Mike's Picks (2 Live)
Mike's Past Picks
Anthony Edwards scored 44 points in an overtime win over the Pelicans on Tuesday. That marked his sixth straight game with at least 31 points. It’s important to note that four of those six games came on the road, where Edwards is averaging 34.1 points per game. At home, he has averaged just 25.0 points. The Pelicans have the second-worst defensive rating in the league, so I’ll ride with this over for Edwards again.
Keyonte George has scored at least 27 points in four of his last five games. The one time that he didn’t, he played just 19 minutes against the Rockets while battling an illness. He is in the midst of a terrific season that has seen him average 22.8 points per game. After shooting 39.1% from the field in both of his first two seasons in the league, he has shot 44.6% this season. The Nets have the third-worst defensive rating in the league, so George could continue to score in bunches.
Cooper Flagg has grabbed at least seven rebounds in each of his last six games. The rookie has been playing a ton right away, averaging 34 minutes per game for the season. This should be an up-tempo game with both the Heat and the Mavericks ranked inside the top six in the league in pace of play. The Heat have allowed the second-most rebounds per game in the league, which makes this over appealing. When Flagg faced them last week, he finished with seven rebounds.
Miles McBride has scored at least 14 points in three of his last four games. In each of those matchups, he started and played at least 33 minutes. OG Anunoby (hamstring) and Landry Shamet (shoulder) are currently out. This is also the second game of a back-to-back set, so Mitchell Robinson could sit out for rest. McBride should play at least 30 minutes against a Hornets team that has the seventh-worst defensive rating in the league, so I like this over.
Anthony Edwards has scored at least 31 points in each of his last five games. His usage rate for the season is 32.7%, which is on pace to be the highest mark of his career. He is only averaging 25.0 points per game at home, compared to 32.9 points on the road. The Pelicans have the third-worst defensive rating in the league, and this game will be played in New Orleans, so look for Edwards to remain hot in the scoring department.
Josh Hart has started and logged at least 34 minutes in each of the last four games. During that span, he averaged 11.8 rebounds and 7.0 assists while reaching at least 15 combined rebounds and assists in each game. When he faced the Celtics earlier this season, he had 14 rebounds and three assists in just 19 minutes off the bench. Hart should continue to play a lot with OG Anunoby (hamstring) out, making this over appealing.
Ivica Zubac has hauled in at least 12 rebounds in five of his last eight games. He is averaging 11.5 rebounds for the season after hauling in 12.6 boards a night last season. This is a great matchup for him against the Heat, who have played at the fastest pace and allowed the second-most rebounds per game in the league. When he faced them earlier in the season, he finished with 18 rebounds over 33 minutes. This is a big number, but I still like the over.
I like to play rebounding props for players who are facing the Pacers. The Pacers don’t have great centers, which has contributed to them allowing the fourth-most rebounds per game in the league. Jarrett Allen (finger) is out, which means Mobley should play more minutes at center. Allen also was out the last time these two teams met, and Mobley finished that game with 12 rebounds. Mobley is in a great spot to reach double-digit rebounds again.
Vince Williams Jr. has started each of the last six games for the Grizzlies with Ja Morant (calf) out. He compiled at least 12 combined rebounds and assists in five of them. That included a game against the Kings in which he posted five rebounds and 15 assists. The Kings have played at the eighth-fastest pace in the league, which has contributed to them giving up the sixth-most rebounds and the fourth-most assists per game. Williams has a great opportunity to stuff the stat sheet again Sunday.
Santi Aldama has logged an average of 28 minutes over his last 10 games. That helped him produce averages of 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. With regards to this prop, he combined for at least 23 points, rebounds and assists in nine of those 10 games. That included when he recorded 29 points, five rebounds and three assists versus the Kings. The Kings have played at the eighth-fastest pace and have the third-worst defensive rating in the league, making the over the way to go here.
Reed Sheppard scored 31 points in his last game, which was not an easy matchup versus the Warriors. He also recently scored 27 points against the Nuggets. Over his last nine games, he has averaged 17.7 points and shot 52.7% from the field. The Jazz have played at the fifth-fastest pace, have allowed the sixth-highest three-point shooting percentage and have the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league. In a game in which Sheppard could approach 30 minutes, I like him to hit this over.
Josh Giddey grabbed 11 rebounds in a loss to the Hornets on Friday. That was the eighth time over his last 10 games that Giddey has hauled in at least nine boards. The Pacers have been awful at controlling the glass, allowing the fourth-most rebounds per game in the league. Look for Giddey to be busy in the rebounding department again.
The Hornets just played Friday night against the Bulls. Normally, LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller have not been playing both games of back-to-back sets. They both played Friday, so I’m going to take a chance and say they sit out Saturday. Miller didn’t play the last time the Hornets faced the Raptors and Kon Knueppel came away with 24 points. I’ll take this over.