NBA Monday player props: Smash spots for Irving, Jokic
We were all over the place last week but finished on a high note, going 5-1 on Friday night.
Here's to keeping the momentum rolling into Monday's seven-game slate. These are our favorite player props.
Rudy Gobert under 13.5 points
Nobody's been able to stop Gobert lately. The Jazz big man has gone a combined 22-of-29 (75.9%) from the field across his last four contests.
What's concerning is that Gobert was held under 13 points in half those games. The Pelicans allow the highest field-goal percentage to centers this season, but Gobert will likely have the toughest offensive matchup on the floor tonight. He's due to regress sooner than later.
Kyrie Irving over 37.5 points+rebounds+assists, over 2.5 made threes
Big spot here against the Spurs for Irving, who returns after missing this past weekend's headliner versus the Mavericks.
The seven-time All-Star has struggled in particular from beyond the arc, going just 5-of-28 (17.9%) combined over his last four starts. However, he has the best offensive matchup of any Nets starter and should have his fingerprints all over a game featuring two teams that rank top 10 in pace.
Nikola Jokic over 26.5 points
Jokic has been among the elite playmakers this season. His 5.9 offensive win shares are 1.3 more than that of the next-best player (Damian Lillard, 4.6).
The Nuggets cog went an efficient 8-of-10 from the floor in his last outing, registering just 19 points in 30 minutes of action. He's been held under 26 in consecutive games but should get back on track against a Bulls defense that allows the sixth-most points to centers.
Michael Carter-Williams over 0.5 made threes
Over-or-under 0.5 props will have you on the edge of your seat all night. This is a pretty fun one on Carter-Williams, who should jack up at least a handful from deep for the Magic: The Mavericks allow the fourth-most made triples to point guards (3.29).
MCW's been a liability offensively this season - his minus-4.6 Offensive Box Plus/Minus is a career-low - but he'll ship this against a Dallas defense that's still bottom five in efficiency.
Damian Lillard over 9.5 assists
Hornets-Trail Blazers is a League Pass gem featuring two teams that can fill the bucket at a torrid pace. Lillard's projected for roughly 31 points Monday, but I think his assist total is the better look.
Charlotte allows the second-most assists in the NBA to point guards (9.63), while the team as a whole gives up the most per game (28.5). Lillard's cruised past this number in five of the last seven and will make it five of eight after Monday's track meet.
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.