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Expert Picks
Jalen Williams is quietly having one of the most efficient rookie seasons in NBA history. Oklahoma City hit a home run taking Williams with the 12th pick and he has emerged as not just one of the best rookies in this class but looks like one of the better young players in the NBA. He is averaging 20 PPG, 6 RPG, and 4 APG in the month of March and he is doing so on incredible 56/48/86 shooting splits. He has eclipsed this line in five consecutive games that SGA has missed and 8/10 overall. Williams is averaging 26.5 combined points and assists in games SGA has been inactive. I like all of Williams props tonight and am comfortable with this combo line at 24.5.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (ankle) out Tuesday against the Hornets, Williams exploded for 31 points over 34 minutes. In the last seven games that he has played without Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams scored at least 20 points in six of them. Gilgeous-Alexander is out again and the Pistons have the third-worst defensive rating in the league, setting up Williams nicely for another 20-point performance
The Thunder are on the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Hornets, and could be without Shae Gilgeous-Alexander again. But the Pistons -- who managed to cover versus Milwaukee on Monday -- have lost 10 straight road games. They're 3-14 ATS following a game in which they covered. This is an important game for OKC, which is clinging to the No. 10 seed and a spot in the play-in tournament. Lay the big number.
With Detroit more focused on the 2023 draft prize of Victor Wembanyama than actually winning basketball games, it's been a rough go for them since losing Cade Cunningham for the season months ago. Even though the Pistons have lost the last 14 games he's played in for them, their first-round rookie Jaden Ivey has been a bright spot. Even in blowouts, Ivey has gotten 30+ minutes per game, a number he has exceeded in his last 12 contests. On Monday against Milwaukee, he posted a 32-8-8 line, showing glimpses of his star potential. In the 10 games he's played in March, Ivey is averaging 15 shot attempts including six 3-pointers, as well as six free throw attempts (where he's shooting 79.3% this month). In November, the rookie had a 15-11-6 line against the Thunder and I once again expect at least 30 points+rebounds+assists combined tonight.
This is a big number for Wiseman who is averaging 21 minutes over his previous three games while being held under this line in all three appearances. Wiseman is averaging only 17 PRA over that three game sample and with the Pistons front court rotation mostly healthy, I think it is unlikely that Wiseman logs more than 22-23 minutes tonight. I would also consider this a neutral match up at best, as OKC have actually done a good job limiting opposing Centers. Over their previous 30 games, they have held the position to second fewest points scored. I think Wiseman’s role continues to shrink and this number should be 19.5 or 20.5.