Friday offers a nine-game slate in the NBA, including an ESPN doubleheader with Milwaukee Bucks facing the Brooklyn Nets at 7:30 p.m. ET followed by the Atlanta Hawks taking on the Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. ET.
ESPN betting analysts Eric Moody and Erin Dolan, as well as Senior Writer Andre Snellings, offer their best bets.
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook.
San Antonio Spurs at Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET
Moody: Dejounte Murray is the first Spurs player with 12 or more assists in three consecutive games since Avery Johnson in 1997. This season he has averaged 8.4 RPG and 9.0 APG, both career highs, and he also has Murray triple-doubles and should have his way against the 76ers.
In terms of rebounding and facilitation, Tobias Harris has had a lot of success this season, especially against weak defenses, averaging 7.7 RPG and 4.0 APG. Meanwhile, the Spurs rank 21st in points allowed and 26th in defensive rebounds. Joel Embiid, who has averaged 10.7 RPG this season, should also benefit from this. As a team, the Spurs allow the fifth-most rebounds per game to opposing centers.
Picks: Murray over 8.5 assists; Murray over 7.5 rebounds; Harris over 4.5 assists; Harris over 7.5 rebounds; Embiid over 11.5 rebounds
Milwaukee Bucks at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Moody: James Harden has averaged 10.3 assists per game in his last six games since returning from the league protocol. The Nets will be without Kyrie Irving since they are playing at home against the Bucks and Milwaukee allows the ninth most assists to opponents. Harden is in a strong position to surpass the assists prop thanks to Kevin Durant, Patty Mills and the other offensive playmakers at his disposal.
On a per game basis, Bobby Portis is setting career highs in points (16), rebounds (9), three pointers (2), and blocks (2). While shooting 48% from the field, he averages 28 minutes per game and plays an important role in the Bucks offense.
Picks: Harden over 10.5 assists; Bobby Portis over 1.5 total 3 Pt Field Goals, Portis over 7.5 rebounds
Snellings: This game will be defined almost as much by who isn't playing, as who is. Kyrie is out for the Nets, joining Joe Harris on the sidelines, but the rest of the Nets' roster is remarkably healthy after having been hit hard by the protocols last month. On the other hand, the Bucks will be missing six rotation players, including their top-4 backcourt options (both top point guards and both top shooting guards) and their starting center.
For the Nets, this poses a nice bounce-back opportunity for Patty Mills, who has been marred in a slump with single-digit scoring efforts in three of the last four games and moved to the bench on Wednesday for Kyrie's season debut. Mills should be back in the starting lineup, where he averaged 16.0 PPG and 3.7 3PG in 21 starts this season. And he's facing a Bucks squad that he lit up for 21 points on seven 3-pointers in 29 minutes off the bench in the season opener.
For the Bucks, this looks like a game where Giannis Antetokounmpo (probable after missing Wednesday's game with a non-COVID illness), Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis can shine. With their entire backcourt in street clothes, look for Giannis and Middleton to both take on larger playmaking roles on offense. And the Bucks' advantage in this matchup lies in the interior, so look for Giannis, Portis and Jordan Nwora to go particularly hard in the paint. Giannis could be on triple-double watch, and both Portis and Middleton on double-double watch.
Pick: Antetokounmpo over 29.5 points (-115); Antetokounmpo over 6.5 assists (-145); Antetokounmpo triple-double potential (+525); Mills over 14.5 points (-115); Portis over 7.5 rebounds (-130); Portis double-double (+250); Middleton over 21.5 points (-110); Middleton over 5.5 rebounds (+120); Middleton over 5.5 assists (+110); Middleton double-double (+800)
Minnesota Timberwolves (-5.5, 214.5) at Oklahoma City Thunder, 8 p.m. ET
Moody: Josh Giddey is in the midst of an excellent rookie campaign. In the last 10 games, he has averaged 12.4 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 7.4 APG. It was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's first game back from the protocols on Wednesday against the Timberwolves; he was rusty, but played 38 minutes. It's likely that he will perform better on Friday, which will negatively affect Giddey.
Having missed the previous six games, Karl-Anthony Towns returned to the Timberwolves and collected his 16th double-double of the season with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Towns averaged 9.4 rebounds per game during his previous nine games. The only other team that allows more rebounds per game to centers than the Thunder (18) are the Hornets (19).
During his first game back before entering the protocols, D'Angelo Russell had a disappointing performance. He averaged 13 assists per game in the two games before his five game absence, but only 6.6 per game for the season. Against a Thunder team that permits 13.5 assists per game to opposing guards, Russell should have no problem.
Picks: Giddey under 7.5 assists; Giddey under 7.5 rebounds; Towns over 9.5 rebounds; Russell over 5.5 assists
Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Dolan: Malik Monk has hit over this number in five of his last six games. He has hit over this number in points alone in the last two games. One area to exploit when playing the Atlanta Hawks is their defense, which ranks 24th. The Hawks are not great at defending the perimeter either, so Monk will be able to get some threes up. Monk has been consistent as of late, as LeBron James and Monk combined for 25 points in the fourth quarter alone in the Lakers win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. With the highest total on the slate at 225.5, oddsmakers are expecting points and I expect Monk to play well.
Pick: Monk over 18.5 points + assists.
Moody: Over the last five games, LeBron James has averaged 33.8 points, 10 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.6 blocks in 36 minutes. During this season, he has led the Lakers in scoring in nine straight games and has at least 30 points and five assists in 14 games. James is well positioned to succeed against a Hawks team that allows the seventh most points to opponents this season.
Pick: James over 38.5 total points rebounds (-115)