS (7.0 points, 3.4 Reb, 1.5 Ast)

Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder
8:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Line: Rockets +5.5 (-110) | Thunder -5.5 (-110)
Money line: Missiles +190 | Thunder -230
In total: 216.5 (-105 O, -115 U)
BPI forecast: Thunder by 5.7, direct increase of 68%, 221.1 total points.

Injury report:
Rockets: Dillon Brooks, (GTD – Illness)
Thunder: Chet Holmgren, (OUT – Hip); Nikola Topic, (OUT – Knee); Jaylin Williams, (OUT – Hamstring); Ousmane Dieng, (OUT – Fingers)

Missile predictions:

• Alperen Sengun, C: 38.8 FPTS (19.4 points, 9.7 Reb, 5.2 Ast)

• Fred VanVleet, PG: 35.0 FPTS (16.4 pts, 3.7 reb, 5.7 ast, 2.7 3pm)

• Jalen Green, SG: 30.1 FPTS (18.9 pts, 4.2 reb, 2.8 ast, 2.3 3pm)

• Jabari Smith Jr., PF/C: 26.3 FPTS (14.0 Pts, 6.9 Reb, 1.7 Ast, 1.8 3PM)

• Tari Eason, SF/PF: 22.6 FPTS (10.5 points, 6.3 reb, 1.1 ast)

• Amen Thompson, SG/SF/PF: 21.5 FPTS (11.2 Points, 5.9 Reb, 2.2 Ast)

• Dillon Brooks, SG/SF: 21.2 FPTS (12.3 pts, 3.1 reb, 1.9 ast, 1.9 3pm)

Thunder forecasts:

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG: 52.2 FPTS (31.4 pts, 5.3 reb, 6.2 ast, 2.0 3pm)

• Jalen Williams, SF/PF/C: 38.7 FPTS (20.0 Pts, 5.6 Reb, 4.9 Ast, 1.9 3PM)

• Isaiah Hartenstein, C: 25.8 FPTS (8.5 Points, 10.7 Reb, 3.9 Ast)

• Luguentz Dort, SG/SF: 20.5 FPTS (9.6 Points, 4.4 Reb, 1.9 Ast, 1.9 3PM)

• Cason Wallace, SG: 19.4 FPTS (7.4 Points, 3.5 Reb, 2.5 Ast)

• Alex Caruso, PG/SG: 18.0 FPTS (6.6 Points, 2.8 Reb, 2.7 Ast)

• Aaron Wiggins, SG: 16.1 FPTS (6.5 pts, 3.1 reb, 2.2 ast)