It was not a merry Christmas for the Mavericks, as Luka Doncic was forced to leave in the middle of Wednesday’s game vs. the Timberwolves. An MRI later that night revealed that the superstar suffered a calf strain that will keep him out of action for at least a month.
Without one of the NBA’s best players, control of Dallas’ offense now rests with Kyrie Irving. The 32-year-old has shown he can produce with or without Doncic, but it remains to be seen if he’ll thrive as a primary option tonight against the Suns. Phoenix enters the contest as one-point favorites, with the over/under set at 225 points.
Ahead of this Western Conference clash, here’s the best Kyrie prop to back tonight on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Kyrie Irving Prop on DraftKings Sportsbook
It might be his 14th season in the NBA, but Kyrie Irving is still a force to be reckoned with. This season, the eight-time All-Star has posted 24.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists through 27 games. Most impressive has been his efficiency, shooting 49.1% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range.
Irving might not be as explosive as he was during his prime, but there’s still plenty left in the tank. Over seven games played without Doncic this season, he’s averaged 24.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.4 assists. However, the increased attention from opposing defenses makes it tough to back the veteran as a scorer.
Irving’s ability as a passer is where most of his value lies tonight. The future Hall of Famer has gone over tonight’s assist total in all seven of his appearances without Doncic. Tonight’s matchup makes it likely that trend will continue, as the Suns are giving up the ninth-most assists per game to opponents (26.9). Dallas needs a creator more than they need a scorer, so look for Kyrie to fill the void on Friday.
Best Bet: Kyrie Irving over 5.5 assists (-140)
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
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