We’ve got a banger of a Western Conference matchup on Monday night. In terms of NBA contenders, it’s the Thunder and everyone else. Right now, the Nuggets and Rockets are near the front of the line for “everyone else.” It’s a star-studded affair, and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic leads it. That means all eyes are on Jokic’s player prop market
The Rockets are 1.5-point road favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. They’re priced at -112 on the Moneyline, while the Nuggets are -108 underdogs. The total for this game is set at 237.5 points. Let’s get into my favorite Jokic prop bet for this Nuggets vs. Rockets showdown.
Best Nikola Jokic Player Prop
Last time these two teams squared off, Jokic willed the Nuggets to a 112-109 victory with the help of his trusty sidekick Jamal Murray. The Joker put up 34 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists while Murray went for 26 points and 10 assists. With Christian Braun already out and Aaron Gordon going down early in that matchup, the Nuggets leaned on the two-man game that delivered them a title in 2023.
Jokic’s scoring is a consistent problem for these Rockets. Alperen Sengun has made strides, but he’s nowhere near a great defensive player. And great defensive players get beaten up by Jokic all the time.
But there’s one area where they can put the reins on him: rebounding. Sengun, Steven Adams, and Houston’s endless onslaught of tall and athletic wings have been a dominant rebounding unit all season long. Jokic is individually one of the best rebounders in the game, but without Aaron Gordon, he has far less help. Rebounding is a team stat moreso than any; if he has to go up against these Houston rebounders all by himself, he’s in for a rough night on the glass. Under 11.5 boards makes sense given the matchup.
