The 31-16 Denver Nuggets are hosting the 12-33 Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Denver is favored by 6.5 points and this game carries a total of 209.5 points. Let’s take a look at some of my favorite player prop bets for this game.
Best Hawks vs. Rockets Player Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Michael Porter Jr. O 25.5 Points
And the Prodigal Son returns to Denver tonight. After an offseason move that sent Porter Jr. to Brooklyn in exchange for Cameron Johnson and a first, this will be the first time that Porter Jr. will be in Denver. He should be no stranger to the altitude challenges, which helps mitigate some of the Away-disadvantage for him. Porter Jr. has blossomed into an All-Star level player, and I doubt that’s controversial. The standout wing is putting up 25.2 PPG while maintaining excellent percentages of 48.3 FG% and 39.5 3P%. Even though he’s certainly receiving the most defensive attention from opponents, Porter Jr. has done an excellent job of making sure he aggressively hunts his own shots. His shot-making is still a thing of beauty, and he shoots as if he doesn’t even see a contest most of the time.
Porter Jr.’s ability to waltz around the perimeter and slip around screens for open looks helps him generate a ton of looks, whether contested or not. His gravity forces defenders to stay close, because if he finds himself with a few feet of open space, any trey is a layup for him. His gravity also allows him to break free from defenders to cut to the rim, and because defenders are obsessed with denying him looks at the three point line, he’s getting some nice looks near the basket as well.
Jalen Pickett O 4.5 Assists
I can see Jalen Pickett getting some serious run tonight due to the litany of injuries plaguing Denver tonight. The Nuggets will be without Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon, Christian Braun, and Cameron Johnson. Pickett has eclipsed 25 minutes played in four out of his last five games, and is averaging 4.8 assists in these contests. If we factor in his increased playing time lately with Brooklyn’s subpar ability to prevent opponent assists – they’re conceding the seventh most assists per 48 minutes in the league – then it shouldn’t be difficult for Pickett to rack up the dimes tonight while Jamal Murray is on the bench.
Jamal Murray O 8.5 Assists
I’ve gushed about Murray plenty this season, but this will likely be the season in which he finally secures his first All-Star appearance. Murray’s setting career-highs in PPG, APG, FTA, FG%, FGA, FGM, and 3PA. He’s matched his increased offensive responsibility in Nikola Jokic’s absence with increased percentages as well, a type of elevation that’s uncommon.
He’s flashed some serious playmaking chops as well. In his last matchup against Brooklyn, Murray put up a staggering 27 point, 16 assist double-double with only four turnovers. Against the aforementioned Brooklyn defense whose inability to stop assists has been a recurring theme, it’s safe to predict another big night out of Murray in the assists department.
