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On a night without many classic NBA matchups, the Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks may be the best game on the schedule. Even so, there are eight games which means loads of chances to play props and win with Monkey Knife Fight.
The Nuggets have won four of their past seven games, a little bit of inconsistency in the aftermath of a seven-game winning streak, but the Mavericks have been riding a mediocre wave lately, going 7-7 in the past 14 games. The game does feature two of the best Euros in the league, with Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.
Here are some angles to keep in mind before making Wednesday hoops prop picks on Monkey Knife Fight.
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WASHINGTON-ORLANDO
MORE OR LESS
Nikola Vucevic MORE THAN 19.5 POINTS – The Magic center has averaged 20.2 points per game at home this season and has put up 25 points per game in two games against Washington already this season, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise because the Wizards are allowing a league-high 120.1 points per game.
RAPID FIRE
Aaron Gordon -0.5 rebounds vs. Troy Brown Jr. – Gordon is putting up 8.3 rebounds per game at home and while it’s not fair to use full-season numbers for Brown, because he’s playing more due to Wizards injuries now, he is averaging 6.7 rebounds per game over the past 15 overall. It should be a competitive matchup but a slight edge for Gordon nevertheless.
MIAMI-INDIANA
MORE OR LESS
Jimmy Butler LESS THAN 20.5 POINTS – Averaging 19.4 points per game at home, Butler also faces an Indiana defense that is in the Top 10, enough reason to tilt towards the under.
Domantas Sabonis LESS THAN 18.5 POINTS – Similarly, Sabonis is facing a strong Miami defense and is averaging 17.8 points per game at home, but he’s been held to 18 points or fewer in seven of his past nine home games.
RAPID FIRE
Goran Dragic +0.5 assists vs. T.J. McConnell – Since returning from injury, Dragic is averaging 5.1 assists per game, but he is coming off a season-high 13 assists per game while McConnell has been more consistent (when it comes to assists) in fewer minutes, averaging 6.1 assists per game over the past month. Dragic’s ceiling, and the fact that he plays more minutes, is what makes him a lively underdog.
TORONTO-CHARLOTTE
MORE OR LESS
Kyle Lowry MORE THAN 23.5 POINTS – The Raptors lineup is depleted, with four of the top six from their rotation out of the lineup, which leaves a lot of touches for Lowry, who has scored at least 24 points in three of the past five road games. Against an average Hornets defense, he should be able to continue to score.
Devonte’ Graham MORE THAN 18.5 POINTS – The second-year Hornets guard is averaging 20.8 points per game at home this season and while the Raptors are strong defensively, the decimated lineup playing the second game of a back-to-back may not be able to lock down Graham.
RAPID FIRE
Serge Ibaka -2.5 rebounds vs. Bismack Biyombo – With more minutes available in the Raptors rotation, Ibaka has gone for double-digit boards in six straight games. That consistency makes him the safer play.
SAN ANTONIO-BOSTON
MORE OR LESS
Kemba Walker MORE THAN 22.5 POINTS – Walker is averaging 4.7 points per game at home this season and the Spurs are allowing 114.1 points per game, the sixth-highest rate in the league, so take the over.
DeMar DeRozan MORE THAN 20.5 POINTS – Facing a Celtics team that is allowing league-low 103.5 points per game, DeRozan has been more effective on the road, averaging 23.5 points per game and has at least 21 points in nine of his past 12 road contests.
RAPID FIRE
LaMarcus Aldrdige +1.5 rebounds vs. Enes Kanter – With Kanter putting up 7.9 rebounds per game at home and Aldridge averaging 7.4 rebounds per game on the road, Kanter is a reasonable favorite but maybe not by this margin.
HOUSTON-ATLANTA
MORE OR LESS
James Harden MORE THAN 39.5 POINTS – This is an absurd number and yet Harden is averaging 39.8 points per game on the road and the Hawks are allowing 117.3 points per game, the second-highest rate in the league.
Trae Young MORE THAN 29.5 POINTS – Houston’s defense is only slightly better (allowing 113.9 points per game) and Young is putting up 28.3 points per game at home and has at least 30 points in seven of the past 10 home games.
RAPID FIRE
De’Andre Hunter +2.5 assists vs. Kevin Huerter – Not exactly noted ball distributors, so getting an extra 2.5 assists for Hunter is the way to play.
DENVER-DALLAS
MORE OR LESS
Luka Doncic LESS THAN 29.5 POINTS – He’s awesome, averaging 29.1 points per game at home, but Doncic is also facing a Nuggets team that has allowed 105.2 points per game, the fifth-fewest points per game.
Nikola Jokic LESS THAN 21.5 POINTS – While Jokic can score a bunch – he just put up 47 in Atlanta – he is still averaging just 18.6 points per game on the road. Expecting 22 is a bit much with that track record.
RAPID FIRE
Dorian Finney-Smith +0.5 rebounds vs. Dwight Powell – A couple of solid role players in the Mavericks rotation with odd home/road splits when it comes to rebounds. Powell has 5.4 rebounds per game and Finney-Smith has 5.3 per game but Powell is averaging 4.6 per game at home while Finney-Smith is grabbing 6.0 rebounds per game at home. That’s enough to like Finney-Smith as the underdog.
CHICAGO-NEW ORLEANS
MORE OR LESS
Brandon Ingram LESS THAN 26.5 POINTS – As great as Ingram has been, emerging as the Pelicans’ big scorer, he’s averaging 24.9 points per game at home and the Bulls have above-average defensive numbers.
Zach LaVine MORE THAN 26.5 POINTS – This is within reach because LaVine is more prolific on the road, putting up 26.3 points per game on the road (21.4 at home) and the Pelicans are allowing 116.9 points per game, the third-highest rate in the league.
RAPID FIRE
Derrick Favors -2.5 rebounds vs. Lauri Markkanen – Although he has missed time with injuries, Favors has been a beast on the boards, averaging 11.8 rebounds per game at home; too much for Markkanen to keep pace.
MILWAUKEE-GOLDEN STATE
MORE OR LESS
Giannis Antetokounmpo MORE THAN 28.5 POINTS – There doesn’t seem much reason to think that the Warriors can keep Giannis under wraps and he has scored more than 28 points in 11 of 17 road games, despite falling under in each of the last three away from home.
Alec Burks LESS THAN 15.5 POINTS – With the Warriors lineup depleted by injuries, that means more looks for Burks but he runs hot and cold so it’s hard to bank on him putting up at least 16 points, unless he fills it up in garbage time against a clearly better team.
RAPID FIRE
Willie Cauley-Stein -0.5 rebounds vs. Omari Spellman – Cauley-Stein is putting up 6.1 rebounds per game at home, compared to 4.5 per game for Spellman which is enough to prefer the favorite.
