Let’s be honest, this is not the best NBA slate. Not even close really. As amazing as it sounds, there isn’t even one matchup featuring two playoff teams out of eight games. That’s the bad news. The good news is, we’re gamblers so that really doesn’t even matter. In fact, we could actually argue that “bad” games gives us the advantage since the books don’t really know what to expect either. Another plus is the fact that we’re getting the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors at 9:30pm ET on ESPN. That’s something. I say we lean into this weak slate and start with these two player props.
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Tim Hardaway Jr. over 18.5 points (-115)
Line available at publishing at BetMGM Sportsbook
Shooters shoot and that is exactly what Tim Hardaway Jr. is doing currently. Over his last eight games, Hardaway Jr. has attempted at least 11 shots in all of them. Volume will always be a concern as long as he shares the floor with Luka Doncic but it hasn’t been an issue lately.
Shooting is only half of it as Hardaway Jr still has to make the shots and he has. In this eight-game run, he’s gone over 18.5 points in seven of them. He’s posted games of 36 and 42 in that span as well so he’s not just barely getting home. He’s smashing.
The Mavericks are getting a Toronto Raptor team that is waving the white flag at this point. They’ve lost seven of their last eight games and they play games with the injury report every night. They are sending their “B” squad again tonight which has given up at least 109 points in their last four games. That’s a lot considering the slow pace they’ve played over that stretch.
Kristaps Porzingis may be in the lineup again tonight but that may not have a huge effect on Hardaway Jr. Porzingis was around in the last game and Hardaway Jr. still found a way to put up 18 shots en route to a 27-point night. This is one of my favorite player props tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Toronto Raptors vs. Dallas Mavericks.
Russell Westbrook over 1.5 made threes (-115)
Line available at publishing at FanDuel
© Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
We’ve all heard the talking heads and fans call Russell Westbrook, “West-brick” but I’m still backing him tonight. He’s on a mission, throwing up a triple-double seemingly every night and single-handedly keeping the Wizards in the playoff race. That won’t change tonight.
In his last three games with Bradley Beal on the bench, Westbrook is jacking up more threes than normal. In those three games, he has put up at least seven three-point attempts in all of them. He’s hit at least three threes in all three games. We only need two tonight at a pretty fair -115 price.
On the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 27th in the NBA in opponent three-point percentage. There is not a lot the Cavaliers do well but stopping opponents from hitting threes is an area they are really bad. I don’t expect them to do any better tonight.
Given the matchup and situation, this is another one of my favorite player props tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards.
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