Germantas Kneita
Show Bio
There are another six games from the NBA tonight to keep us entertained whilst most of the sports world eagerly waits for the Super Bowl this weekend. The highlight of tonight’s action is without question the matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets, who both have major title aspirations this season. And we finally get to see Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard square off against each other once again which is always a good watch. Be sure to check out our picks on the side and total for all of today’s matchups.
In the meantime, let’s have a look at some of the player props to look out for tonight.
Kawhi Leonard over 27.5 points (-106)
The Nets are defensively the worst team in the league since putting together their new big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. Apart from one low-scoring game against the Heat, they have been giving up more than 120 points to teams regularly. This should allow Kawhi Leonard plenty of opportunities to get his shots up in this one.
Leonard has managed to score 28 points or more in four of his last five games and against defenses that are considered a lot more stringent than the Nets. Leonard is the leading scorer on the Clippers and does not leave many free points at the line either, as he is knocking down over 91 percent of his attempts from the line. He should be able to score at least 30 here tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Los Angeles Clippers vs. Brooklyn Nets.
Kyle Lowry over 9.5 assists (+580)
This will be the second straight game between these two teams and in the first Kyle Lowry was a passing machine. He totalled 15 assists on the night and was superb in getting his teammates involved. The Magic do not have a lockdown defender in their backcourt which really allowed Lowry to beat his man off the dribble and dish out to teammates when the help defender presented himself. Considering that these two teams just faced off, there is no reason to believe he will not be able to replicate such a performance. This line would also allow for a bit of a drop off, so it definitely represents good value.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Toronto Raptors vs. Orlando Magic.
Talk about vision! 👀 One of the underrated dimes from 6x #NBAAllStar Kyle Lowry who had 15 assists in the W against the Orlando Magic last night 🥵 pic.twitter.com/yNNP6yi4Hc
— The Raptors Insider (@RapsInsiderTO) February 1, 2021
Russell Westbrook over 22.5 points (-112)
Russell Westbrook seems to have his mean streak back. After his game-winning three-pointer against the Nets, I expect his confidence to be sky high. Having just come off scoring 26 points against the Hawks and 41 against the Nets, he is likely to keep his red-hot scoring going against the Blazers.
The Trail Blazers are 26th in the league in opponent points per game and are currently very shorthanded. Whilst Jusuf Nurkic provided decent rim protection, in his absence Enes Kanter does not offer much in that department. Considering that Westbrook thrives at the rim, he should have plenty of success here tonight.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Portland Trail Blazers vs. Washington Wizards.
Ja Morant over 9.5 assists (+174)
Ja Morant has been doing it all for Memphis since the Grizzlies returned from their layoff. He managed to record double-digit assists in one of Memphis’ recent games against the Spurs, and eight in the other. He now averages close to eight assists per game on the season but the Pacers provide him with a good opportunity to exceed that.
With Myles Turner protecting the rim for Indiana, it’s likely that Morant will look to pass off more than he normally would when getting in the paint. After all, Turner is the current leader in blocks per game in the NBA. The Pacers are also bottom five in the league in defending the three-point line, so such a tactic from Morant is something that would definitely help the Grizzlies to exploit this.
Be sure to check out our full game preview for Memphis Grizzlies vs. Indiana Pacers.
Pickswise is the home of free sports picks, news, and best bets. Check out our expert NFL Picks including our very own Super Bowl page, as well as NBA Picks, and College Basketball Picks throughout the season.
