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The regular season is winding down which means plenty of teams have nothing to play for, while others are looking for better playoff positioning. On this 5-game slate, we have a crucial game at the end of the night between the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.
Let’s dive into my best NBA player prop bets, while you can also check out our NBA picks for all 4 of today’s games.
C.J. McCollum, NOP, Over 28.5 points + assists (-120)
Odds available at BetMGM Sportsbook at time of publishing.
As a fan of the game of basketball, this Pelicans-Kings matchup should be a great one. The Pelicans are holding tight to the #6 seed in the Western Conference, while the Kings are trying to avoid dropping to the 9-vs-10 play-in game. I have my eyes set on C.J. McCollum, who — alongside Zion Williamson — will muster much of the usage for the Pelicans in this highly anticipated game.
With Bradon Ingram still sidelined, McCollum has taken it upon himself to bolster the Pelicans in the scoring department. But I’m adding his assists to the mix, as well, and backing the over of 28.5. It’s a number he has eclipsed in 11 of 15 games without Ingram and in 4 straight — 3 of them coming with Williamson in the lineup. Without Ingram on the road, McCollum has yet to have a game with fewer than 30 points + assists.
The Kings #1 focus should be Williamson; pack the paint and let others beat you. For me, that “other” is McCollum — averaging a 27% usage rate in games played without Ingram. McCollum is averaging 22 field-goal attempts over his last five games, while Williamson is taking more than 18.
The Kings will most likely match McCollum with Keon Ellis, a 2nd-year pro out of Alabama who has been a sparkplug ever since Malik Monk and Kevin Huerter went down. I tip my hat to the 24-year-old, but I’m backing the veteran in McCollum — who is no stranger to big games.
