OKC will be without their entire starting unit when they host Portland, with the Trail Blazers a much improved outfit over the last 6 weeks.
Best Bet
Portland Trail Blazers @ OKC Thunder (12:10pm)
Question is, can the Trail Blazers beat OKC’s bench? I’m actually shocked that they enter this as underdog, with the Thunder sitting SGA, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, and Isaiah Hartenstein, with Chet Holmgren questionable (and surely not worth playing).
With key trio SGA, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein off the court at the same time this season, the Thunder has a net rating of -6.2 – this is a comparable rating to the Brooklyn Nets this season. When the trio are on the court together, that rating is +15!
To emphasise their dominance, the Thunder holds the three best three-man line-up combinations in the NBA that have played 500+ minutes this season – all three of those combinations consist of Williams, SGA, Dort and Hartenstein.
Based off these numbers and how well Portland has been travelling, this is a great price.
SGM – Portland / Wiggins 20+ Points/ Camara 10+ Points = $4.20
Next Best
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Charlotte Hornets (11:10am)
In three games without Mark Williams this season, Jusuf Nurkic has been more than productive in limited minutes.
Averaging just 20 minutes a game in those three games, Nurkic is averaging 10 points, 9 rebounds and 3.7 assists – still convincingly covering his PRA of 19.5.
Those minutes without Williams have progressively increased, with his most recent game against the Kings playing 27 minutes recording a PRA of 24. Expect something similar against the Cavs.
SGM – Cavs / Nuirkic Over 19.5 PRA / Bridges 6+ Rebounds / Mitchell Under 5.5 Assists = $4.20
Value Bet
Utah Jazz @ Toronto Raptors (11:40am)
Toronto’s rotation has taken a huge hit in what is already a thin roster – Barrett, Dick, Poeltl, Mogbo and Agbaji all out for the Raptors. As a result, we’ll see the likes of Orlando Robinson and AJ Lawson starting and Jared Rhoden in the rotation (whoever they are).
The Jazz are also missing key players, but they’re used to this as they’ve done it all season, while for this contest it’s only Collins, Clarkson and Lauri missing.
Walker Kessler should have a huge game against this weak Toronto front court, while the likes of George, Sensabaugh and Filipowski off the bench should take advantage of this Raptors second-unit.
SGM – Jazz +5.5 / Walter 4+ Rebounds / Quickley 15+ Points = $3.75
Saturday NBA Multi
Jazz +5.5 / Portland / Kings / Nuggets
$7.45
