ESPN's fantasy basketball daily cheat sheet is your pregame destination before you set your lineups for that night's games. Here you'll read our best advice for the night, including a selection of players you can stream as well as game-by-game injury reports.
What you need to know for Thursday's games
The New York Knicks enter Thursday night's matchup against the Boston Celtics in strong form, riding a three-game winning streak and going 7-3 over their last 10 games. At 51-28, New York has been especially dominant at Madison Square Garden, posting a 28-9 home record, and will look to use that advantage against one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. With seeding still in play, the Knicks have added motivation as they continue to push toward the playoffs.
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Boston, meanwhile, has been one of the most consistent teams in the league all season. Sitting at 54-25, the Celtics have won four straight and eight of their last 10 games, powered by elite production on both ends of the floor. Jayson Tatum returns to MSG for the first time since suffering a torn Achilles on that court during the 2025 playoffs, while Jaylen Brown continues to lead the offense at a high level. Despite Tatum not yet playing at peak form, Boston remains a dangerous and well-balanced team.
This matchup also carries added intrigue as a potential playoff preview. The Knicks lead the season series 2-1, including a convincing win in their last meeting, but Boston enters with momentum and a deeper roster when healthy. Ultimately, the game could come down to availability and execution, with New York looking to capitalize at home while Boston aims to reinforce its standing near the top of the conference.
Here's a look at the fantasy streamers, betting angles and DFS plays of interest on Thursday's six-game slate.
Thursday's fantasy stream team
E.J. Liddell, PF, Brooklyn Nets (rostered in 0.2% of ESPN leagues): Liddell has made the most of his playing time, scoring at least 30 fantasy points in each of his last two games amid multiple injuries for the Nets. Nic Claxton, Day'Ron Sharpe and Danny Wolf have all been ruled out for Thursday's game. That should continue to open up opportunities for Liddell, who is a strong DFS value at $4,500 against a Pacers team that has allowed the second-most DraftKings fantasy points per game to power forwards over their last 15 games.