Nets/Hawks & Jazz/Warriors Previews and Six Prop Bets for Wednesday
It will be hard for the NBA to live up to what Luka Doncic did on Tuesday night but there are eight teams in action in the Association tonight. We’re going to dissect the red-hot Nets visiting the Hawks, and the sort of hot Warriors hosting the Jazz. And in case you didn’t hear what Luka did, he became the first player in NBA history with a 60-point, 20-assist triple-double after helping Dallas overcome a nine-point deficit with 33 seconds remaining and winning in overtime.
The Hawks and Pacers have been a bit of a nemesis for me this year but I’m going back for more. The visiting Nets are absolutely rolling right now and Kevin Durant is the guy I’d put my money on for MVP right now at +900. Here’s why. After a 1-5 start to the season the Nets are 21-7 since, 22-12 overall and just 2.5 games back of the first-place Celtics, who are cooling off after going 5-5 over their last 10. The Nets are on a nine-game winning streak (three straight Ws against the spread) and are now getting solid contributions from both Ben Simmons and T.J. Warren, who had 23 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two 3-pointers on 9-of-14 shooting on Monday against the Cavaliers. Kyrie Irving is also rolling, scoring at least 32 points in five of his last seven games. Additionally, the injury report is clean for the Nets, outside of Joe Harris sitting out again tonight due to his knee injury.
The Hawks have lost two of their last three games and took a brutal loss to the Pacers Tuesday, a night after Indy got destroyed by the Pelicans in New Orleans. And unlike the Nets, the Hawks have all kinds of injury questions tonight. In fact, Trae Young (calf), Clint Capela (calf) and De’Andre Hunter (ankle) are all game-time calls tonight. Trae got hurt late in last night’s loss, went to the locker room and wasn’t seen again. He says he hopes he can play tonight but he feels like a true GTD to me after hitting just 5-of-15 shots last night. The Hawks are 4-6 over their last 10 and lost a close one to the Nets back on Dec. 9, but the Nets look like a different team today.
Top Oddscrowd performers LegacyMac#9469 and Opportunista both like the Nets minus the points tonight and the Oddscrowd algorithm gives the Nets a 2.1% Plus Exceptional Value Edge at -6.5. I’m right there with them. I just wish I would have gotten in before the line jumped from -5.5 to -6.5.
Pick: Nets -6.5
Prop 1: Kyrie Irving to score 25+ points/Brooklyn win +128 at FanDuel
Prop 2: Kevin Durant to score 30+ points/Brooklyn win +158 at FanDuel
Prop 3: Kevin Durant to score 35+ points +210 at FanDuel
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The Jazz took a tough loss to the lowly Spurs on Monday night after taking out the Wizards and Detroit in their previous two games. Lauri Markkanen continues his assault on the Most Improved Player Award race, averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.2 3-pointers per game in December. He had 32 in the loss to San Antonio on Monday and has topped 30 points in two of his last three games and in three of his last six. Mike Conley broke a streak of scoring in single digits in six straight games with 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals, a block and five 3-pointers against the Spurs for arguably his best game of the season, and Jordan Clarkson came through with 25 points in that one. He’s scored at least 21 in four straight and exploded for 39 points on Dec. 15 against the Pelicans. They’re also healthy, with only Kelly Olynyk listed as a game-time decision with an ankle injury that’s kept him out since Dec. 17. His return could negatively impact guys like Walker Kessler and Jarred Vanderbilt but he’s also a key big man for the Jazz. UPDATE: Olynyk WILL play tonight.
The Warriors still aren’t healthy and Stephen Curry (shoulder) and Andrew Wiggins (illness) are out again tonight. Klay Thompson is doubtful due to right knee injury management and JaMychal Green is also out due to an illness. Jordan Poole will be looking to have another Pool Party tonight and is averaging 25.8 points and 3.0 3-pointers in December. Thompson lit up the Hornets for 29 points and five triples on Tuesday, so he’ll be missed tonight. Guys like Donte DiVincenzo and Moses Moody hope to step up in his place, while the Warriors will hopefully continue to go to Jonathan Kuminga, who was 6-of-6 for 14 points, six rebounds and two steals on Tuesday.
Asking the Warriors, who are 17-3 at home and just 3-16 on the road, to get another win at home without Steph and Klay is asking a lot against a healthy and rested Jazz team that hasn’t played since Monday. The Warriors are 2-6 in the second game of a back-to-back this season with wins over the lowly Rockets and Spurs.
Top Oddscrowd performer LegacyMac#9469 likes the Warriors and the points tonight, but without Steph and Klay, I’m afraid I’m going to have to take the Jazz in this one. The Warriors can’t win every home game, right?
Pick: Jazz -4
Prop 1: Jordan Poole to score 20+ points -1150 at FanDuel
Prop 2: Lauri Markkanen to score 20+ points -240 at FanDuel
Prop 3: Jordan Clarkson to score 20+ points -145 at FanDuel
