Three NBA Picks and Props for Sunday Night

There are three NBA games on Sunday night and they all tip off at 8 p.m. Let’s take a brief look at each one, including a possible Finals preview between the Nuggets and Celtics. 

The Wizards visit the Bucks and are coming in on a four-game winning streak, while the Bucks have lost four of their last five games. The Wizards have somehow won five of their last six games and have two wins over the Suns and a win over the Sixers during that stretch, as well. 

The Bucks are banged up, as Jrue Holiday (illness) and Khris Middleton (knee) are out and George Hill (illness) is a game-time call. The Bucks should start Jevon Carter, Pat Connaughton, Grayson Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez. With Holiday and Middleton out, Giannis will likely score a ton of points tonight, while Carter makes for a nice sleeper pick. Bobby Portis came off the bench in Friday’s win over Minnesota and went off for 22 points, 14 boards and three 3-pointers in that one. 

The Wizards are looking at game-time decisions for both Bradley Beal (hamstring) and Taj Gibson (groin), but are otherwise healthy. Beal has missed his last two games and has a chance to play tonight. If he’s out, Corey Kispert should draw another start. The other starters for the Wizards should be Monte Morris, Kyle Kuzma, Kristaps Porzingis and Daniel Gafford. Porzingis had 30 points, 13 boards, a steal, four blocks and three 3-pointers in his last game and has been reborn in Washington, while Gafford had 11 points, eight boards and four blocks, suddenly becoming fantasy relevant. 

Top Oddscrowd subscriber Johnnyj like the Wizards and the 8.5 points tonight but the line has changed to +6.5. Even so, the Bucks will be without their point guard and they simply aren’t dominating teams like they should be. We’re also going with the Wizards and the points tonight. 

Pick: Wizards +6.5

Prop 1: Kristaps Porzingis to score 20+ points -190 at FanDuel 

Prop 2: Kyle Kuzma to score 20+ points -170 at FanDuel

Prop 3: Brook Lopez to score 20+ points +290 at FanDuel

The Kings and Grizzlies have both won two straight games and while the Grizzlies have also won against the spread in those two, the Kings are 0-4 ATS over their last four games.

For the Kings, Malik Monk is a game-time decision with a wrist injury and is the only player showing up on the injury report. It seems like either Monk or Kevin Huerter step up for the Kings on a nightly basis and it was Huerter who came through in Friday’s win over the Jazz when he exploded for 30 points and six triples, including the game-winner. But both players are tough to trust. The Kings should start De’Aaron Fox, Huerter, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis, who hasn’t been slowed down at all despite a fractured ligament in his thumb. 

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The Grizzlies will start Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams, and Santi Aldama is a game-time call with an ankle injury. Morant had 32 points and eight dimes in Friday’s win over the Pelicans and Steven Adams had 10 points, 21 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in that one. Adams is really turning it on by posting double-doubles in two straight games and hitting double figures in rebounds in five of his last six. 

Johnnyj likes the Kings to win outright (moneyline +155) and it’s not a bad call. Just keep in mind that the Grizzlies are 14-3 at home and the Kings are 8-8 on the road. We’re a little more comfortable taking the Kings and the points here. 

Pick: Kings +4.5

Prop 1: Ja Morant to score 20+ points -1050 at FanDuel

Prop 2: Domantas Sabonis to score 20+ points +100 at FanDuel

Prop 3: Kevin Huerter to score 20+ points +310 at FanDuel

The Celtics are just 5-5 over their last 10 but have righted the ship, winning their last four games. The Nuggets are 8-2 over their last 10 and after having their five-game winning streak snapped by the Kings on Wednesday, bounced back with a win against the Heat on Friday. 

The Celtics may be without center Robert Williams, who is a game-time call with an illness. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are the highest-scoring tandem in the NBA and they both scored 29 points in a win over the Clippers on Friday. 

The Nuggets got a very balanced attack in Friday’s win over the Heat with eight players scoring between 10 and 20 points, including Bones Hyland, who has scored 16 and 20 points in his last two after scoring in single digits in his previous three. That’s probably because Bruce Brown has been out with an ankle injury and he’s going to be a game-time decision tonight. If he’s out, Bones is a valid prop bet to score points. Aaron Gordon (shoulder) and Jamal Murray (knee management) are also game-time calls and we’ll have to see who is in and who is out before finalizing any bets. 

This game could be an NBA Finals preview and will be must-see TV just because of Jokic vs. Tatum and Brown, as well as because they are two of the best teams in the league. Johnnyj likes the Nuggets moneyline (+100) but I think they’re going to need both Murray and Gordon to make it happen. We know the Celtics are healthy and only have to win by a 3-pointer, but they also need to deal with the altitude and Nuggets fans. 

Pick: Celtics -2

Prop 1: Marcus Smart to score 15+ points +190 at FanDuel 

Prop 2: Derrick White to score 15+ points +300 at FanDuel

Prop 3: Al Horford to score 15+ points +500 at FanDuel