THE LOCK
Charlotte Hornets -2.5
@ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
16 units
Charlotte are the better team in this game, and Minnesota are a total mess. The Hornets should be heavy favourites against a TWolves roster that can’t wait for the AS break. They have a new coach that probably hasn’t even had one practice to implement his style. The Malik Beasley suspension just throws another spanner in the works.
Charlotte have played some entertaining ball during their west coast road trip, beating Phoenix and pulling off a stunning comeback against the Kings. Gordon Hayward is likely to be back which only helps and gives us further confidence that the Hornets will cover. If the game is tight, Hayward gives them another option to close the game alongside Rozier & Ball. The 4-unit allocation should indicate we are supremely confident that Charlotte covers.
THE ACCUMULATOR
Leg one: Indiana Pacers v Cleveland Cavaliers OVER 216.5 total points @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
Leg two: Golden State Warriors -1.5 @ $1.90 (Sportsbet)
Total odds: $3.60
Total stake: 4 units
This points total is too low for us. The Pacers offense on average scores 113pts per contest, while the Cavs have scored 112pts in 3 out of their last 4 games (even though they have the worst offense in the league). Indiana have lost their past 4 games, so we are confident they’ll have the motivation to play well and score the ball, to pick up a much-needed win. Cleveland have found themselves as of late, winning their past 4 games, so they enter into this matchup in a good rhythm. The only injury concern for this one is Sabonis, he is questionable with an ankle problem and if he can’t play it would be the first game he has missed all season. If he doesn’t play, we like the chances even more that this game will go over the total points as Indy will be forced to play more up tempo – getting out in transition & shooting threes. This total will end up in the mid 220s. Take the over!
Meanwhile, we love picking a team to bounce back after a bad showing the game before. Nothing went right for Golden state against the Lakers. Draymond left the game early, they shot 23% from deep, had 20 turnovers and only scored 91 points. They go on the road now to play a Blazers team who we’ve said in the past, don’t put much effort on the defensive side of the ball as they rank 25th in the league for opponents’ points. Steve Kerr already announced that Green is playing this game and that changes everything. We would say he’s the most important player to that team given how elite he is on defense, combined with the playmaking ability and the energy he brings on & off the court. GSW will cover and we expect Draymond to play a key reason in them doing so.
THE SPECULATOR
Kyle Lowry to get a Triple Double
@ $12 (Sportsbet)
1 unit
Fresh off a triple double in his last game, Lowry comes into this match against Detroit hungry to do it again. The Raptors are dealing with COVID issues, having not played a game in 5 days and losing VanVleet, Siakam & Anunoby. This puts the onus on Kyle Lowry to do everything for them. He will have some help in the form of Norman Powell and Chris Boucher but Toronto will be relying on Kyle to do the heavy lifting.
The Pistons have been struggling, losing 6 out of their last 7 and they’ll be without Jerami Grant as he’s battling a quad injury. In the two games Lowry has secured a triple/double this season, both have come with him playing less than 35mins. With the team being short-handed we expect him to play around that 35min mark and are backing him to pick up his third trip/dub for the season.