Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Schedule: Streaming Targets & Matchups

Fantasy basketball Week 3 schedule optimization begins with identifying four-game teams facing weak defenses. Boston appears positioned to exploit Utah and Washington's porous defenses. The Nuggets project well with four home contests, including Indiana's league-worst rebounding defense. Golden State, Dallas, Detroit, and Minnesota all offer streaming appeal with volume and favorable opponent matchups throughout the week.

Days with fewer than five games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

• Thursday, November 6: LAC at PHX 

Teams with more than three games this week

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

• Nets (4), Celtics (4), Mavericks (4), Nuggets (4), Pistons (4), Warriors (4), Rockets (4), Pacers (4), Clippers (4), Grizzlies (4), Heat (4), Bucks (4), Timberwolves (4), Thunder (4), 76ers (4), Kings (4), Wizards (4)

 Teams with fewer than three games this week

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:

• Hornets (2)

 Top teams to target based on favorable matchups 

Celtics - vs. Jazz, vs. Wizards, at Magic, at Magic 

The Celtics open the week with back-to-back home matchups against a couple of lackluster defenses. The Jazz are giving up the league's sixth-most points per game, including the most made three-pointers per game, which benefits Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown and Anfernee Simons, who lead the Celtics in made threes. They move on to an encounter with the Wizards, who are giving up the league's most points and second-most rebounds per game. Things should get slightly tougher for the Celtics as they enter Orlando for back-to-back road games against the Magic, who are giving up the 11th fewest points and third-fewest threes per game. However, the Magic are also conceding the league's fifth-most turnovers and giving up the second-most points in the paint, which opens up other opportunities for the Celtics to take advantage. 

Mavericks - at Rockets, vs. Pelicans, at Grizzlies, at Wizards 

The Mavericks face their toughest matchup of the week right off the bat, with a road game against the Rockets, who are giving up the league's eighth-fewest points and eighth-lowest field-goal percentage per game. However, there is still a loophole to be exploited, as the Rockets are also giving up the league's second-most threes per game. From there, things lighten up for the Mavericks, beginning with a home meeting against the Pelicans, who are winless entering Week 3, and who are giving up the league's third-most points, fifth-most threes, fifth-most rebounds and sixth-most points in the paint per game. Up next is a road matchup against another couple of struggling defenses, beginning with the Grizzlies, who are giving up the league's fourth-most points and the fifth-highest field-goal and three-point percentages. The Mavs then close the week with a meeting against the Wizards, who are giving up the league's most points and second-most rebounds per game, which could mean boosted production for Daniel Gafford, especially if Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively are limited.

Nuggets - vs. Kings, vs. Heat, vs. Warriors, vs. Pacers

The Nuggets have the benefit of four straight home games in Week 3. They get off to a favorable start against the Kings, who are giving up the league's fourth-highest field-goal percentage, seventh-most rebounds and fourth-most points in the paint, which should make a great opportunity for their frontcourt players, especially Nikola Jokic, who will be set up to deliver one of his patented massive statlines. Things may slow down in the next game, against the Heat, who are holding opponents to the league's fourth-lowest field-goal percentage and maintaining solid defensive numbers across the board. Moving on to a matchup with the Warriors, the Nuggets should find a few openings, as the Warriors are allowing opponents to shoot an average of 48.2 percent from the field, while also giving up the league's ninth-most points in the paint and second-most turnovers per game. Finally, a meeting with the hobbled Pacers to close the week should represent another relatively light bit of work, as the Pacers are giving up the league's sixth-highest field-goal percentage, second-most free throws and most rebounds per game. 

Pistons - at Grizzlies, vs. Jazz, at Nets, at 76ers

The Pistons begin the week with a meeting against the Grizzlies, who are giving up the league's fourth-most points, fifth-highest field-goal percentage and fifth-highest three-point percentage, which will be an excellent matchup for Duncan Robinson, who is averaging 2.5 made threes per game. Next, is another great opportunity for the Pistons' long-range shooters, as the Jazz are giving up the league's sixth-most points per game, including the most made three-pointers per game. Moving on, a road game against the Nets should signify another very favorable matchup, as they are giving up the league's second-most points, fifth-most three-pointers and third-most points in the paint. Competition will likely get a little tougher for the Pistons to close the week, as the 76ers are doing a relatively decent job on the defensive end, including giving up the league's seventh-fewest threes per game. 

Warriors - vs. Suns, at Kings, at Nuggets, vs. Pacers

The Warriors kick off Week 3 with a home game against the Suns, who are not off to a great start defensively, showing weakness down low, where they are giving up the league's ninth-most points in the paint and eighth-most rebounds per game. Next, the Warriors take on the Kings, who are struggling defensively, especially in the paint and against opposing guards, as they are giving up the league's ninth-most points to opposing point guards and the third-most points to opposing shooting guards. Moving ahead, they face a tougher challenge on the road against the Nuggets, who are holding opponents to the fourth-fewest points per game. However, the Warriors may be able to benefit at the foul line, where the Nuggets give up the league's 11th-most free throws per game. To close the week, the Warriors face the Pacers, who are struggling defensively, especially by giving up the league's most points per game to opposing point guards, setting up a prime opportunity for Stephen Curry to shine. 

Timberwolves - at Nets, at Knicks, vs. Jazz, at Kings 

The Timberwolves have a great chance to begin the week with a win against the Nets, who are struggling defensively, including giving up the league's second-most points per game to opposing shooting guards, which means a great opportunity for Donte DiVincenzo to stand out in the absence of Anthony Edwards. The following matchup against the Knicks should be more of a challenge, as they are limiting opponents to the league's ninth-fewest points. However, they are also giving up the league's sixth-highest field-goal percentage and second-highest three-point percentage, which signifies the potential for the Timberwolves' lineup to boost their efficiency numbers for the week. The Jazz represent another ideal opportunity for the Timberwolves' offense to keep rolling, as they are giving up the league's sixth-most points per game, including the most made three-pointers per game. The Timberwolves close the week against the Kings, who are giving up the league's fourth-highest field-goal percentage, seventh-most rebounds and fourth-most points in the paint, which should provide one more chance for the Timberwolves to rack up numbers across the board.