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Follow along on Twitter (@julianedlow) for any potential updates — things can always change with lineup moves leading up to tipoff. Here’s what jumps out to me on DraftKings Sportsbook.
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
The NBA is in a wild place right now, with players on 28 of the 30 teams in health and safety protocols. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for player props that pop, although after a hot week we did have some regression in that area on Sunday and Monday. There are a couple of sides I’m on for Tuesday’s card, and an inflated player prop that I do think carries value.
Per usual, I’ll put everything official up on Twitter that I bet on personally. This is a betting guide for this NBA card, and anything I’ve actually bet will include a unit amount.
Best Bets
New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves
NYK -3 (-110) — 2-units (playable up to -5)
This was -5.5 in the morning, but crept down to -3 for reasons I couldn’t understand. The Timberwolves did get a win on Monday night, but now play a back-to-back with just two of their rotation players and a bunch of G-League talents. After initially being told that the Wolves would not bring any players back from health and safety protocols, even if they were cleared, we’ve learned Anthony Edwards is among questionable players for this game. That’s still not nearly enough to scare me off this one. The Knicks have most of their stars available, and shouldn’t fall into letting this team outplay them after what Minnesota accomplished on Monday. The Knicks dominated a short-handed Atlanta team on Christmas Day, and I think they do the same in this spot.
I posted my play at -3 on Twitter off the news, and would play this all the way up to -5.
Cleveland Cavaliers at New Orleans Pelicans
CLE -3.5 (-110) — 1.5-units (would wait for Evan Mobley status)
Ricky Rubio OVER 29.5 Points/Rebounds/Assists (-115) — 1-unit
I got a worse number on this game. When we learned Mobley had a chance to play, I jumped on the -4.5 on Twitter. However, Darius Garland was shortly added to health and safety protocols, which really hurts this bet. That said, I think Cleveland is still playable if Mobley plays. The Cavs will need some size against the Pels up front, and can get by with what they have on the perimeter. Rubio, Kevin Love and Lauri Markkanen will lead the way here, hopefully with Mobley and a questionable Isaac Okoro. But the Pelicans will likely be down Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, and are already thin at guard. Lot of moving parts here, but feel the Cavs are still the side.
With Garland out, Rubio should see a massive boost here. Garland had been a very high usage player, most of which should fall into Rubio’s hands here. Rubio is averaging a 19-9-4 line in two games without Garland this season, and that was with Collin Sexton on the floor (who is now out). Against a very soft New Orleans backcourt, I’m expecting a lot of minutes and production from the vet.
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