NBA Wednesday player props: Perfect matchups for Mitchell, Wall
Tuesday was the second straight night falling one win shy of a sweep. We're now 8-2 on the week with the All-Star break right around the corner.
Let's finish strong these last two days. Here are the player props I'm zeroing in for Wednesday's gigantic 10-game slate.
Donovan Mitchell over 26.5 points
Mitchell's a breakout candidate when the Jazz travel to take on the 76ers. Philadelphia's giving up the second-most points per game, fifth-most threes, and sixth-highest field-goal percentage to shooting guards this season. Mitchell, who's averaging career highs in points per game (24.4) and 3-point percentage (38%), is also quietly top 10 in usage rate at 31.9%.
John Wall over 2.5 made threes
Wall's cooling off from beyond the arc heading into the break. He's drilled just three of his last 17 attempts and has surpassed this total just once over his previous seven.
The Rockets still jack up threes at an alarming rate - their 40.5 per game is the third-most in the NBA - and it's difficult to envision anything different against a fast-paced Brooklyn offense in James Harden's return to the Toyota Center.
Expect the stars to shine in a shootout - Wall included.
Coby White over 4.5 assists
White's been quiet in this department of late, registering five or more assists just twice over his last seven outings. However, Tuesday's spot against the Pelicans will provide a boost: New Orleans allows the most dishes per game to shooting guards (5.25) while allowing the second-most in the league in general (27.7).
White picked up seven dimes in the previous meeting last month. The Bulls pile up around 24 per contest and there are plenty to go around in a tilt projected for roughly 238 points.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope over 1.5 made threes
LeBron James will miss his first game of the season at a rather inopportune time for the Lakers. After falling to the Suns at home on Tuesday, L.A. is 2-5 in the last seven and now in third place in the West.
Someone needs to step up on the second of a back-to-back against the league's worst defense. My money will be on Caldwell-Pope.
KCP's slumping, going a combined 5-of-22 from the field and just 2-of-15 from deep over his last four. If there was ever a time to bust out, it's against the Kings, who allow 3.7 made threes per game to shooting guards.
Trae Young over 2.5 made threes
Our own C Jackson Cowart told you to buy the Hawks in their first game after firing head coach Lloyd Pierce. Atlanta came through on Tuesday, notching a 94-80 win over the Heat just two days removed from a double-digit loss to them.
Young sunk four triples en route to an 18-point night. He's attempted at least eight threes in four straight and should stay hot against the Magic: Orlando is surrendering the second-most threes per game and the fifth-highest shooting percentage to point guards.
(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.