After the NFL took everyone’s attention last night, the NBA will look to keep the excitement going on Monday. The pick of the bunch for me will be the matchup between the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn will be hoping to get its season back on track after sliding to 8th in the Eastern Conference standings. The Kings are looking to force their way into the play-in picture in the West following their major trade deadline acquisition.
You can find our full game previews here. But for now, let’s check out my NBA player prop picks below.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will likely struggle to deal with the size and physicality of Julius Randle tonight. That is especially true if Darius Bazley ends up guarding him. It will likely force them to double-team him in the paint and open up passing opportunities for the Knicks forward. Randle is passing the ball well in the month of February, averaging 6.7 assists per game. He has been able to record 6 or more in each of his last 3 games, too. With the Thunder ranking 20th in the NBA in opponent assists per game, Randle should have success dishing the ball amongst his teammates.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Oklahoma City Thunder vs New York Knicks.
Domantas Sabonis had success sharing the ball in his last outing for the Sacramento Kings. He managed 7 assists, hitting his over 5.5 prop. He will have the chance to do that once more tonight against a Brooklyn Nets team he has faced twice this season. In those games Sabonis is averaging 8 assists a night. Blake Griffin is unlikely to have the capabilities of stopping him one-on one and is likely to need help, creating an opportunity for Sabonis to find the open man. Andre Drummond and Seth Curry could make their Nets debuts tonight, too. With a lack of meaningful playing time with their new teammates, there could be more defensive breakdowns from the home team. Sabonis has the passing capabilities to take advantage of that.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Sacramento Kings vs Brooklyn Nets.
The New Orleans Pelicans have wasted no time in throwing CJ McCollum straight into a major role on their team. He has played 36 and 37 minutes in the last 2 games, managing 5 assists in each. He has assumed a larger playmaking role for New Orleans and if he maintains that level of playing time, his assist streak will likely continue. McCollum should also have a clear target to aim for in the paint, with Jonas Valanciunas having a huge size advantage in the paint. With he Lithuanian center being an elite screen setter, look for McCollum to have success finding him on the pick-and-roll. Over the last 10 games the Raptors are tied for 26th in opponent assists per game and the Pelicans guard should benefit from that tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Toronto Raptors vs New Orleans Pelicans.
Over the last 11 games, Kevin Porter Jr. of the Houston Rockets has been able to record at least 6 assists on 9 occasions. That includes a game against this very same Utah Jazz team on January 20, when he dished out 8 dimes. The Jazz maintain a strong level of rim protection despite missing Rudy Gobert. Hassan Whiteside and Udoka Azubuike are able to contest shots in the paint, which should force driving guards like Porter Jr. to either kick the ball out or look to lob it to the big underneath. With the way the young guard has been passing the ball of late, I expect him to make the right decisions when confronted by help defense on the inside. Mike Conley doesn’t have the speed that he once did, too, so I expect Porter Jr. to find himself in there often tonight. Look for him to convert those drives to assists.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz.
Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic should prove to be a handful for the Orlando Magic tonight. Due to Mo Bamba being as slight of frame as he is, the role of stopping him is unlikely to fall to him here. That will likely be a task for Wendell Carter Jr. With Jokic able to spread the floor with his 3-point shooting and requiring close attention on the perimeter, it should pull Carter Jr. out of the paint. This will allow Bamba to step in and clean up the misses with less competition for boards. He himself is likely to be up against Aaron Gordon tonight, who is most effective inside the paint. The Magic are very familiar with Gordon and may be happy to allow him to shoot from beyond the arc. This would allow Bamba to focus on rebounding inside. Considering he has managed 7 or more rebounds in each of his last 4 games and in 8 of his last 10, he should be well positioned to do the same once again.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Orlando Magic vs Denver Nuggets.
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