Blazers @ Wizards Friday - Preview, Pick and Props!
The Wizards, shockingly, are one of the hottest teams in the league after winning six straight games, while the Blazers are coming into Washington bruised, banged up and missing a couple key players.
Not only are the Wizards 6-0 over their last six games, they’re 5-0 against the spread in their last five and nearly everyone is contributing to their success. Starters Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis and Monte Morris have all been rock solid and Porzingis is coming off a huge night. He had 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals, five blocks and a 3-pointer in Monday’s easy win over the Spurs. Center Daniel Gafford was out Monday due to an illness but should be good to go tonight and he torched the Pelicans for 21 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, a steal and five blocks on 8-of-11 shooting that night. He has nine blocks over his last two games! And then there’s the much maligned Deni Avdija, who is suddenly cooking with grease. Avdija has scored in double figures in four straight games and has seen at least 27 minutes in five of his last six. He went off for 25 points, nine rebounds, a steal, a block and two 3-pointers on Monday and he’s averaging 16.3 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.0 3-pointers over his last four games. He’s been crashing the boards with regularity and is averaging 9.2 rebounds over his last nine games. And with Jusuf Nurkic (calf) out and Jerami Grant very iffy with a possible concussion, the Wizards should hold the upper hand tonight, especially at home. They’re 12-10 at home this season and 7-3 over their last 10 games. They're also going to be very well rested after Wednesday's game against the Pistons was postponed due to travel issues after a snowstorm in Texas.
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As we mentioned, the Blazers will be short handed and missing their best big man in Nurkic, and the loss of Grant would deprive them of his 21.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 3-pointers per game. They’re also just 11-15 on the road this season. Damian Lillard can do a lot of things to win basketball games but it’s going to be tough for him to do it all by himself. He’s been unstoppable lately, scoring 42, 42, 30, 60 and 37 points in each of his last five games and he had a stretch earlier in January when he scored 44, 40, 36, 50, 30 and 34 points in a six-game run from Jan. 8 to 17. The Wizards are the 13th easiest team in the league for point guards to score against so look for Lillard to go off again tonight. Drew Eubanks will likely start for Nurkic and is a fine fantasy streamer, while Nassir Little and Trendon Watford will both see a boost tonight if Grant can’t go. Anfernee Simons had 26 points, four assists and three 3-pointers on 10-of-18 shooting on Wednesday and has scored at least 14 points in every game since Dec. 23. He should be primed for another big night tonight as it will be up to him and Lillard to try to score and keep up with the Wizards.
Top performing Oddscrowd bettor Daniel 88 likes the Wizards minus the points tonight and we’re rolling with him.
Pick: Wizards -4.5
Prop 1: Damian Lillard Over 34.5 points
Prop 2: Kristaps Porzingis Over 22.5 points
Prop 3: Bradley Beal Over 21.5 points
