NBA Sleeper Top Picks & Plays, Featuring CJ McCollum & Stephen Curry - Jan 2, 2023
We have a very interesting six-game NBA DFS main slate on Tuesday which means there are plenty of options to pick from on Sleeper Fantasy Pick’em’s. We have elite names such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid taking the floor tonight. Let’s dive into the top Sleeper Pick’em top plays of the night here at Fantasy Alarm.
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NBA Sleeper Top Picks & Plays
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Obviously taking unders on elite basketball players is not very fun and gives you a knot in your stomach, but this has been a surefire number this season. Curry’s gone under this mark in four consecutive games and in terms of going over (via props.cash);
Last 10: 3/10 (30%)
Last 15: 6/15 (40%)
Last 30: 13/30 (43%)
Orlando is a top-five defense this year and a middle of the road defensive team. It doesn’t help Curry that Chris Paul has entered the lineup considering he had more touches (80) than Curry did (72) last game.
Pick: Stephen Curry less than 37.5 P+R+A
CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans
Do you know what? CJ McCollum continues to be a really good rebounder out of the point-guard slot. McCollum is averaging four rebounds per game and we know about his scoring pedigree. Over his last 10 games, he’s hit this over seven times, has a 53% hit rate over his last 15 games, and over the course of this season, he’s at a 60% clip on the over. He averages 7.5 rebound chances per game and averages nearly 20 points per night as well. Brooklyn is middle of the round in terms of rebound rate and they’re the 28th most efficient shooting team in the league, leading to more rebound opportunities for CJM.
Pick: More than 22.5 P+R
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Player News
Dalton Knecht shot 3-of-15 from the field and 1-of-4 from the foul line in Monday’s loss to the Clippers, scoring eight points with seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and one three-pointer.
Knecht had a rough night, shooting 1-of-8 from beyond the arc and 1-of-4 from the foul line. Unfortunately for the second-year wing, he’s had more difficult nights than good ones this summer, which is concerning for the Lakers. Generally speaking, teams want to see their returnees excel in Las Vegas, if not dominate. Knecht has not done that, which may result in him playing more games at summer league than the Lakers would have hoped.
Bronny James accounted for 17 points (6-of-10 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), five rebounds, five assists and three three-pointers in Monday’s loss to the Clippers.
James put forth his best performance of the NBA 2K26 Summer League on Monday, leading the Lakers in scoring and offering solid value in the rebound and assist categories. Looking forward to the regular season, the second-year guard is not in a great position to provide tangible fantasy value. The Lakers remain in win-now mode, likely limiting Bronny’s opportunities to contribute. His ability to crack the rotation will likely hinge on what James can provide as a defender and perimeter shooter.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser tallied 10 points (5-of-9 FGs), two rebounds and two steals in Monday’s win over the Lakers.
After two subdued performances, Konan Niederhauser was more involved offensively on Monday. The nine shot attempts exceeded his total in the Clippers’ first two games in Las Vegas, and the rookie’s teammates appeared more intent on getting him the ball. That led to a few dunks that likely boosted Konan Niederhauser’s confidence, and he finished in double figures. The hope is that he’ll be more consistent on both ends of the floor.
Jordan Miller finished Monday’s win over the Lakers with 19 points (7-of-11 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one three-pointer.
Waived by the Clippers just before the start of summer league, Miller is looking to earn another NBA opportunity, whether it’s with Los Angeles or another team. He needs to improve three-point shooting and defense, both on and off the ball. Miller looked good against the Lakers and performed well in Sunday’s win over the Bucks. The Clippers have a few standard contract slots available, and Miller may be positioning himself to earn one. However, he won’t be worth the risk in fantasy leagues.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Hornets have signed Drew Peterson to a two-way contract.
After spending his first two seasons with the Celtics, Peterson is reportedly headed to Charlotte. The player and his new head coach are familiar with each other, as Hornets coach Charles Lee was a Celtics assistant during the 2023-24 season. While the change of scenery may result in more opportunities for Peterson, he is not a player to target in fantasy drafts.
Rasheer Fleming accumulated seven points (3-of-6 FGs), two rebounds, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in Monday’s loss to the Kings.
After missing Phoenix’s first two summer league games with a sore right knee, Fleming was available to make his debut on Monday. The second-round pick out of Saint Joseph’s was a Suns target, as evidenced by the team’s moves to draft him. Fleming had a quiet night, but he’s a frontcourt player who has range beyond the three-point line and can defend multiple positions. Due to the Suns’ defensive struggles last season, Fleming may be able to earn consistent playing time as a rookie.