Germantas Kneita
There are just a couple of weeks left of the NBA season and there seems to be plenty of twists left to come. The Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings will be looking to secure their play-in positions as they take on the Brooklyn Nets and the the Indiana Pacers, respectively. With Kevin Durant going down injured for the Phoenix Suns last night, the chances for these teams look to have improved.
You can read all of our NBA previews. But for now check out my favorite player props for Mondays action below.
Kawhi Leonard (LAC) Over 6.5 rebounds (-105)
This month Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has shown sings that he is getting back to his best form — and that has been evident in his rebounding, too. This month he is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game. He has also hit the over on this line in 4 of his last 5 games, which includes a trio of 10-rebound performances. Leonard was rested last night and with his teammates being fatigued, do not be surprised to see him take on a larger role on Monday.
His opponent is the Orlando Magic, who are far from efficient scoring the ball. Over the last 10 games they are just 25th in true shooting percentage, meaning there should be no shortage of misses for Leonard to track down. They are also in the bottom half of the league in rebounding percentage during that time and are not a dominant force on the glass. This combination should help ensure Leonard does not slip below his recent averages.
Mark Williams (CHA) Over 14.5 points (-110)
Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams destroyed the Utah Jazz when the sides met earlier this season, dropping 31 points. Tonight the Jazz will remain without the services of Walker Kessler, who is by far the best rim protector on their roster. Kyle Filipowski will fill in at center. However, over his last 10 games he is managing just 0.3 blocks. Williams looks set to dominate down low as a result.
Over the last 10 contests the Jazz have ranked 29th in the league in opponent second-chance points per game and opponent points in the paint. These are the avenues that Williams should be able to take full advantage of to help put together a strong scoring performance. Do not be surprised to see the Jazz resorting to fouling him down low. With the Hornets’ center making over 80 percent of his free-throw attempts this season, its unlikely to slow him down.
Drew Timme (BKN) Over 10.5 points (-125)
Drew Timme has been a scoring force in the NBA G League this season, averaging 23.9 points per game. He is now getting the opportunity to showcase his scoring ability in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets and he has been delivering, managing 11 and 19 in his opening 2 games. He is making 65% of his field-goal attempts and if he can continue that efficiency on Monday, it’s hard to see his scoring drop off.
He will be up against a Dallas Mavericks team that is still working Anthony Davis back into the lineup. The center has not looked sharp defensively of late, averaging just a block per game since his return. Overall over the last 10 games the Mavericks are giving up more paint points than any other team. A player as crafty down low as Timme should be able to take advantage.
