The NBA has four matchups on Sunday, including two games from the West Coast to close out a busy sports Sunday. The Los Angeles Clippers are headed to San Francisco for the 8:30 p.m. ET tip-off against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season, after the Warriors started the year 3-3 in their first six games, while the Clippers are 1-4. Let’s take a closer look at Sunday’s matchup and pick out a few props that make sense to back in this Pacific Division clash.
In the bigger picture, the Warriors are slight 2.5-point home favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook with the total set at 220.5. The Warriors are getting 82% of the bets on the moneyline and 71% of the picks against the spread as of the time of publishing.
According to the injury report, both teams will be missing several players. The Clippers will be without Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Miller, Max Strus and Yanic Niederhauser, while the Warriors will be without Steph Curry and Draymond Green, in addition to Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis, who have yet to play this season. Gui Santos is probable for the Warriors as well.
Clippers at Warriors Props on DraftKings Sportsbook
De’Anthony Melton 20+ Points + Rebounds + Assists (-108)
Curry will sit out Sunday’s game, which is the first half of a back-to-back set for the Warriors, who host the Suns on Monday. This will be Curry’s second absence of the season, so it’s uncertain who exactly will carry more of the Warriors’ offense in his absence. Curry has a 33.2% usage rate this season, which is the fifth-highest in the NBA of players who have played more than 10 minutes, so his absence will definitely leave lots of opportunities available.
Melton could move into the starting lineup in Curry’s spot and if he gets more work as a starter or off the bench, he has a good chance of getting over this prop line. He is averaging 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists for 16.3 PRA (points, rebounds and assists) in just 21 minutes per game.
The veteran guard had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists for 24 PRA on Friday in his last game, and he had 25 points, five boards and five assists against the Suns in his best game of the season last Saturday. That big game against the Suns was the only game in which he played more than 22 minutes this season. With more minutes and work available, Melton will likely play a much more involved role, giving him a strong chance to rack up at least 20 PRA.
Isaiah Jackson 10+ Points (+109)
Jackson has started all five games this year for the Clippers, averaging 8.6 points in 21.4 minutes per game. He has at least 10 points in three of his five games this year, including his last game on Friday against the Timberwolves. He had his most well-rounded game of the year, adding seven rebounds, four assists, four blocks and three steals to his 10 points in his 22 minutes.
While his scoring isn’t directly impacted by his defensive stats, it could earn him more playing time since he’s producing on both ends of the floor. In five career games against the Warriors, Jackson has averaged 10.8 points per game and scored at least 10 points in four of those five matchups. Without Draymond Green to anchor the defense down low, Jackson should have a good opportunity to get at least 10 points on Sunday.
Yaxel Lendeborg 21+ Points (-104)
The Warriors drafted Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in the NBA Draft out of Michigan, and the rookie has gotten off to a fast start as a key part of the team’s rotation. He played a smaller role on Friday against the Lakers, but had been playing 29+ minutes through the first five games of the season.
In those five games, he averaged 16.0 field-goal attempts but then only attempted three shots on Friday. Before finishing with just six points in the Warriors’ comeback win over L.A., Lendeborg scored over 25 points in three straight contests, including a career-high 31 points in 31 minutes last Monday against the Nuggets.
Without Steph and Draymond, Lendeborg could help pick up some of the scoring workload and has a good chance to surpass this point threshold Sunday night at home against the Clippers.
Bonus Parlay Play: Darius Garland Over 0.5 Steals (-224)
If you are assembling a Same Game Parlay (SGP), be sure to capitalize on the available 50% NBA Profit Boost to use on a 3+ leg parlay on DraftKings Sportsbook. Adding in the over on Garland’s steals boosts the SGP odds to a juicy +1000 for the four player prop bets in this post. Adding on the boost can take your winnings even higher!
Garland has at least one steal in four of his five games this season and is averaging 0.8 steals per game in 32.4 minutes. He averaged 1.2 steals in his 19 games with the Clippers last year, and he has at least one steal in 11 of his last 13 games against Golden State.
