The Thunder have clinched the top seed in the Western Conference, solidifying their dominant season with 13 games remaining. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a major reason for the team’s success, as he positions himself as a lead candidate for the MVP award.
He didn’t play in the team’s game on Wednesday against the 76ers, but he’ll be back for tonight’s action against the Hornets. Charlotte is coming off a win last night against the Knicks and will travel to Oklahoma City tonight.
The Thunder are 20-point favorites and the game total is set at 221.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Below, I have featured my favorite Gilgeous-Alexander prop bets to consider from this contest.
Best Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 31.5 points (-115)
Gilgeous-Alexander is the NBA’s leading scorer, averaging 33 points per game. He’s a difficult guard on any given night, but it should be even more daunting when he’s fresh.
The 26-year-old didn’t play on Wednesday against the 76ers, so should be 100 percent ready for tonight’s game against the Hornets. Meanwhile, Charlotte is on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Knicks yesterday.
The Hornets are also tied for the 23rd best defensive efficiency and allow the 15th most points per game to opposing teams. A tired team that’s dealing with injuries is a recipe for disaster against the league’s leading scorer.
All the signs point to Gilgeous-Alexander surpassing 31.5 points, except the spread. The Thunder are 20-point favorites, so if a blowout ensues, Gilgeous-Alexander could play limited minutes. He would have to score a lot in less minutes than normal.
It’s something he can do, though. Gilgeous-Alexander has scored 40 points in three quarters before. It came against the Cavaliers, who are one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. If he can do it against Cleveland, there’s no doubt that he can do it against Charlotte.
In the off-chance that the Hornets do keep the game close into the fourth, Gilgeous-Alexander will play regular minutes. He should clear the line easily if that’s the case. The MVP front-runner is averaging 37.6 points per game over his last eight games, including performances of 51, 48, 41 and 40 points.