RADIO
There are 12 games Wednesday, including an early game between the Timberwolves and Bucks. Bobby Portis is seeing the biggest boost from Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence, but the production will still rely on Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton for most of the game. The Timberwolves offense is more dependent on Karl-Anthony Towns availability, but Anthony Edwards proves over and over why he doesn't need to be hitting his shot to prove his scoring versatility.
With this game projected to be the second-highest scoring game of the night, Edwards, Brook Lopez, and most of the Bucks backcourt has upside. Whatever frontcourt defense Milwaukee has, Antetokounmpo brings most of it and the only team the Bucks have been able to hold below 116 points over their last five games is the Orlando Magic.
MonkeyKnifeFight.com continues to be ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. As always, you can find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter with any questions, especially since lines and players are subject to change throughout the day.
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NYK @ NOP
Zion Williamson (NOP) MORE 29.5 Points - Julius Randle (NYK) LESS 22.5 Points
The thought process on this game focuses on the Knicks defense and compares it to Zion Williamson's scoring. It's fun to think a great defense can stop the most dynamic scorer over the last month, but that paper-trail type of thinking forces you to ignore the obvious. There is no one on the Knicks roster that is capable of stopping Williamson. Julius Randle can sacrifice his body for the cause, but it's going to take a lot of energy on his part to call for help every other possession.
The saving grace here is that Randle will still get to his spots on the other end. His consistency and ability to involve the rest of his teammates pulls from his overall scoring, but he keeps the team afloat when they play someone who will dominate the game like Williamson. The Pelicans push the pace while the Knicks slow it down, so this game will come down to whoever proves to be the hot hand. Since Randle and Williamson are forced into usage most nights anyway, expect tonight to be similar.
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ORL @ CHI
Zach LaVine (CHI) MORE 26.5 Points - Terrence Ross (ORL) MORE 16.5
After scoring 50 points against the Hawks, Zach Lavine responded with a 30-point outing against the Timberwolves. He responded to that, with a 21-point game in a loss to the Grizzlies. Can someone rebound after scoring 20 points? Because the Magic defense needs to be ready for both their former star player and Zach LaVine playing with chips on their shoulders. LaVine seems to coming down from his 50-point game, but after losing to Memphis, it's hard to see him letting the Bulls drop another game, especially when there will be no one to guard him.
For the Magic, they have been relying on whatever offense they can get, plus however many points Terrence Ross scores that night. Until his projected points rise in tougher matchups, there is no reason to go with the under. His shot attempts and points over the last two games are extremely shocking, but the Bulls defense aren't even in the same tier as the Bucks or Spurs.
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GSW @ OKC
Stephen Curry (GSW) MORE 35.5 Points - Luguentz Dort (OKC) MORE 16.5
WELP.
It was hard not to laugh when first seeing this wager. Stephen Curry is playing on an entirely different level and a bad night for him is still around 30-32 points. Curry has the hot-hand and it'll take players coming back to slow him down. Luguentz Dort is coming off a career-high, but there isn't really anyone on the Thunder roster that is demanding usage.
Overall, the situation is the same for both players. They need injured players to return for them to see less usage and more importantly, shot attempts. Even though Dort won't repeat, he'll still have more shot attempts than he'll know what to do with.
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WAS @ SAC
De'Aaron Fox (SAC) MORE 31.5 Points - Bradley Beal (WAS) MORE 28.5
With only a few small hiccups in his scoring streak, De'Aaron Fox is still piling on the reputation he has been building since last season. Fox is stuck in Sacramento, and that is meant in the nicest way possible. The Kings roster is great, full of great personalities, but the front office is wasting the most excellent talent in De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, and Tyrese Haliburton. Until they build a more complete roster than can defend and win consistently, Fox is at the forefront doing everything he can.
Against the Wizards, it's easy to see him only needing a screen and a rolling Richaun Holmes to get all the space he needs, but the same can be said for Bradley Beal. Beal is dealing with a hip injury, but that still didn't keep him from scoring 34 against the Jazz. Even if the rest of the Wizards are able to score, Beal will still get his fair share of shots and end up closer to his season average.
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MIA @ DEN
Nikola Jokic (DEN) MORE 24.5 Points - Jimmy Butler (MIA) MORE 21.5
The first game without Jamal Murray is not going to turn out like a typical Nuggets game, so don't expect the recent pace and game logs to give you a full picture. Guards have already been struggling with the Heat backcourt and now that it's only Will Barton, Monte Morris, and Facundo Campazzo, Nikola Jokic' options have become increasingly inconsistent. Jokic will be forced into more scoring whether he wants to or not.
For Jimmy Butler, someone capable of scoring 22 points any given night, it's always hard to assume the under. In his last two games, one a blowout win and the other a blowout loss, he still averaged 19 points. Going up against Aaron Gordon or Michael Porter Jr. doesn't stick out as someone that will really drain his energy on either end of the court, so as of right now, Butler has upside.
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