RADIO
The NBA offers up a 10-game schedule Friday night, a great opportunity to play props and win with Monkey Knife Fight.
The early take may be one of optimism. Looking at props included in the Star Shootout, some of the game’s best players are putting up strong enough numbers to like them to go over, even in cases where the number isn’t necessarily an easy cover.
Here are some angles to keep in mind for Friday’s basketball prop picks on Monkey Knife Fight.
Editor's Note: Here's a great special offer for all RotoBaller readers from our Monkey Knife Fight friends: New AND Existing Player Bonus. All players receive a 100% matched signup or reload bonus up to $50 with code 'BALLER'. Sign up and deposit, and use our prop picks to get off on a winning foot!
STAR SHOOTOUT - EARLY GAMES
MORE OR LESS
Trae Young MORE THAN 31.5 POINTS – This is a high number to cover but Young is averaging 32.1 points per game at home and has scored at least 32 in seven of his past eight home contests. The Nets offer league-average defense, so ride a red-hot Trae Young.
Giannis Antetokounmpo MORE THAN 30.5 POINTS – Averaging 31.2 points per game at home, Giannis goes up against an Oklahoma City team that is relatively strong defensively but is also playing the second half of a back-to-back which is a tough way to take on Giannis.
Zion Williamson MORE THAN 24.5 POINTS – The Pelicans rookie is starting to dominate physically. In his past five games, he’s averaging more than 30 minutes of playing time and scoring 29 points per game. Are the Cavaliers the team that can slow down this freight train?
Spencer Dinwiddie MORE THAN 22.5 POINTS – The Nets point guard has scored 23 or more points just once in the past eight road games but he’s averaging 21.9 points per game on the road and goes up against an Atlanta Hawks team that is one of two teams to allow more than 119 points per game.
RAPID FIRE
Luka Doncic -0.5 assists vs. Lonzo Ball – Lonzo is averaging 7.3 assists per home game and faces a Cleveland team that is not strong defensively. Doncic is putting up 9.7 assists per game on the road and his opposition, the Miami Heat, tend towards league average defense. Is that difference in opposition enough to like Ball plus a couple of assists? Don’t think so.
D’Angelo Russell +0.5 three-pointers vs. Duncan Robinson – This is a competitive matchup with Robinson knocking down nearly four triples per home contest. Russell is knocking down 3.6 per game on the road and 3.8 per game in five games with the Timberwolves.
STAR SHOOTOUT - LATE GAMES
MORE OR LESS
Bradley Beal MORE THAN 30.5 POINTS – Beal is averaging 29.8 points per game on the road and facing a Jazz team that is among the better defensive teams in the league. But wait! He’s on a ridiculous run right now, averaging 36.7 points per game in the past 15 games, and has scored at least 31 in five of his past six road contests. In the game that he didn’t score 31, he finished with 30.
Kawhi Leonard MORE THAN 26.5 POINTS – Kawhi has been better away from home, averaging 28.7 points per game on the road and has scored as least 27 points in eight of his past nine road contests. So, even against a strong Denver team, he’s trending towards the over.
Devin Booker LESS THAN 26.5 POINTS – The Pistons aren’t much of a team as opposition for Booker’s Suns but their defensive numbers are at least mediocre. Booker is putting up 24.7 points per game at home so this tilts a little towards Booker going under.
Jamal Murray LESS THAN 20.5 POINTS – Although Murray has scored at least 21 points in three straight road games, he’s averaging 19.4 points per game on the road this season and faces a Clippers team that is above average defensively.
RAPID FIRE
Deandre Ayton +3.5 rebounds vs. Rudy Gobert – Ayton has typically been better at rebounding on the road (13.1 rpg) compared to at home (10.9 rpg) but he does get the benefit of going against a Pistons team that is woefully short on bigs after trading Andre Drummond to Cleveland. Gobert does grab 13.9 rebounds per game at home, which is great, but it’s close enough to like Ayton as the underdog.
