The Thunder host the Warriors and the Hawks visit Portland Monday - Previews, Picks and Props!
LeBron James and Anthony Davis are sitting out against the Nets on Monday, along with numerous other NBA stars, so let’s try to find a couple games where load management won’t ruin the fun. The Warriors will visit the Thunder and the Hawks will take on the Blazers late in Portland on Monday, but Trae Young, Lu Dort (out), Jusuf Nurkic and Josh Hart are all iffy tonight.
The Warriors’ injury report is pretty clean as of Monday afternoon and Andre Iguodala is the only player listed as out tonight. The Warriors are riding a two-game winning streak after taking out the Raptors on Friday and the Grizzlies on Wednesday, and are now 5-3 over their last eight games as they try to solidify their spot in the playoffs down the stretch. They’ve done a nice job overcoming injuries and currently sit as the No. 6 seed in the West, but it’s very crowded. The No. 5 Timberwolves are 8.0 games back, the Warriors, Mavs, Pelicans and Suns are all 8.5 games back, the Jazz are 9.0 games back and the No. 11 Thunder are 9.5 games out of first place. So the standings should fluctuate daily until we start to see some separation at the bottom of the West playoff bracket.
Steph Curry blew up for 35 points, seven rebounds, 11 assists, two steals and four 3-pointers on 11-of-21 shooting in that win over the Raptors, Klay Thompson scored 29 with eight boards and six triples, Jonathan Kuminga had 15 points and four 3-pointers, and Kevon Looney and Donte DiVincenzo each chipped in with 12 points. Jordan Poole played just 24 minutes and finished with nine points due to some early foul trouble but it also makes sense for him to cool off now that the Warriors are healthy again. While everyone should be in action tonight, be aware that the Dubs play at Minnesota on Wednesday and at Denver on Thursday, so some rest could be coming, particularly against the Wolves on Wednesday. This will be the first meeting of the season between the Warriors and Thunder.
OKC is actually one of the hotter teams in the league, going 13-7 over their last 20 games and winning six of their last eight games. The Thunder have also covered the spread 63% of the time this season, ranking them No. 1 in that category thus far.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 34, 35, 36 and 37 points in each of his last four games, but unfortunately, not in that exact order. He’s averaging 31.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 3-pointers in January and, for once, is showing no signs of being shut down by the Thunder management. The Warriors are one of the five worst defenses against opposing point guards, which is good news for SGA and Josh Giddey. Lu Dort (hamstring) has already been ruled out tonight, so Giddey, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Joe should all assist SGA in getting it done tonight.
Top performing Oddscrowd bettor Norcalhustlr likes the Warriors’ Moneyline and Matt D. likes the Warriors -4. But the line has moved to GSW -5 and we’re just keeping in mind that the Thunder are at home and are the best team in the league against the spread.
Pick: Thunder +5
Prop 1: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 43.5 points, rebounds and assists
Prop 2: Steph Curry Under 4.5 3-pointers (he’s hit exactly 4 in three straight)
Prop 3: Jalen Williams Over 14.5 points (no Dort, he’s scored 17 and 24 in last two)
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Trae Young is listed as questionable tonight with right ankle soreness but had Sunday to rest. He’s been on fire, posting four straight double-doubles and is averaging 27.5 points and 11.5 dimes over that stretch. However, the Hawks have lost three of those four games and we’ll still argue that the Hawks are a better team when Trae is focused on distributing the rock and allowing Dejounte Murray to focus more on offense. They also aren’t faring all that well against the spread of late, either. All five Hawks starters scored in double figures against the Clippers on Saturday as John Collins had 16 points and five rebounds, Murray had 15 points, six rebounds and eight assists, De’Andre Hunter scored 14 with seven rebounds, and Clint Capela had 12 points, 13 rebounds, two steals and a block in that one. This will be the first meeting of the season between these two teams and the Blazers are the 12th worst team in the league at stopping opposing point guards, so Trae and Murray should be able to keep it going tonight.
The Blazers have been struggling, losing nine of their last 13 games but Damian Lillard is cooking. In January, he has a 60-point game, a 50-point game, two 40-point games and has topped 30-plus points five times. Out of his 14 games this month, he’s failed to hit at least 30 points just five times. The Hawks are good against opposing point guards thanks to Murray’s defense, but Lillard is on another planet right now and playing at home. Jerami Grant went off for 26 points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s win over the Raptors, Anfernee Simons added 14 points, and Lillard had 30 in that one. Josh Hart (hamstring) and Jusuf Nurkic (calf) were out on Saturday and are both questionable for tonight. If Nurkic is out, the Hawks and Clint Capela will have an advantage in the paint.
Top Oddscrowd betting performers Norcalhustlr and Matt D. like the Hawks Moneyline tonight and we like the low point spread and the Blazers only giving up two points at home. The outcome of this one probably will be decided by whether or not Young can play for Atlanta.
Pick: Hawks Moneyline
Prop 1: Damian Lillard Under 33.5 points (against Murray D)
Prop 2: Jerami Grant Over 27.5 points and rebounds
Prop 3: Trae Young Over points and assists (if he plays). If Young is out, Murray Overs make sense
