In the lone late game on tonight’s NBA slate, the Los Angeles Clippers are set to face off with the Utah Jazz.
Both these teams have notable injuries but are otherwise relatively healthy. Kawhi Leonard remains sidelined for the Clippers, and the Jazz will be without Walker Kessler and Taylor Hendricks.
As is typically the case, James Harden will lead the way for the Clippers. Harden is averaging 20.7 points, 8.3 assists and 8.0 rebounds per game through 13 contests.
The Clippers enter this game as 9.5-point favorites. The Jazz are considered +350 underdogs on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook with the game total set at 221 points.
As Harden prepares to take on the Jazz, here are his best prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook.
James Harden Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook has set Harden’s prop lines for points (21.5), rebounds (5.5), assists (8.5) and made three-pointers (2.5). Here are the top betting options to consider:
Over 21.5 Points (-125): Harden’s point prop is set at 21.5 with the over favored at -125 odds and the odds for the under set at -105. The three-time scoring champion is averaging 20.7 points per game this season which is a notable increase from the 16.6 points per game he averaged last year. Harden has recorded over 21.5 points in six of the 13 games this season.
Harden started the season in attack mode, recording over 21.5 points in four of the first five games. Since this point, he has been held under 21.5 points in six of the past eight games including each of the past three performances. Utah presents a great chance to get back on track as they rank 26th in the league in opponents’ points allowed.
Over 5.5 Rebounds (-148): The rebounding prop for Harden is set at 5.5 with the over heavily favored at -148 odds and the under set at +115 odds. The Clippers guard is second on the team in rebounding with 8.0 rebounds per game, which is a significant uptick from the 5.1 he averaged last year and 5.6 over his career. Harden has recorded over 5.5 rebounds in 10 of the 13 games so far this season.
While his rebounding output will settle down some as the season progresses, the over of 5.5 rebounds is my favorite of the Harden props. Utah is a middle-of-the-pack rebounding team and are without Kessler and Hendricks. Harden has averaged over 5.5 rebounds in nine different seasons in his career. The -148 odds are high, but I also don’t mind the +230 odds of 8+ rebounds for Harden.
Over 8.5 Assists (-115): The assist line for Harden is 8.5 with the odds set at -115 for both the over and under. He has averaged 8.3 assists per game on the season but has been held to under 8.5 assists in eight of the 13 games.
There is still a level of playmaking growth Harden is capable of reaching this season. He has averaged at least 8.5 assists per game in six different seasons including leading the NBA in playmaking twice. Look for this number to continue growing as the season progresses and for this to start with Harden pulling the right strings against the Jazz tonight. I like the over on Harden’s 8.5 assists.
Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-162): The three-point line for Harden is set at 2.5 with the over heavily favored at -162 odds and the odds for the under set at +126. Harden is averaging exactly 2.5 made three-pointers per game this season but has shot just 31.4 percent from beyond the arc. He has tallied over 2.5 made three-pointers in seven of the 13 games this season.
Harden has not lived up to his typical standard shooting the basketball as he is a career 36.3 percent three-point shooter and connected on 38.1 percent of his long-range shots last year. I am not as bullish on this returning to full form as the miles seem to be taking a bit of a toll on Harden at this point in his career. His legs look tired and the shots come short on some nights, which is something to monitor throughout the season. While he will have his throwback nights where he catches fire and lights up the twine, the -162 odds are a bit too steep for my liking here.
Futures Outlook: The Clippers are off to a 6-7 start to the season but have shown more positive flashes than many expected. Leonard’s injury status will still make or break the team’s outlook, but they have treaded water at an acceptable rate. The Clippers hold -200 odds of missing the playoffs and +220 odds of qualifying for the postseason through the first 13 games. Los Angeles also holds +3500 odds of winning the Western Conference and +7500 odds of winning the NBA Championship. Harden holds +30000 odds of winning MVP for the second time in his career.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
