Nick Nurse spent five years in Toronto as the Raptors head coach and helped the franchise win its NBA title in 2019. Last Saturday, he picked up his first victory against him former team. Joel Embiid put together another MVP performance, but Tyrese Maxey had a big game as well. Tonight I will be backing Maxey.
Last night, the Pistons fell at home 110-101 to the Trail Blazers while the Pelicans rallied from down 22 for a 110-106 victory. Tonight, they will square off in New Orleans, and Killian Hayes may continue his cold shooting.
We are off to a 7-1 start on NBA props this season, so let's stay hot with two picks tonight!
Find my NBA player prop predictions and picks below for Thursday.
At long last, the James Harden saga is over in Philadelphia. Beyond the off-court drama, it might not be a bad thing for the Sixers on the floor either. I believe that Tyrese Maxey has long been ready to be the Sixers' second option behind Joel Embiid, particularly in the playoffs where Harden has struggled historically.
This season, Maxey has not only looked ready for a bigger role — but perhaps his first All-Star appearance as well.
Maxey is averaging 30.3 points per game, 6.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists this season. Maxey has hit this line in each of his first three games, nearly with just points alone with two 30-point games. He also has enjoyed playing the Raptors as he has cleared this line in three of his last four games against them.
Last Saturday, Maxey tallied 34 points, six rebounds and seven assists against Toronto. He also scored 75 combined points in consecutive games against Toronto last season. Nurse is probably very happy that he does not have to go against him anymore.
However, Maxey is due for some shooting regression as he is shooting 50% from the field and 56% from 3. He will not do that all season, but he will have the volume to make up for it. Maxey is averaging nearly 39 minutes, 19 field goal attempts and eight free-throw attempts per game. With that kind of volume, Maxey should score at least 25 points. Five rebounds and five assists gets him to 35 points, rebounds and assists.
After Maxey topped 40 total points, rebounds and assists in each of his first three games, he should clear 34.5 PRA tonight.
In 173 career NBA games, Killian Hayes is shooting 37.3% from the field and 27.3% from 3. In his first five games this season, those numbers have dropped to 27.3% and 23.5%, respectively.
Hayes is averaging just 6.4 points per game thus far and has gone under this line in three of his first five games. In the two games that he did go over, he still only scored 10 points.
Last night, Hayes did not score and went 0-for-6 from the field despite playing 27 minutes. I do not expect a bounce-back performance for him for several reasons.
Let's begin with Cade Cunningham. Despite Hayes being drafted a year earlier (No. 7 overall in 2020), it is Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, who has established himself as the face of the franchise.
Cunningham is the Pistons' No. 1 scoring option and primary offensive facilitator. He is averaging 20.2 field goal attempts and 6.8 assists per game this season. The ball is often in his hands, and because Hayes is a non-shooter, playing him alongside Cunningham is detrimental to the Pistons offense because it hurts their spacing.
Cunningham and Jaden Ivey, the No. 5 overall pick in 2022, are the Pistons' backcourt of the future. However, head coach Monty Williams has stuck with Hayes in the starting lineup so far. That may not be the case much longer if Hayes keeps struggling.
Even if Ivey is not the direct replacement, Joe Harris and Marcus Sasser would provide more spacing for the Pistons offense while Sasser also offers the defense that Hayes provides. Whether Hayes is still starting or not, I do not expect him to crack nine points tonight.
