If the upstart Houston Rockets hope to become the second team to lift the Emirates NBA Cup trophy, they must be flawless from here on out. The knockout stages of the competition are here, and the Rockets will tip off their campaign with a quarterfinal matchup at home against the Golden State Warriors at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Houston’s hopes for tonight’s game will hinge on the health of Alperen Şengün, who’s officially listed as questionable with a knee injury but is expected to suit up. Şengün has seen steady improvement throughout his first four seasons, especially on the defensive end, and by the NBA’s Player Impact Estimate metric, he’s been the eighth-best player in the league this year.
The Rockets are three-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, with the point total set at 222.5. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite prop bet centered around Şengün.
Best Alperen Şengün Prop Bet on DraftKings Sportsbook
Alperen Şengün O2.5 Steals + Blocks (+130)
Early in his career, Şengün was a lackadaisical interior defender, but that has changed the last two seasons under the tutelage of head coach Ime Udoka. Despite a relatively young and inexperienced core, the Rockets actually have the league’s second-best defensive rating (105.4). Şengün, as one of just 17 players averaging at least one steal and one block per game this season, has made a huge all-around impact and ranks third in the NBA in defensive win shares, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder duo of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
The Warriors are a solid offensive unit, but they struggle with size, starting six-foot-seven Jonathan Kuminga at power forward and six-foot-six Draymond Green at center. As a result, they have allowed opponents to record 6.2 blocks per game, the fifth-most in the NBA. Although Golden State typically does a good job protecting the ball — they allow just 7.6 steals per game, seventh-lowest in basketball — Şengün recorded two steals in the teams’ most recent matchup. I expect him to make his presence felt all over the court in the high-stakes knockout play environment.
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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.
