Seven NBA games are tipping off tonight, including three matchups in the late slate.
In the 7:00 p.m. ET window, the Washington Wizards will host the New York Knicks while the Chicago Bulls and Charlotte Hornets face off. In addition, the Nuggets and Jazz will play and the Pelicans will host the Clippers. At 10:00 p.m. ET, the Warriors will play the Cavaliers, the 76ers will face the Trail Blazers, and the Kings will host the Mavericks.
You can check out each matchup and all prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are my favorite prop bets on the Monday night slate.
Carlton ‘Bub’ Carrington Under 8.5 Points (-110)
The Washington Wizards are slowly moving in the right direction. While it will not translate to many wins this season, Washington added several exciting young players on the proper developmental arc. This has given some life to the organization and led to a much better product being put on the floor in terms of the quality of basketball. Carlton ‘Bub’ Carrington has been a huge part of this after being drafted with the 14th overall pick.
Through the first 29 games of his NBA career, Carrington is averaging 9.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists across his 29.8 minutes per game. While there are some exciting signs of progress for the 19-year-old, there will be some ups and downs. Expect this to show up tonight as the Wizards face the Knicks.
New York ranks eighth in scoring and seventh in opponent points per game. The Knicks also rank 26th in pace, which will be a tough contrast for the Wizards, who rank fourth in this category. While this game is set to take place in Washington, the Wizards have struggled at home. Carrington has shot just 37.1% from the field this season and the Wizards are the worst three-point shooting team at home this season. Carrington is coming off a 17-point performance in his last game but this was his highest scoring output since Nov. 18th. He has been held under 8.5 points in 13 of the 29 games this season, including five of the past eight games. Expect the Knicks to impose themselves defensively and for Carrington to be held below 8.5 points tonight.
Mark Williams Over 22.5 Points & Rebounds (-125)
Injuries have kept Mark Williams on the sideline far too often in his young NBA career. He played just 43 games in his rookie season, 19 games last year and missed the first 20 games this season due to a foot injury. The impact that Williams can make when he is on the court is clear, especially when he is paired with LaMelo Ball, it just has not happened at a consistent enough rate.
Through the opening nine games he has played, Williams is averaging 11.1 points and 6.7 rebounds across his 16.7 minutes per game. The Hornets have been gradually scaling up his minutes, with Williams logging 22+ minutes on the floor for the first time over each of the past two games. The Duke product has recorded over 22.5 points and rebounds twice so far and is building back to last season’s averages of 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds.
The Hornets will prepare to face the Bulls tonight and Nikola Vucevic is a great matchup for Williams. Vucevic is in the midst of a really solid season himself but lacks the athleticism and verticality that Williams provides. Opposing centers are averaging 6.9 made field goals per game against Vucevic this season, which is among the league-worst rates for big men. Chicago is also playing at the third-fastest pace this season, which should increase offensive opportunities and fits Williams’ preferred style of play. Expect the 23-year-old to continue kicking off the rust and returning to form and get the better of Vucevic often in this game. Count on him to record over 22.5 combined points and rebounds for the third time this season.
Dennis Schroder Over 17.5 Points & Assists (-120)
The Golden State Warriors were the first team to make a notable splash in the trade market by adding Dennis Schroder in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The organization continues to attempt to keep the championship window open around Steph Curry and Schroder provides a much-needed boost to the team’s offensive creation. Schroder was off to an excellent start to his season with the Nets and averaged 18.4 points and 6.6 assists in his 23 games with the organization. He has yet to settle in with the Warriors in his first six games, but the need for him in the offense is clear.
Golden State will turn its attention to its matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. While the Cavaliers have held the best record in the league from start to finish this season, there are still concerns with their ability to defend guards. The Cavaliers have also played at the eighth-fastest pace this season, which should lead to additional offensive opportunities.
Schroder has not reached this total with the Warriors yet but has shot the ball uncharacteristically poorly since coming to Golden State. Through the first six games, he is shooting just 28.6% from the field and 16.7% from beyond the three-point arc. He is still settling in and there is a key need for production from his role in the offense. Schroder saw his largest opportunity on the floor last game playing 33:38 of game action for the Warriors. Expect a stronger statistical output as he sees some positive shooting regression and for Schroder to record over 17.5 combined points and assists tonight.
Joel Embiid Over 1.5 Made Three-Pointers (+100)
The Philadelphia 76ers are finally picking up steam on the season. They have won three consecutive games and nine of their past 12 matchups after opening up the season with a 3-14 record. Joel Embiid’s availability has certainly played a role in this and it should be noted he is listed as questionable tonight. This will likely be the case for just about every matchup this season, but Embiid has played three consecutive games leading up to tonight with similar injury concerns. Officially, he is listed as questionable with a foot sprain and sinus fracture.
Across the 10 games he has played this season, Embiid is averaging 22.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. These are incredibly mild outputs compared to his sky-high standards, but Embiid is beginning to settle in this season. One area where he has shown an increased willingness is beyond the three-point arc. The former MVP is taking a career-high 4.2 three-point attempts per game. He is shooting just 28.6% on these attempts but is a 34.0% three-point shooter throughout his career.
During the Christmas Day matchup with the Celtics, Embiid shot 4-of-5 on three-point attempts. He has attempted four or more three-pointers in eight of the 10 games he has played this season and the Trail Blazers rank 27th in opponent three-point percentage. Embiid has been calculated in limiting high-risk opportunities on his body since returning. Expect him to be completely comfortable remaining on the perimeter in a game the Sixers should have control of and for Embiid to knock down at least two three-pointers tonight.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all 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.
