It is a jam-packed weekend of sports with notable games across the NFL, CFB Playoffs, and the typical NBA slate. Looking at Saturday’s matchups, there are 12 games taking place across the association.
Most notably, the Sacramento Kings will host the Los Angeles Lakers for the second-consecutive game. The Miami Heat are looking to bounce back from their previous loss to the Thunder and take on the Orlando Magic tonight. The Clippers and Mavericks will face off, the Timberwolves will host the Warriors, and the Cavaliers will play the Sixers with both teams on the second night of a back-to-back.
You can check out each matchup and all prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are my favorite prop bets in each matchup on the Saturday slate.
Lauri Markkanen Under 19.5 Points (-105)
The Utah Jazz will travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets with neither team holding particularly high hopes on the season. Utah ranks 21st in the league in scoring while Brooklyn is 23rd in this category. The Nets play at the slowest pace of any team in the league, and while this is expected to improve following the Dennis Schroder trade, there will not be an abundance of offensive opportunities in tonight’s matchup.
So far this season, Lauri Markkanen is averaging 19.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. While he is looked at as a foundational piece of the organization, Markkanen has seen his role in the offense shrink this year. He is attempting just 12.3 field goal attempts and 6.8 three-point attempts. For reference, he shot 16.2 field goal attempts last year and 17.3 field goal attempts the season prior while launching at least 7.7 three-pointers per game in each season.
Overall, Markkanen has been held to under 19.5 points in 13 of the 21 games he has played. This includes four of the past five games for the 7-footer. Brooklyn has some solid size to match up with him in Nic Claxton, Ben Simmons, and Noah Clowney each set to play a role. Expect this matchup to be a rock fight with both teams struggling to score. Markkanen has struggled to consistently play his best basketball this season and the Jazz are not particularly interested in getting him on the right track with the draft lottery in mind. Expect the Nets to impose themselves defensively and for Markkanen to be held under 19.5 points for the 14th time this season.
Evan Mobley Over 8.5 Rebounds (+105)
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Philadelphia 76ers with both teams playing on the second night of a back-to-back. After taking down the Milwaukee Bucks last night, the Cavaliers have another great chance for a win as they face the Philadelphia 76ers without Joel Embiid. The former MVP has suited up for just seven games this season, with his lack of availability being a key part of the Sixers’ underwhelming start.
Cleveland has had the opposite start to the season. They have led the Eastern Conference wire-to-wire and enter this matchup with a 24-4 record. Evan Mobley has been a huge part of this success. The fourth-year forward has taken the next step in his trajectory and is amid a career-best season. Mobley is averaging 18.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. He also has averaged 2.6 offensive rebounds per game across the past 15 games, which is among the best rate in the league.
This will be especially problematic against a Sixers team that struggles on the glass. Philadelphia ranks 28th in the league in rebounding and 19th in opponent rebounding percentage. Mobley has recorded over 8.5 rebounds in 15 of the 26 games he has played this season. While he was held to seven rebounds in the first matchup with the Sixers, Donovan Mitchell erupted for a career-high 13 rebounds. Don’t expect Mitchell to be able to replicate this, so Mobley should resume his usual rebounding output. Count on him to record nine or more rebounds against a Sixers team that has struggled on the glass.
Kelly Oubre Jr. Over 13.5 Points (-115)
Lost in the shuffle due to injury concerns for the Sixers has been an incredibly impressive start for Kelly Oubre Jr. The 29-year-old has found his niche on this Sixers team and will see his role in the offense expand tonight. In addition to Joel Embiid being out, Paul George is also listed as questionable for the matchup. This will be something to monitor leading up to tip-off, but there will be plenty of offensive opportunities for Oubre, with or without George.
Overall this season, Oubre is averaging 13.4 points on 11.1 field goal attempts per game. He has recorded more than 13.5 points in 11 games so far this year, including back-to-back games leading into this matchup. He is shooting the ball incredibly well, connecting on 52.3% of his three-point attempts over the past five games, and is shooting 15.7 percentage points better from beyond the arc when playing on the road. The Cavaliers also play at the second-fastest pace in the NBA at home this season, so there should be an uptick in offensive opportunities. Oubre is dangerous when he gets a head of steam in transition and Philadelphia has made a conscious effort to push the pace in recent games as well.
With the Sixers set to be without Joel Embiid, Jared McCain, and possibly Paul George, someone must step up on offense. Expect Oubre to continue playing with confidence and for additional opportunities to be put on his plate. He has attempted 10+ shots in nine of the past 11 games and logged at least 29 minutes in each of these contests. Look for this trend to continue and for Oubre to score over 13.5 points tonight.
Jalen Duren Over 17.5 Points & Rebounds (-115)
In the final game of tonight’s slate, the Phoenix Suns will host the Detroit Pistons. Devin Booker is set to miss at least the next two games due to a groin injury, while Isaiah Stewart is out for the Pistons. While Detroit has a logjam in the front court, Stewart’s absence leaves 21.4 minutes per game played available, which Jalen Duren should benefit from.
So far this season, Duren is averaging 8.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He has recorded over 17.5 combined points and rebounds in 13 of the 25 games he has played. Phoenix presents a great opportunity to add to this number. The Suns rank 23rd in total rebounding and are 21st in opponent points in the paint. Jusuf Nurkic struggles as a rim protector, with opposing centers attempting 12.3 field goal attempts per contest.
Duren’s athleticism will cause some significant issues against Nurkic. Duren has recorded as many as 22 rebounds in a game already this season and his activity level on the glass is one that Nurkic will not be able to match. Expect his fingerprints to be all over this game and for Duren to record over 17.5 points and rebounds for the 14th time this season.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
