Germantas Kneita
The NBA starts the new week with a strong 10-game slate. They will feature 2 games live on ESPN with the Miami Heat taking on the New York Knicks in the first game of the doubleheader. That will be followed by a red-hot clash between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets are involved in an incredibly tight race for the 2nd seed, a conversation the Warriors could force themselves into by winning here. You can find our NBA picks for tonight’s big contests, but for now, let’s dive into my best NBA player prop bets for Monday, March 17.
Jalen Duren (DET) over 13.5 points (-115)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Jalen Duren has had success scoring the ball of late. He is averaging 14.1 points per game in March so far, which is his highest average for any month this season. He has also hit the over on this line in 3 of his last 4 games. Duren has been incredibly efficient in making shots too, knocking down 69.8% of his attempts. It should put him in a great position to hit the over on this line once more as he takes on the New Orleans Pelicans.
Over the last 10 games, the Pelicans have not been stopping teams, ranking 29th in the league in defensive rating. During that stretch, they are also 26th in opponent second-chance points per game. This season, Duren is 3rd in the NBA in total offensive rebounds and should be well-positioned to take advantage of this and inflate his scoring numbers. Back the Over as a result.
Find out our Nuggets vs Warriors Same Game Parlay picks for tonight’s clash on ESPN
Kyshawn George (WSH) over 2.5 steals & blocks (+110)
Odds available at Bet365 at time of publishing.
The Washington Wizards seem to have found themselves a defensive gem in Kyshawn George. He has been putting up great defensive numbers, managing to hit the Over on this line in 5 straight games. He has been doing it all too, having a 5-block game against the Toronto Raptors while also having several 3-steal performances during that stretch.
The Trail Blazers are an ideal opponent for George to go up against. They are 21st in opponent blocks per game and just 29th in opponent steals per game over the last 10 outings. They are also on the 2nd night of a back-to-back here, with fatigue likely to contribute to more mistakes from them here. George should be able to keep his defensive streak going here as a result.
Guerschon Yabusele (PHI) over 6.5 rebounds (+105)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.
With the injuries the Philadelphia 76ers have been facing, they have continued to rely on Guerschon Yabusele at center. That is exactly the role he should play tonight against the Houston Rockets. The Frenchman has shown his ability as a rebounder with a recent 15-rebound game against the Indiana Pacers. We could see him playing a similar role here.
Over the last 10 games, the Rockets are in the bottom half of the league in three-point attempts per game, which should help limit the number of long rebounds in the contest. Yabusele will also be up against Alperen Sengun. The Turkish center has given up on trying to act as a floor spacer, which should help keep Yabusele in and around the rim all night.
Read our full Philadelphia 76ers vs Houston Rockets prediction
