A nine-game night is highlighted by Luka's Mavs hosting Trae's Hawks in Dallas. We preview three games, four picks and nine props in Wednesday's Insights.

There are nine games on the NBA slate Wednesday highlighted by Luka Doncic and his Mavs hosting Trae Young’s Hawks in Dallas, and the battle for Victor Wembanyama will take place between the last-place Hornets and Rockets tonight. We’ll take a closer look at a few of the bigger games this evening. 

This is always a fun matchup given that Luka Doncic and Trae Young were traded for each other on draft night, but it seems to be even bigger now that Luka has absolutely blown up for Dallas, while Trae seems to be mired in some turmoil with his Hawks.

Doncic has been out of his mind this season and should come in rested after sitting out the second game of a back-to-back at Portland on Sunday. He had his worst game of the season the night before when he scored just 15 points but we can guarantee you he’s going to try to come back with a vengeance tonight. If you discount Saturday’s dud Luka is averaging 34.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists over his last five games. That’s a total of 54.2 and his over/under for combined points, rebounds and assists is set at 52.5 tonight. Tim Hardaway Jr. is out and Reggie Bullock has played well in two straight, including a 24-point gem when he hit 8-of-10 3-pointers on Saturday. Bullock should be starting and makes for an interesting fantasy streaming option, while Spencer Dinwiddie and Christian Wood will also play big roles for the Mavs tonight. 

The Hawks are streaking, sort of, winning three straight and five of their last seven games. But as a friend mentioned to me this morning, they beat the Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton, they have a great dislike for the Raptors, and Miami was asleep in the first half of their loss and a miracle shot by Dejounte Murray saved the Hawks in that one. Regardless, Trae is playing much better lately for the Hawks, averaging 27.4 points, 9.3 assists and 2.9 3-pointers on 47 percent shooting in January. Young is hitting just 43.8 percent of his shots on the season so he appears to be in a much better place tonight. Clint Capela is back, which hurts Onyeka Okongwu, Dejounte Murray is coming off a 28-point night with a full stat line and 11-of-17 shooting against the Heat on Monday, and John Collins and De’Andre Hunter are contributing nicely for the Hawks right now. 

The Oddscrowd algorithm gives the Over 233 points a 2.1 percent +EV Edge advantage tonight and we think the rested Mavs are going to put a stop to Atlanta’s mini winning streak behind a huge night from Luka. For the record, Luka is listed as probable so make sure he’s good to go before making any moves, and the Hawks’ injury report is clean coming in. 

Pick 1: Over 233.5 points scored

Pick 2: Mavericks -2.5

Prop 1: Luka Doncic Over 52.5 combined points, rebounds and assists 

Prop 2: Trae Young Over 34.5 combined points and assists

Prop 3: Luka Doncic Over 2.5 3-pointers made

Be sure to sign up for a free Oddscrowd account and sign up for the Divisional Round to Super Bowl Pick’em contest that starts in two days. First place pays $50 and there is no entry fee.

The 28-17 Cavaliers will be without Donovan Mitchell tonight due to his groin injury and they’ll have their hands full with Ja Morant and the rest of his 30-13 Grizzly teammates. Outside of Mitchell, both injury reports are pretty clean.

The Cavs are coming off a win over the Pelicans and Darius Garland, Lamar Stevens and Caris LeVert will all have to step up in this one without Mitchell. It should also be fun to watch Cleveland’s big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen battle with the defensive-minded Grizzly bigs. LeVert could see a lot of minutes tonight in Mitchell’s stead, but Stevens could end up with the hot hand, instead. 

The streaking Grizzlies have rattled off 10 straight wins and Morant is averaging a gaudy 30.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.0 3-pointers on 53.7 percent shooting in his six January games, scoring at least 29 points in eight of his last 12 games. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams are going to have their hands full with Mobley and Jarrett, while Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks will help Morant on the offensive end. 

Top Oddscrowd performing bettor MarySD likes the Grizzlies Moneyline tonight and we like the Grizzlies to handle the Cavs without Mitchell. 

Pick: Grizzlies -7.5

Prop 1: Darius Garland Over 31.5 combined points and assists

Prop 2: Ja Morant Over 35.5 combined points and assists

Prop 3: Jarrett Allen Over 24.5 combined points and rebounds (he had 35 in his previous game)

The Kings are currently the No. 4 seed in the West and the Lakers will be without Anthony Davis, Lonnie Walker and Austin Reaves. The Kings’ injury report is clean heading into this one. 

The Kings have won four straight games but they all came against bottom feeders in the form of the Spurs, the Rockets (twice) and the Magic. The Kings lead the season series 2-1 but the Lakers won the most recent one 136-134 on Jan. 7 in Sacramento. De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and a suddenly hot Harrison Barnes lead the Kings and Barnes has scored at least 27 points in three of his last four games with 18 3-pointers over that stretch. 

LeBron James is showing no signs of slowing down at age 38 and had 48 points, eight rebounds and nine assists in Monday’s win over the defenseless Rockets. James is averaging 35.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.5 assists in his six January games which is good for a total of 53.5 per game. He’ll get help from Russell Westbrook, who had 24 points, five rebounds and four assists on Monday, but the rest of the Lakers are a crapshoot offensively. And that means LeBron and Westy are going to have to do it by themselves. 

The Oddscrowd algorithm gives the Lakers a 2.4 percent +EV Edge on the Moneyline and we think LeBron is going to do everything he can to protect his home court and make a statement tonight. LeBron is listed as questionable, as usual, so make sure he's playing before putting any action on this one.

Pick: Lakers +2.5

Prop 1: LeBron James Over 49.5 combined points, rebounds and assists

Prop 2: Russell Westbrook Over 36.5 combined points, rebounds and assists

Prop 3: Harrison Barnes over 16.5 points