It’s a huge day for NBA hoops with a full slate of 14 games on the schedule. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST, the Houston Rockets travel to Cleveland as they take on the league-leading Cavaliers.
The upstart Rockets have taken flight this season and have cemented themselves as a playoff contender in a loaded Western Conference. At 29-14, Houston has very few problems thanks to the NBA’s third-most efficient defense and tenacious rebounding, leading the league with 48.5 boards per game.
The opposing Cavaliers are tied with the Thunder for the NBA’s best record at 36-8, but hit a slight bump in the road with their first back-to-back losses of the season… with one of those coming to Houston earlier in the week. They’ll look to bounce back tonight and get back to buzzsaw status behind the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, while Evan Mobley is questionable to return from injury, as well.
Here’s a couple of player prop bets for tonight’s action on DraftKings Sportsbook:
Best Prop Bets for Rockets at Cavaliers on DraftKings Sportsbook
Amen Thompson Over 12.5 AST + REB (-135)
Lift your hands and say hallelujah, because Amen has officially arrived. Thompson served as a super-sixth man for the Rockets earlier this season but was thrust into the starting lineup once Jabari Smith Jr. injured his hand. In Smith’s absence, Thompson has taken over as an every-night contributor for Houston and appears to be on the path to stardom, even with his lack of a consistent jump shot.
Thompson has exceeded this 12.5 AST + REB line in seven of his last 12 outings. He’s tallied at least 15 AST + REB in five of his last eight, too, so there’s a bit of breathing room here. Last time out against the Cavaliers, he logged 16 points, 16 boards, and four assists. Expect him to remain similarly involved in the rematch.
Donovan Mitchell Over 29.5 PTS + AST (-120)
Donovan Mitchell is one of the Association’s premier shooting guards, and as the Cavaliers’ leading star, he’s played incredibly well this season. However, his stats are a tad lower than usual since he plays on such a well-constructed team where he doesn’t have to be the guy every single night.
With that said, Mitchell has gone over 29.5 PTS + AST in three of his last five outings. The star averages 23.5 points and 4.5 dimes per contest this season, so he’s reaching near that 29.5 line on most nights. The Rockets’ stingy defense got the better of him in the last game, as he went for just 19 points and three assists on 7-of-21 from the field, he’ll be back with a vengeance tonight. It’s tough to beat the same team twice in a short span, so it wouldn’t be shocking for him to have a big night and avenge their previous loss.
Tari Eason Over 16.5 PTS + REB (-105)
Make no mistake, Tari Eason is one of the NBA’s most impactful players… when healthy. The forward has struggled with a clean bill of health the last two seasons, but came back from an extended absence on January 16 and has looked nearly every bit of himself since then.
Eason does the dirty work on defense and pulls down the rebounds nobody else wants to get. He’s exceeded the 16.5 PTS + REB line in three of four games since returning, and he finished with 18 PTS + REB against the Cavaliers in these teams’ last meeting. He’s had a couple of days’ rest since then, so look for him to play a big role tonight off the bench.
