It’s a rare week of virtual inaction for the NBA as the eight qualified teams prepare for the knockout stages of the Emirates NBA Cup. Most teams do not suit up again until Friday, and after a 12-game slate on Sunday, just two squads will take the court tonight. The New York Knicks will need to pack their passports as the Toronto Raptors welcome them to Scotiabank Arena at 7:30 p.m.
It’s been a generally solid season for New York, although they inexplicably lost to the Detroit Pistons on December 7. As the Knicks’ new pieces have started to gel, they’ve been in hot form, winning seven of their last 10 games and climbing to 14-9, good for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Point guard Jalen Brunson, who finished fifth in MVP voting last season before inking a huge deal to stay in the Big Apple, is enjoying perhaps the best season of his career, averaging 25.4 points and 7.7 assists per game.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Knicks (-245) are heavy favorites and the point total is set to 232. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite prop bet centered around New York’s southpaw superstar.
Best Jalen Brunson Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jalen Brunson 30+ Points (+155)
Toronto, despite an injury to its best player and a general lack of talent on its roster, hasn’t been completely hapless this season. But the Raptors have struggled on the defensive end of the ball, conceding 117.4 points per game, the sixth-worst rate in the league. The Knicks’ high-powered offense — Tom Thibodeau’s team ranks first in offensive rating — will be a nightmare for Toronto on Monday night.
The Raptors have a particularly hard time stopping opponents from getting to the free throw line, fouling a league-high 22.5 times per game, which should benefit Brunson, an 84.0% free throw shooter so far this season. Toronto also allows a lot of short mid-range jumpers from between 10 and 14 feet from the basket, a shot that Brunson hits at a 50.8% clip.
Jalen Brunson O2.5 Three-Pointers Made (-120)
I also back Brunson to have a big shooting night tonight.
Raptors opponents are launching a 38.4 three-point attempts per game against them, the 11th-highest rate in the league, which should benefit Brunson (42.9%), who’s enjoying the most-efficient three-point shooting season of his career. He has been especially efficient in his last 10 games, attempting 6.6 tries from deep per game and hitting them at a 51.5% clip. He has hit at least three three-pointers in seven of those 10 games, including four of his last five, and I expect his tear to continue tonight against Toronto.
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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 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 skills 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.
