Germantas Kneita
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There are 7 games on tonight’s slate with plenty of star power on show. Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers will try and establish his MVP credentials against current front runner Stephen Curry tonight. Elsewhere, the Miami Heat will be looking to take care of the Chicago Bulls — who currently sit above them in the standings.
You can find our full game previews here, but for now let’s take a look at my 2 favorite prop selections tonight.
Joel Embiid over 25.5 points (-106)
Since coming back from illness Joel Embiid has been very aggressive on the offensive end. He has recorded 26 or more points in 3 of his last 5 games and has had a lot of success at getting to the line. He has attempted 10 or more free throws in 3 of those games, including 19 attempts in his game against the Hornets. The Warriors are currently 23rd in the NBA in opponent free throw attempts per game, meaning he is likely to continue getting to the line here tonight. Considering that Embiid is a good free-throw shooter, knocking down 77% of his attempts this season, he should be able to inflate his numbers here.
Matchup wise the Warriors should really struggle dealing with his size here. They do have Kevon Looney on their roster, although they do not like using him for more than 20 minutes a night. It will likely mean that at some point tonight he could see time against Draymond Green. That is a matchup he should be able to dominate physically. Embiid does like to utilize his mid-range game a fair bit too, operating from the high post. Going against smaller defenders who will have a tougher time contesting his jump shots here should also work in his advantage and lead to improved efficiency. This Warriors team has been a juggernaut this year; they are favored to win again for a reason. However, Embiid is the one clear advantage that the 76ers have over them and I expect them to have everything go though their star. This should translate to a strong scoring night for him.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Golden State Warriors vs Philadelphia 76ers.
Daniel Gafford over 6.5 rebounds (+104)
Daniel Gafford has stepped up to the plate for the Washington Wizards this year and is having a good season as the team’s starting center. He has been a terrific shot blocker and presence at the rim and it has translated to his rebounding numbers too. He has managed to record 7 or more rebounds in 7 of his last 10 games, falling just a rebound shy on 2 other occasions.
The Utah Jazz should be a favorable matchup for Gafford to grab rebounds. He will spend the night matched up against Rudy Gobert, who has very limited shooting range. He is the league’s leading rebounder and tied for 10th in the league in offensive rebounds. The Wizards are in the bottom third in the league in opponent rebounds and will need Gafford on the floor in order to make sure that they do not give up too big of a rebounding advantage to their opponents here. As a result, he should be able to continue his rebounding streak on Saturday.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Utah Jazz vs Washington Wizards.
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