The NBA is the Wild West right now given COVID-19 and the league’s health protocols, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t edges to be had. We sit at 39-29 on the season for article plays and look to improve upon a 4-0 week on Friday. With two bets per card working out well for us this week, we’ll stick to the two strongest spots on Friday’s slate.
Follow along on Twitter — @julianedlow — for what we hope to be another great season, as some plays jump out late due to news, particularly in the player prop market. Here’s what jumps out to me on DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Denver Nuggets: Cedi Osman OVER 13.5 points (-110)
The Cavs are as thin as it gets in the frontcourt, sitting Andre Drummond in hopes of finding a trade partner, while Larry Nance Jr. and Taurean Prince remain out with injuries. That has meant a larger workload for Osman over the past couple of games — he played 25 minutes against the Clippers and scored 20 points on Sunday, then went 35 minutes against the Warriors on Monday, finishing with 17 points. Efficiency has never been Osman’s thing, but there’s enough volume to trust him right now. Over the past two games, he’s a combined 12-for-27 from the field, connecting on 6-of-16 triples and 7-of-8 free throws. Look for Osman to keep it rolling against a thin Denver team that’s in the middle of a long East Coast road trip.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Phoenix Suns: Zion Williamson OVER 26.5 points (-110)
We cashed Zion’s point prop with ease on Wednesday, as the former No. 1 pick finished with 36 points to go over his 25.5 number. Williamson is now averaging 31.6 points over his past five games and is shooting an insane clip from the field. He’s just dominating his opponents in the paint, and a matchup against the Suns should favor his style of play. Zion shot 12-of-14 from the field the last time these two teams played each other, dropping 28 points in 32 minutes. With Steven Adams unlikely to go in this one, Zion should see more minutes and scoring opportunities.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is jedlow) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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