Two clubs headed in opposite directions are set to meet on Friday. The Spurs look poised for a deep postseason run, led by all-around phenom Victor Wembanyama. However, the Frenchman won’t be taking the floor tonight due to a knee injury. Now, San Antonio will hope to pick up a win on the road vs. the Pacers. Indiana, without several impact players, has fallen towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Which players are set up to surpass their totals tonight? The Spurs are favored by 5.5 points (-118) over the Pacers, with the over/under set at 238.5 points. Here are two of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s San Antonio vs. Indiana matchup.
Spurs vs. Pacers prop bet picks
Luke Kornet 18+ points + rebounds (-104)
San Antonio’s biggest move of the offseason was bringing in Luke Kornet. The former Celtics center is battle-tested, having played a key role on 2023’s title-winning squad. Now, he brings experience and size to San Antonio’s bench. As previously mentioned, Victor Wembanyama won’t be taking the floor tonight. That should open up more minutes than usual for Kornet. This season, the big man is averaging 8.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.
Kornet is usually held to within 20-25 minutes by head coach Mitch Johnson. The veteran has reached the 30-minute mark in just two of his 25 appearances so far. With that being said, Friday presents a golden opportunity for the center. The Pacers have allowed the most rebounds (57.9) and sixth-most points in the paint (53.3) per game to opponents. Indiana will also be missing Isaiah Jackson (concussion), the team’s best rim protector. Add it all up, and Kornet could flirt with a double-double in this one.
T.J. McConnell 5+ assists (-106)
It’s easy to forget now, but T.J. McConnell was crucial to Indiana’s Eastern Conference championship last season. The diminutive guard derives most of his value from hustle and playmaking, rather than shooting. However, injuries have kept him limited for most of the season. Through 22 games, the Arizona alum has accounted for 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Despite suffering a hamstring injury this week, McConnell is listed as probable for tonight’s contest.
Despite maxing out around 20 minutes, T.J. doesn’t need much time to make his presence felt. In four of his last six appearances, McConnell has tallied at least five assists. There’s a good chance he keeps that up on Friday against the Spurs. Obviously, this defense isn’t at its best without Wembanyama. Even so, there have been some lapses when it comes to defending the perimeter. During its last three matchups, San Antonio is giving up 31.7 assists per game. That’s the third-highest mark in basketball over that stretch. It won’t take much for the crafty McConnell to dish out a handful of dimes tonight.
