Seven games will be played across tonight’s NBA slate, with most teams having less than 10 games remaining in the regular season. The race to clinch a playoff seed or further slip in the standings with lottery odds in mind has been on full display.
Starting at 7:00 p.m. ET, the Cleveland Cavaliers will face the Detroit Pistons, with both teams exceeding expectations this year. A pair of games will be tipping off a half hour later, taking place between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets as well as the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets. Three of these teams rank in the top seven in draft lottery odds, so expect some experimental lineups and eyebrow-raising minute allocations as has become the norm for plenty of the league’s cellar dwellers.
Three games will then tip off at 8:00 p.m. ET as the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Phoenix Suns, the New York Knicks face the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Golden State Warriors play the New Orleans Pelicans. There is just one game taking place in the late slate. This will be between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz with the game tipping off at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Keep a close eye on the injury reports as the grind of the season has taken a toll around the league. With plenty of NBA action ahead, here are my favorite prop bets for Friday’s slate.
Dennis Schroder Over 13.5 Points (-120)
The Detroit Pistons are set to be without Cade Cunningham for the third straight game due to a calf injury. This creates an increased opportunity for Dennis Schroder who should see a bump in minutes without the star guard.
It has been a turbulent season for the 31-year-old, with the Pistons being the third team he has suited up for this year. Across his 20 games with Detroit, Schroder is averaging 10.4 points, 4.9 assists, and 2.3 rebounds in 22.0 minutes per game. Across the last 11 games, his minutes have grown to 24.9 per game and his scoring output has been 12.5 points per matchup. He has scored over 13.5 points in four games with the Pistons thus far, and will have more offensive freedom without Cunningham.
Detroit will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, who already clinched their playoff outlook and hold a five-game cushion over the Celtics for the top seed in the East. This will also be the second half of a back-to-back for the Cavaliers, so don’t be shocked if some notable names pop on the injury report throughout the day with their outlook in mind. Shroder scored 22 points against this Cleveland team while playing for the Nets, and also dropped 12 points while representing the Warriors this year. Look for him to make the most of his expanded role and record over 13.5 points for the 26th time this season and the fifth time with Detroit.
Evan Mobley Over 20.5 Points & Assists (-120)
On the other side of this matchup, look for Evan Mobley to assert himself. The Cavaliers’ star big man missed last night’s matchup against the Spurs due to rest and is expected to return to the floor tonight. There have been no reports yet, but don’t be shocked if Donovan Mitchell receives the night off after logging 35 minutes last night.
Mobley has shown capable of taking on more of a lead role this season and has taken some really impressive steps in his development. The 23-year-old is averaging a career-high 18.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He has recorded over 20.5 combined points and assists in 34 of the 64 games this season. He also has tallied 23+ points and assists in all seven games that Mitchell missed this season.
Detroit ranks 14th in opponents’ points allowed on the season. Mobley also exploded for 30 points and seven assists in one of the three previous matchups with the Pistons. Especially if Mitchell is to miss tonight’s contest, expect an expanded opportunity for the big man and for Mobley to deliver. Despite their place in the standings, Cleveland has shown no interest in taking their foot off the gas thus far. Mobley will look to lead the charge tonight by recording over 20.5 combined points and assists.
Tyler Kolek to Record 15+ Points & Assists (-120)
The Knicks guard rotation is depleted, with Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, and Cameron Payne each suffering injury issues over the past few games. Brunson and Payne will be sidelined for tonight’s matchup with the Bucks due to ankle issues, while McBride will be out due to a groin injury. This clears a path for 34th overall pick Tyler Kolek to receive an expanded chance and put his imprints on tonight’s game. The Marquette product has played just 215 total minutes at the NBA level thus far but has shown some intriguing flashes in the limited sample size.
Kolek has logged 18+ minutes just three times all season, with these coming across the past three games. He has showcased his playmaking chops, recording 24 assists across these past three games. The shot has not fallen just yet, with him adding six total points on 2-for-10 across these games. Kolek has not had his full breakout as a scorer yet, after 15.3 points per game on 38.8% three-point shooting last season in college. His NBA career-high is eight points, which occurred against the Milwaukee Bucks in just 16:14 of game time.
Kolek and the Knicks will face the Bucks again tonight. Their outlook shifted greatly in recent days following the unfortunate news of Damian Lillard’s blood clot situation. Giannis Antetokounmpo is also listed as questionable with a foot injury after missing the previous game. Even at full strength, Milwaukee ranks 12th in opponents’ points allowed, 11th in assists given up, and 23rd in three-point attempts given up. Look for Kolek to make the most of his expanded role tonight and record 15+ points and assists for the first time in his NBA career.
Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 Rebounds (+110)
In the final matchup of the night’s slate, the Denver Nuggets will host the Utah Jazz, with the Nuggets entering as 17.5-point favorites in the matchup. These two teams have drastically different outlooks for the remainder of the year, and this also is the second half of a back-to-back for Utah. Even under the best of circumstances for the Jazz, Nikola Jokic is set to look like the best player on the floor tonight by a comfortable margin.
The three-time MVP is averaging 29.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.3 assists per game. He has recorded over 11.5 rebounds in 40 of the 63 games he has played this season, including 19 of the 32 home games. Jokic hauled in a season-high 22 rebounds in one of the matchups with Utah already this season.
On the season overall, Utah ranks 13th in opponents’ rebounds allowed. However, no team has allowed more rebounds per game to centers than the Jazz since the All-Star break, and Jokic is as large of a threat in this category as you will find. The blowout risk is the biggest deterrent, but if Jokic sees close to his usual workload, he will have no trouble pulling in 12+ rebounds against a far inferior opponent.
