ESPN

Time	Visitors		Opp. PPG	Opp. FGP	RPG Diff.		Home		Opp. PPG	Opp. FGP	RPG Diff.
3:00 p.m.		Portland Trail Blazers	93.5	.460	+4.5	@		Detroit Pistons	96.6	.458	+0.5
5:00 p.m.		Chicago Bulls	101.1	.452	-1.3	@		Philadelphia 76ers	93.8	.446	+6.3
8:00 p.m.		Houston Rockets	90.6	.426	+2.1	@		Denver Nuggets	98.2	.433	-0.4
8:00 p.m.		New Jersey Nets	105.1	.456	+0.2	@		Phoenix Suns	98.6	.443	+0.1
9:30 p.m.		Toronto Raptors	98.9	.457	-2.2	@		Los Angeles Lakers	93.7	.428	+5.3

Out
Chris Mihm, C, Lakers (ankle)
Martell Webster, SF, Blazers (foot)

Day-to-day
Shane Battier, SF, Rockets (ankle)
Tracy McGrady, SG/SF, Rockets (knee)
Steve Nash, PG, Suns (thigh)
Jermaine O'Neal, PF/C, Raptors (ankle)

Jermaine O'Neal believes he'll return Sunday night against the Lakers, as he's missed his past two games with an ankle sprain. Even if he does return, the Lakers' stingy defense isn't the warmest welcoming committee, so I'd keep him on your bench until he proves he's ready to play big minutes again, or at least until he has a more favorable matchup. … Steve Nash sat out Friday's game with a thigh contusion, and may or may not play against the Nets. I'd keep him in your lineup, although Leandro Barbosa should once again see an increased role. He responded to Nash's sitting on Friday with 20 points, five assists, two steals and two 3-pointers. He's been disappointing so far this season, although tonight's matchup against the porous Nets' defense and with a hobbled Nash should translate into big numbers. … Allen Iverson's Turkey Day shenanigans caused him to come off the bench Friday night, although he responded with 17 points and seven assists in 28 minutes, and is good-to-go fantasy-wise, even if coach Michael Curry is still livid he skipped practice to give thanks. … Travis Outlaw may still be favoring his calf after it was kicked in Monday night's game, as he put up a clunker Friday night scoring just five points. He's a nice player, but his .490 3-point field goal percentage is an aberration, and the Blazers' depth means he'll have difficulty averaging anything more than the high 20s in minutes per game. Keep him on your bench against the Pistons' solid defense. … Shane Battier played his first game of the season Wednesday and had five points and seven rebounds in 30 minutes. But he sprained his ankle and had to leave, then missed Friday night's game. He obviously isn't start-worthy yet, although Battier is the type of fantasy glue that helps win championships when healthy, and once he's back up and running should reward patient owners who waited for his return. Also, if he's unowned in your league (which he is in about 30 percent of ESPN leagues), and you have a bench spot for him, add him, stash him, then ride him when he's back at 100 percent.

His numbers don't look too impressive (11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 3s, 0.6 steals, 0.4 blocks), but Matt Barnes has been bombing away from behind the arc and should see his numbers improve as he grows more comfortable with the Suns' offense. His ability to chip in a handful of steals and blocks ups his value, and he should be in line for a good offensive game against the Nets, who allow more than 105 points per game. … Joey Graham has played 22 minutes off the bench in each of his past two contests, scoring a total of 28 points. He was highly touted out of college and became a huge draft-day bust for the Raptors, and now he's doing his best to remind people he's still alive. It would take a significant injury to propel Graham into a bigger role, and with 20ish minutes off the bench I don't see him becoming a consistent contributor. … Louis Williams has been a disappointment this season, although he's scored 14, 13, and 15 points off the bench in his past three games, respectively. He's got the skills to be a scoring threat off the bench, and his recent success is a good sign. He's got a favorable matchup against the Bulls, and even though if he's not worth starting on a regular basis, Williams is one of those players I see being on many more fantasy teams later in the season.

Josh Whitling is a fantasy basketball analyst for ESPN.com.