For most teams in the NBA, Wednesday is their final game before the All-Star break and for at least another eight days.
Let’s cash entering the break with a few NBA prop picks from Bovada (visit our Bovada Review), one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – 07:30 PM EST at Madison Square Garden
Julius Randle
- Scores 25+ Points And Knicks To Win
This is an ESPN national TV game. While Nets star Kyrie Irving can play in most road games, he can’t tonight because obviously the Knicks also play in New York City and thus the COVID vaccine mandate still stands. Kevin Durant remains out.
The Knicks have been massive disappointments at 25-33 and there’s talk that coach Tom Thibodeau might be fired, although not likely until after the season.
New York lost a game it absolutely shouldn’t have Monday at home to a bad Oklahoma City team, 127-123 in overtime. The Thunder were very short-handed and down 11 in the third quarter.
One reason the Knicks haven’t been nearly as good as last year is that Julius Randle has taken a step back, but he has been scoring a ton of late. In seven games this month, Randle is averaging 27.7 points and has topped 25 in all but one.
The Pick
It helps his scoring cause that second-leading scorer RJ Barrett is out injured. Thus, Randle is the clear No. 1 option – he had 26 shots on Monday, and no other Knicks player had more than 18.
Brooklyn enters having lost 11 of 12 and hasn’t won on the road since Jan. 21. Play this prop but only at the suggested NBA odds or better.
NBA Prop Pick: Julius Randle Over 25 Points + Knicks Win - Yes (+152) at Bovada *Only at this odds or better.
Sacramento Kings vs. Chicago Bulls
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – 08:00 PM EST at United Center
DeMar DeRozan
- Over/Under 32.5 Points
On Monday, we recommended Chicago All-Star DeMar DeRozan over 31.5 points (-120) vs. the San Antonio Spurs and that was an easy winner as DeRozan had 40 points – why mess with a good thing?
Believe it or not, DeRozan can accomplish something tonight that Michael Jordan never did and, in fact, only Wilt Chamberlain did (twice): Score at least 35 points on 50 percent shooting from the field in seven straight games.
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Hard to believe MJ never accomplished that. Chamberlain did it in 1960-61 and in 1963. DeRozan’s streak of six straight with at least 35 points is the third-longest such streak in Chicago’s history, behind MJ streaks of seven and 10.
What’s even more amazing about this run is that DeRozan rarely shoots three-pointers. He didn’t attempt one in Monday’s game and only two combined in the previous two before that.
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DeRozan is the only Bulls player to score at least 40 points in a game this season, something he’s done three times, which is tied for the sixth-most such in the NBA this. DeRozan is the only player to reach 40 points without a three-pointer made and has done it twice.
The Pick
I see no reason why this run would end. Fellow All-Star Zach LaVine remains out for Chicago, so that will mean plenty of shots for DeRozan again, and the Kings allow the third-most points in the league (114.7 ppg) and second-worst field-goal percentage (47.5). Chicago and Sacramento haven’t met this season.
NBA Prop Pick: DeMar DeRozan Over 32.5 Points (-108) at Bovada
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – 08:00 PM EST at Paycom Center
Josh Giddey
- Over/Under 32.5 Points/Rebounds/Assists
The Oklahoma City Thunder are truly horrible again, but it looks like they got a major steal with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft in Aussie Josh Giddey – he’s +1800 at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks to win NBA Rookie of the Year.
The 19-year-old led an upset of the Knicks on Monday at Madison Square Garden with 28 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, which followed a triple-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists on Saturday in Chicago.
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He is the youngest player in NBA history with back-to-back triple-doubles, accomplishing the second at an exact age of 19 years, 127 days. The previous mark of 20 years, 26 days was set by current Mavericks star Luka Doncic in 2019.
Giddey is the third rookie to record three triple-doubles in a season over the last 20 years and is tied for the seventh most triple-doubles in NBA history by a rookie. Doncic holds the mark with eight and that record is likely safe.
The Pick
I’m not saying Giddey will get another triple-double tonight, but the Thunder remain without their two best veteran players in the injured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort. Also out injured are Ty Jerome, Mike Muscala and Kenrich Williams.
Thus, Giddey should get as many shots/rebounds as he wants and we should cash in our last NBA pick for tonight.
NBA Prop Pick: Josh Giddey Over 32.5 Points/Rebounds/Assists (-118) at Bovada
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
