Recap: Took yesterday off from doing props for obvious reasons, but on Tuesday, Kyrie’s numbers without Durant were great, while Jokic decided to remind people that his scoring his better than his passing.
First Pick: Sixers -4 spread vs BKN (-112)
Fact #1: Durant (health protocols) is already out and apparently so is Kyrie Irving (personal reasons).
Fact #2: Seth Curry (ankle) is out for the Sixers.
Fact #3: I know this is the third game in four nights for Philly, but they’re rolling and I’m not sure how the Nets keep this within 4 with north of 50 points missing from the starting lineup this evening.
Second Pick: Joe Harris O2.5 made 3pters (+100)
Fact #1: The Sixers are allowing 27.6 PPG to the 2-guard position this season.
Fact #2: Harris has 3+ made 3s in three of his last six contests.
Third Pick: Kyle Anderson O13.5 pts vs CLE (-110)
Fact #1: Yes, I know I missed with him on Tuesday, but today is Thursday (lol).
Fact #2: The Cavs allow an average of 25.3 PPG to the PF position, which is the second-most in the Association.
Fact #3: Anderson has eclipsed 18+ in four of his last six.
Fourth Pick: D’Angelo Russell O22.5 pts vs POR (-110)
Fact #1: The Blazers are allowing a league-high 35.9 PPG to the point guard position — that’s all you need to know.
Recap: The Sixers look great and continue to be a strong 1st quarter spread play. The Bucks scored 125 points and it felt like Giannis scored all of them instead of DiVincenzo. Fox finished 5 points shy of his over and the Kings getting blown out early did us no favors.
First Pick: Kyle Anderson O13.5 pts vs LAK (-118)
Fact #1: Anderson is averaging 18.6 PPG over his last five contests, including 18+ in four of those outings.
Fact #2: In the first game of this series, he totaled 18 on a season-high 19 shots, despite going 1-for-8 from beyond the arc.
Fact #3: The Lakers allow an average of 26 PPG to the small forward position.
Second Pick:Kyrie Irving O27.5 pts vs UTA (-132)
Fact #1: Durant (health and safety protocols) is out tonight, missing his second game of the young season.
Fact #2: There’s an average of 17.5 shots per game up for grabs this evening.
Fact #3: In his first 10 games in BK last season without Durant, Irving averaged 28 PPG and I would expect a similar full-game effort tonight.
That 2nd pick was TLC until I saw he wasn’t starting tonight.
Third Pick: Nikola JokićU24.5pts vs MIN (-120)
Fact #1: Joker is leading the league in assists per game at 12.8, which shows he’s focused more on doing more in the offense than just scoring.
Fact #2: Joker has scored 25+ against the Kings twice this season and is 0-4 at that number against everyone else, including a 19-point triple-double effort in the first game of this 2-game series.
FourthPick: Clippers -2.5 1st quarter spread vs SAS (-118)
Fifth and Sixth Picks: Paul George O3.5 Made 3Pters (-134)and O24.5 points (-110) vs SAS
PG has been ruled out tonight with an ankle injury, so I’m not playing Clippers -3 1dt quarter spread anymore.
With so many tasty matchups on the slate, I felt compelled to sample a lot of the action.
Thursday: 1-2 (-1.17 units)
Season: 5-9 (-4.75 units)
Recap: JaVale McGee was unleashed to the tune of 1-for-9 shooting in the first quarter — that’s all you need to know about how Cavs +2.5 1st quarter went. Darius Garland came through on his point total, while I underestimated how not ready the Thunder are with their current roster.
First Pick: Hawks Team Total O119.5 vs BKN (-117)
Fact #1: The first meeting on Wednesday saw these two teams combine for 286, which went well over the closing O/U of 240.5.
Fact #2: The Hawks have eclipsed 120 points in every game following their season-opening total of 117.
Fact #3: Even with Brooklyn adjustments to the slip screens, the pace of this game should be very Big 12 football-like again.
Second Pick: Kevin Durant O27.5 points vs ATL (-110)
Fact #1: Durant has reached 28+ points three of his four games this season, including 33 against the Hawks on Wednesday.
Third Pick: Celtics -5 1st Half spread vs DET
Fact #1: Boston is 5-0 ATS in the first half this season, while Detroit is 2-2
Fact #2: Although it’s not in-his-prime Blake Griffin, he’s still a solid contributor, but he be out tonight as he continues to go through concussion protocol.
Fourth Pick: Clippers -1.5 1st Half spread vs UTA(-117)
Fact #1: The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in the first half this season compared to the Jazz who are 2-2
Fact #2: The lone loss ATS in the first half was that drubbing at the hands of the Mavs when Kawhi didn’t play
Fact #3: The Jazz played last night — granted at home — while the Clippers were resting in Utah. If PG13 and The Claw are playing, the Clippers should wear them down early.
Fifth Pick: Gordon Hayward O.18.5 points vs MEM (+101)
Fact #1: If you believe in trends like I do, then you’ll appreciate that Hayward’s point totals have been the following through four games: 28 — 12 — 28 — 11… which should the trend continue, indicates a good game on the horizon.
Fact #2: But let’s support that “outlandish claim” with supporting evidence: The Grizzlies are allowing a league-high 32.8 points per contest to the small forward position early on this season, including a 42-point thrashing at the hands Jaylen Brown just the other day.
Sixth and Seventh Picks: Donte DiVincenzo O11.5 points (-110) and O1.5 Made 3Pters (-134) vs CHI
Fact #1: DiVincenzo has hit at least three 3’s in four of five games and the fifth game featured two makes.
Fact #2: He has also scored 13+ points in four of five contests with the outlier game being a 10-point effort in Milwaukee’s uncharacteristic blowout at the hands of the Knicks (same game with only two made 3s.
Fact #3: The Bulls are allowing an average of 26 points per game to the 2-guard position early on this season.
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The 300s 