It’s very good to be an NBA fan. If you enjoy basketball, there’s no way you have just somehow skipped this season. With everything going on currently, it’s almost impossible to miss everything. Even if you aren’t able to watch games, if you frequent any basketball-oriented ‘spaces,’ you will undoubtedly hear about the big games and events as if you had been watching since tip-off.
Social media might be the worst possible place to talk basketball, but nearly every clip and cell phone recording is posted there so at least you won’t miss highlights. Staying for the conversation might sacrifice some brain cells, however.
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MIN @ NOP
Zion Williamson (NOP) MORE 28.5 Points – Anthony Edwards (MIN) MORE 24.5 Points
Playing the Bucks should have been a humbling experience for Zion Williamson. After scoring 23-points-or-more in 10 straight games, the Bucks defense was able to limit Williamson, the deciding factor in that game. The Timberwolves defense and Milwaukee’s defense are incomparable and this makes for an ideal bounce-back game for a Zion return.
If you have made some money off Anthony Edwards recent scoring streak, good for you. There are few players that are more frustrating to watch, not because of how skilled they are, but because of how skilled they are and how inconsistent they can be. Until he puts up another sub-20-point game, Edwards should stay on his path of taking 20-attempts a game.
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MIL @ CHI
Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) MORE 31.5 Points – DeMar DeRozan (CHI) MORE 25.5 Points
The Bulls and Bucks played once this season and both DeMar DeRozan and Giannis Antetokounmpo put up 36-points each. The Bucks are still playing without Khris Middleton and until he returns, Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday’s upside will continue to be unhindered. The Bulls are still lacking an interior presence that can protect the paint since 32-year-old Nikola Vucevic won’t be taking charge after charge against 7-footers moving downhill.
DeMar DeRozan will always have to share the spotlight with Zach LaVine, but realistically, LaVine isn’t consistent enough to assume that DeRozan will have capped potential in situations like this. Milwaukee’s defense has the energy-levels to compete, but they don’t have a playmaker that can slow down DeRozan in the post. If he is hitting at any capacity, both overs here should be sweating.
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UTA @ GSW
Jordan Poole (GSW) MORE 26.5 Points – Lauri Markkanen (UTA) MORE 23.5 Points
Jordan Poole has found himself in a familiar spot with Steph Curry’s return not imminent. Poole looks to be back on the scoring track, but over the last three games he has only scored 69-points despite a ridiculous 38% usage rate. 27-points is a steep asking-price tonight, but he’s taking that many shots and it should increase playing a team like the Jazz.
The Jazz won’t move away from what’s working until there’s proof it’s broken. Lauri Markkanen hasn’t scored under 15-points since late-November and Utah seems happy to oblige their new-found superstar. This should be another high-scoring game between two fast-paced teams so it wouldn’t make sense to advise the under here.
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DEN @ SAC
Nikola Jokic (DEN) MORE 26.5 Points – De’Aaron Fox (SAC) MORE 24.5 Points
Even when Nikola Jokic has a bad game he still has a big game. The Kings aren’t breaking records defensively and most of their wins come from their offense rather than their defense. Regardless, there isn’t a single defender or defensive scheme that keeps Jokic from doing what he does best, help his team win.
Look at De’Aaron Fox’s game log and you will see a tale of two players. One was a passive secondary option, doing little for the offense, the other is the offense. Since scoring 27-points against the Raptors, Fox has been a man on a mission and the most promising improvement is the incredible efficiency. It’s not ideal that he hasn’t been taking a ton of shots, but the fact he is converting at such a high-rate should boost the confidence in this bet.
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