NBA Prop Pick: Mikal Bridges Over 20.5 Points (-130) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
Friday, February 24, 2023 – 08:00 PM EST at United Center
Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets)
- Over 20.5 Points
For all the hope of surrounding the Bulls and the Nets starting the season, both teams enter tonight's game below expectations. For the Nets, the reason is clear. The Nets have traded away their two best players and are looking to rebuild around a solid young core of team-oriented players. Gone are the days of the selfish superstar for Brooklyn.
The Bulls, however, have to be more disappointed with the way this season has turned out. The Bulls lost six games in a row heading into the All-Star break. The Bulls never recovered from the loss of Lonzo Ball as the team's point guard and leader. Without Lonzo on the floor, the team is too offensively oriented and struggles to get stops.
When the Nets traded away Kevin Durant, the main player that they targeted to come back was Mikal Bridges. The Nets and Suns had discussed trading for Durant in the offseason yet the Suns had refused to include Bridges in the package. At the trade deadline, the Suns relented and the trade was consummated.
Now, rather than be the fourth option on offense, Bridges has a chance to show that he is special on both ends of the floor. It is common knowledge that Bridges is one of the best defenders in the NBA but this time with the Nets is an opportunity to show that, he too, can put the ball through the basket.
The Prop Pick
Over the last nine games, Bridges is averaging 24.7 points per game, including a 45-point outing against the Miami Heat. Bridges has been showing his offensive acumen and the statistics have displayed that. Due to his depressed point average because of his lack of offensive opportunities in Phoenix, this prop is lower than it should be.
Mikal Bridges will lead his team to a good start tonight when the Nets take on the Bulls for the post-All-Star break push. He will continue the trend that he took into the break of scoring against the defensively challenged Bulls.
Following the NBA odds, our first player prop for tonight is Mikal Bridges Over 20.5 points.
NBA Prop Pick: Mikal Bridges Over 20.5 Points (-130) at BetOnline
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Friday, February 24, 2023 - 07:30 PM EST at Fiserv Forum
Jrue Holiday (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Over 20.5 Points
The Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat are two of the best teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference. The teams have met in the playoffs multiple times before and know each other well. However, the Milwaukee Bucks will not be at full strength as they will be likely missing their team leader, former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo suffered a right wrist injury when the Bucks defeated the Bulls last Thursday night.
Miami's last game before the break was in Brooklyn where they fell to the Nets 116-105. Miami is not fully healthy and missed defensive stalwart Kyle Lowry in that game. Lowry will be unavailable again tonight, making Miami's point-of-attack defense less stout.
Jrue Holiday will be able to attack Miami's defense much easier with Lowry out of the lineup. Holiday is second in points per game on his team this season, averaging 19.4 points per game. Yet Holiday only scores when the team needs him, and the Bucks team without their star will need him tonight.
The Bucks and the Heat have played three times already this season. The Heat won both games in Miami and the Bucks defeated the Heat in Milwaukee on February 4th 123-115. Tonight is an opportunity for Milwaukee to even the season series against their rivals and they will need a big game from Jrue Holiday to do that.
The Prop Pick
Jrue Holiday had a 40-point outing against the Boston Celtics and has taken over the scoring load every time Giannis has sat out, including a three-game stretch in January where he scored 35, 37, and then 28. He is not a “score first” point guard, but when the team needs him, he will show off his impressive ability to create quality shots. Against the banged-up Miami Heat, Holiday will have that opportunity again tonight.
This is an important game and I expect the All-Star Holiday to step up, put the team on his back, and lead the way on both ends of the floor. Our second player prop for the evening is Jrue Holiday Over 20.5 points.
For Milwaukee residents looking to bet on this game, you can check out our top Wisconsin betting sites.
NBA Prop Pick: Jrue Holiday Over 20.5 Points (-118) at BetOnline
*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.
