There are eight games of NBA action across tonight’s Friday slate. We are roughly 80% of the way through the NBA season, and every matchup is beginning to carry some additional weight. Headlining tonight’s matchup includes the Cleveland Cavaliers facing the Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns taking on the Toronto Raptors, and the Minnesota Timberwolves playing the Golden State Warriors.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in the action across DraftKings Sportsbook. This article will look at my three favorite NBA prop bets across the Friday slate.
Keon Ellis to Record 10+ Points (+134)
Scoring is not the first thing that pops to mind when you think of Keon Ellis’ skillset as a basketball player. But the trade deadline acquisition has made an impact in filling up the box score of late in Cleveland. Across his 14 games with the Cavaliers, Ellis is playing 23.8 minutes per game and posting averages of 7.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 steals. However, he has scored 19 and 20 points in his previous two games, and this is a matchup where I like him to build off this momentum as they face the Mavericks.
Dallas plays at the fourth-fastest pace in the NBA, and Ellis is an excellent transition player. The Mavericks also rank 20th in defensive rating over their past 10 games, and have fallen from the defensive identity they hoped to establish. While he was still in Sacramento at the time, Ellis lit up this same Mavericks team for a season-high 21 points in December.
Cleveland will continue to be without Jarrett Allen, Max Strus, and Tyrese Proctor, while Sam Merrill is questionable with hamstring tightness. Ellis has been the beneficiary of these injuries and has seen his workload grow. He is playing 27.8 minutes per game across the five games in March, after logging 21.7 minutes per night in his first nine games in Cleveland. With an expanded role against a team that he has had success against, I like Ellis to score 10+ points for the third consecutive game.
Devin Booker Over 26.5 Points (-107)
It has been a bit of a rocky year for Devin Booker, but he is back healthy and playing a full workload. On the season, the five-time All-Star is averaging 25.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. However, he has scored over 26.5 points in five consecutive games, and I expect him to carry this momentum into tonight.
Toronto has a respectable defense that ranks seventh in opponents’ points per game and sixth in defensive rating. But Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles are each listed as questionable tonight. These are two of their top defenders who each will be tasked with spending some time on Booker if they are healthy tonight. If they are to miss or be limited, expect the path to Booker putting up an impressive stat line to be even clearer.
This will be the second night of a back-to-back for the Suns. Booker dropped a season-high 43 points last night against the Pacers and is playing with plenty of confidence. While fatigue is a concern, expect Phoenix to be more careful with players like Jordan Goodwin and Grayson Allen, who have each battled injuries of late. Booker has found his offensive stride and will continue being the foundation of the Suns’ attack. Count on him letting it fly at a high rate and recording over 26.5 points for the 25th time this season and sixth consecutive game.
Bennedict Mathurin Over 1.5 Made Three-Pointers (-108)
The Los Angeles Clippers brought in Bennedict Mathurin at the trade deadline, and the former Pacers guard has flourished with his newfound basketball freedom. Across his 13 games played, Mathurin is averaging 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists across his 29.5 minutes of play. He will continue to play a major role as the Clippers face the Bulls to close out tonight’s NBA slate.
While Mathurin does a lot of his offensive damage inside the arc, this is a matchup where it would be beneficial to attack from the perimeter at a greater rate. The Bulls rank 21st in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed and 28th in opponents’ three-point percentage. Mathurin was averaging 2.1 made three-pointers per game across his time with the Pacers, but has shot just 21.3% from deep with the Clippers thus far.
This seems to be back trending in the right direction, with Mathurin making a pair of three-pointers in back-to-back games leading into tonight. He has connected with over 1.5 three-pointers in 22 of his 41 games played this year, including in all three matchups against the Bulls when he was still in Indiana. Across these three games, Mathurin shot a combined 12-for-26 on three-point attempts. He made a season-high six three-pointers against the Bulls earlier this year. While he is in a new location, Mathurin has had plenty of success in this matchup and will ride the momentum of making over 1.5 three-pointers in back-to-back games. Expect him to attack this weakness in the Bulls’ defense and clear this total for the third straight game and fourth time against Chicago this year.
