Two-time All-Star guard Darius Garland is back in action Monday night, expected to make his Los Angeles Clippers debut when they visit the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
Both teams are in the heat of the Western Conference play-in race, with the Clippers (28–31, 9th West) trailing the Warriors (31–29, 8th West) by just 2.5 games.
The teams split their first two meetings this season, though Golden State enters Monday’s contest without Stephen Curry (Knee), Jimmy Butler (ACL), and Kristaps Porzingis (Illness).
Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET. LA enters as a slight -118 road favorite, while Golden State sits at -102 on the moneyline. The game’s total is set at 215.5 points.
Ahead of his Clippers debut, here’s my favorite Darius Garland prop bet on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Best Darius Garland prop bet for Clippers vs. Warriors
Best Bet: Darius Garland Over 17.5 Points + Assists (-107)
On Monday night, for the first time in his career, Darius Garland will suit up wearing another team’s uniform. He joined the Clippers by way of the stunning deadline deal that sent James Harden to Cleveland — but has been sidelined since with a lingering toe injury.
Garland, 26, averaged 18 points and 6.9 assists with the Cavaliers, clearing 17.5 combined points and assists in 21 of his 26 games. And while it’s uncertain how many minutes he’ll play on Monday, or whether he’ll start, he should still play an active role in the team’s backcourt.
In Harden, the Clippers traded away their second-leading scorer and primary facilitator — a void the team is still scrambling to fill. While the newly acquired Bennedict Mathurin has provided strong contributions in the points department, the Clippers no longer have a player averaging more than four assists per game.
Garland should slide in as LA’s primary playmaker, while also offering much-needed scoring upside. He recorded 20-plus points in four of five games before his injury on Jan. 14.
The former fifth overall pick appears well-positioned to clear 17.5 points-plus-assists on Monday, a lowered prop line in a friendly matchup. The Warriors are missing three key contributors in Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kristaps Porzingis, and ranked 20th in defensive rating in February.
Expect Garland to hit the ground running in his Clippers debut.
