Happy Trade Deadline Day! After a loaded 11-game slate on Wednesday, the NBA comes back with a fun, miniature five-game slate with a couple of nationally-televised affairs. With so little to choose from, we’ll still find three profitable spots on this card. Let’s survey DraftKings Sportsbook for some player props, totals and sides to bet. You can follow me on Twitter (@KennyDucey) for any late adds.
Here’s what jumps out to me on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Washington Wizards at New York Knicks
Knicks -3
It’s been a decently profitable decision this year to fade the team that just beat up on the same opponent in the game prior, but I’m not going to be doing that here. The Knicks have still been the sixth-best defense in the NBA over the past five games, and on Tuesday allowed the Wizards to score just 111.9 points per 100 possessions. On the other hand, New York had a blistering 131 offensive rating, which is pretty indicative of how the Wizards’ defense has looked recently. Russell Westbrook really struggled to penetrate this defense on Tuesday, and Julius Randle manhandled the Wizards down low. I just don’t see that turning around because it’s a new day. There are serious matchup concerns for Washington.
Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers
Sixers -6
I think we learned on Tuesday just how bad this Lakers team is without LeBron James. They had no idea how to score the basketball, posting just a 107.8 offensive rating against one of the league’s most porous defenses. What was even worse is that the defense totally collapsed, which has been a pattern of late. Without James, Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol, this top-ranked defense has looked like the Sacramento Kings. The Sixers, meanwhile, have been surging ever since losing Joel Embiid with an against-the-spread win in three out of the last four games. Their post-up game has remained strong, and without the Lakers’ best interior defenders, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris should have no issues scoring inside.
Set your DraftKings fantasy basketball lineups here: NBA $400K Shootaround [$100K to 1st]
Golden State Warriors at Sacramento Kings
Warriors +3
Speaking of the Kings, I think this line is heading in the wrong direction. Believe it or not, the Kings actually rank 14th in defensive efficiency over the past 14 games, and the Warriors rank dead last in offense, but Golden State’s depth really caught my eye in a 10-point loss to the Sixers on Tuesday. Not only did the Warriors hold the lead in the fourth quarter, they managed to find some quality shots against one of the hottest defenses in the league. Now they take on a Kings team that has really been hit hard by the three this season, though it’s gotten better of late. I think there are plenty of positives that the Warriors will take from Tuesday, and with Sacramento trading away Cory Joseph and Nemanja Bjelica, its depth should take a hit for this game. I think the Warriors take this one outright.
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All betting odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
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