The NBA Cup semi-finals are here in Las Vegas. Both games have big favorites for a neutral site NBA game. New York has won eight out of their last nine games, with one of those a six point win over the Orlando Magic. In their latest win Jalen Brunson corrected his issues beyond the three point line by going six of nine against the Raptors. Lay the number here with the Knicks.
For the Atlanta Hawks no player has more attention than Jalen Johnson. Johnson is averaging 30 points and 14 rebounds over his last five games. This included a 29 and 13 performance against the Pistons on December 1st. Look for Detroit to center their game plan on limiting Johnson, and for Okongwu to take advantage. Okongwu has averaged 21 points in the two matchups against the Pistons, this included scoring 20 of their 98 points in the December matchup. Take Okongwu over.
A player that should have a two way chip on his shoulder is Desmond Bane. He is coming off being fined $35,000 for throwing the basketball off of OG Anunoby. Additionally, he struggled the last time facing the Miami Heat on December 5th when he went 2 of 16 from the floor and finished with five points. Expect a bounce back performance from Bane who will need to score more with Franz Wagner out with a sprained ankle.
The Indiana Pacers are showing life with a 3 and 2 record over their last five games. With that has garnered attention back to the prop market for certain players, in particular Pascal Siakam. When he is on the floor for his normal minutes he is playing at a high level. He’s coming off a season high thirty six points in his last game, and faces a Kings team that is fifth worst defensively in the NBA. Take Siakam’s over.
The Orlando Magic received big news today with the return of their star player Paulo Bachelor. They will face a Miami Heat they defeated by four points to begin the season. It was a matchup the Magic erased an eight point deficit in the fourth quarter to come back in win. Look for the Magic to take advantage tonight against a Heat team traveling in from Dallas, and are below .500 on the season on the road.
The Detroit Pistons will face the Milwaukee Bucks twice the rest of this week, beginning with a road game tonight. Recently, the Pistons have been involved in closer games. A couple of losses, and three wins by five points or less. Expect that to change against a Bucks team that has dropped eight out of their last nine. This includes a thirteen point loss to Detroit. Lay the number here.
Karl Anthony Towns has scored under his prop offering in three straight games. Tonight expect the balance to be back as Towns can uplift his scoring at the free throw line. One of two games he made double digit free throws this season was against the Boston Celtics with ten. He also has room for a rise in three point makes, as he has made just two of his last 9 attempts over the last three games. Take Towns over tonight against Boston.
Denver Nuggets MVP candidate Nikola Jokic has been a rebound away from a triple double each of his last two games. Scoring has dipped as he has went under his points prop in three straight games. Saturday though, he played his fewest minutes over his past eleven games. Expect the scoring focus to be there against a Mavericks team that is shuffling their interior with Anthony Davis’s return.
The LA Clippers continue to be the struggling team that the market values off of prior seasons. That can be tough to find a spot to back, as they are just 2-8 on the road and have dropped seven out of their last eight games. Still, tonight will mark Kawhi Leonard’s fifth game back in the lineup. He has scored 30 or more in consecutive games, and the first matchup against Miami was just a one point loss on November 3rd. Back the Clippers.
Returning to action in the NBA after a long layoff is usually a no-no when it comes to prop evaluations. For Dallas and Anthony Davis it’s a spot to take advantage against. The Lakers are winning on an 11-2 run, but it’s because of their elite offense. Defensively they will take hits especially in the interior. Grab Anthony Davis over as he has his way with Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, and Maxi Kleber.
The Milwaukee Bucks have lost six games in a row and now will head to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. New York at home this season is 8 and 1 overall. Yet, we just saw the Bucks undermanned face a Heat team that is 9 and 1 at home and not give up despite being down double digits late. There is also a chance that Giannis suits up, which would drop this spread 1.5-2 points. Grab the number now.
A player that has been searching for his shot is Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies. Expect him to be sparked after scoring a season high 22 points in the Grizzlies latest game against Denver. He made four three pointers, which he has done just two other times this season. One of those other instances was against tonight’s opponent in the Pelicans. Take Wells to have his second straight solid game from the field.
The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off just their third victory of the season over the Chicago Bulls. Their opponent in Memphis already has a victory over the Pelicans this year, and have started to get more comfortable minus Ja Morant. In the victory over the Pelicans seven players from Memphis scored in double figures. They also attempted 43 free throws, with Kentavious Caldwell Pope leading the way at 9 for 9. Take Memphis.
A team that should come out fired up tonight are the Minnesota Timberwolves. They have blown late leads in the final three minutes in each of their last two games against the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings. With Anthony Edwards off of consecutive games of 40 or more points, it’s caused a dip scoring wise from Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels who averages 17 points on the season, has scored sixteen or less in six straight games. That ends tonight against the Thunder.
The Houston Rockets will be without Kevin Durant tonight, but will face a Phoenix Suns team in a back to back spot. Houston on the season has not lost consecutive games since their first two games to begin the season. Look for the team to be fired up as it’s the first matchup seeing Dillon Brooks since being traded in the off-season. Lay the high number with the Rockets.