Germantas Kneita
Show Bio
There are just 4 games on the NBA slate tonight, but the league is still able to deliver intriguing matchups. The standout may be the game between the Utah Jazz and the Phoenix Suns. The Jazz fell in a nail-bitter last night against the Golden State Warriors and are in for another tough test tonight. The Suns have opened up a gap at the top of the Western Conference and will be keen not to let it slip.
You can find our full game previews here, as always. But now let’s dive into my player prop selections for the evening action.
Jonas Valanciunas over 2.5 assists (-128)
The Indiana Pacers will be without 2 of their leading big men tonight in Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. That leaves them with a severely depleted frontcourt rotation. It should put Jonas Valanciunas up against Goga Bitadze, who will likely require the help of double-teams to slow down the Lithuanian. Valanciunas is more than capable of picking out a pass in those situations. He is also surrounded by players that can make themselves available, with Josh Hart and Herbert Jones being very effective cutting to the rim. With the attention the center is likely to achieve, look for these 2 players to take full advantage and attack open space. Over the last 5 games the Pacers are 29th in opponent assists per game. Valanciunas can take advantage of here.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans.
Chris Paul over 15.5 points (+100)
The Utah Jazz could have a lot of size in their paint tonight if Rudy Gobert ad Hassan Whiteside are cleared to play. Without Deandre Ayton there to keep them occupied, these 2 defensive behemoths could make it tough for the Suns to score in the paint. That is where Chris Paul comes in. With his ability to navigate the pick and roll and get to the high post, he could be extremely effective tonight. It is a shot that is tough for the opposing centers to close out to without leaving their man open under the rim. I expect Paul to have no trouble getting to his spots — especially with Mike Conley not being the defender that he once was. The Suns guard has shot better than 55% from the field in each of his last 3 games. He managed no fewer than 15 points in those outings. Look for him to be aggressive against a conference rival tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Utah Jazz vs Phoenix Suns.
Evan Mobley over 24.5 points + rebounds (-110)
Mobley has had a strong start to life in the NBA. His team could look to call upon him more tonight with Jarrett Allen listed as day-to-day. If Allen is unable to go, Mobley could receive a boost in field-goal attempts as well as rebounding numbers. The Knicks seem like a favorable opponent too. The Cavaliers rookie managed 35 points and rebounds in his first meeting against them this season. The forward should be confident he can replicate something similar tonight. On the season the Knicks are just 23rd in true shooting percentage, which should ensure enough rebounding opportunities are there for him. On the offensive end, he is averaging close to 17 points per night in January. He could bump that up with Allen’s shots being distributed amongst the starters. Back the over on this one.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for New York Knicks vs Cleveland Cavaliers.
Pickswise is the home of free NBA picks and predictions. Make sure to also check out our NBA parlays and NBA prop bets tabs for more expert picks.
