不说说所有的情况都可以.对于你这句话是可以的,同理,主句动词为believe, suppose等词时,也是可以的.这个知识点很多人不知道或者忘了.
另外,如果否定形式,记住要用：I don't think he played basketball yesterday. 绝对不可以是I think he didn't play basketball yesterday.
还有,你这句话如果变成反义疑问句的话,则是：I think he played basketball yesterday, didn't he? 这里要注意了,附加疑问句的时态与从句时态保持一致.