The quarterfinals of NBA In-Season Tournament are set and the Orlando Magic just missed out due to point differential. However, the good news is that the Magic will enter tonight's action riding a seven-game winning streak. As a double-digit home favorite against the Wizards, that streak may extend to eight and Jalen Suggs may lend a hand in a victory.
On Monday, the Lakers were blown out by the Sixers while the Pistons were blown out by the Wizards to extend their losing streak to 14 games. Tonight, the Lakers are road favorites in Detroit to get back on track. D'Angelo Russell will look to help facilitate the offense.
The Clippers also had a rough Monday night as a fourth quarter collapse led to a loss to a short-handed Nuggets team. However, Russell Westbrook had a double-double off the bench. His energy could help the Clippers tonight against the Kings.
Jalen Suggs Over 15.5 Points + Assists (-115)
7 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass
This season, Jalen Suggs is averaging 12.4 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 14-of-17 games this season, including each of the last 10 games. In those 10 games, Suggs is averaging 13.9 points per game. He has hit this line with just points four times, scoring 18 points in all four games.
Tonight, Suggs has a great matchup against a Wizards team that is allowing 124 points per game. They rank 29th in scoring defense and also 28th in field goal percentage defense. With all of those points allowed, Washington is last in assists allowed as well.
Suggs' assists line is 2.5 and while I lean towards the over, in the neighborhood of -160, it is a bit juiced for my liking considering the hit rate. Suggs has recorded three assists in four of his last 10 games, but he had four assists or more in each of those games. Meanwhile, seven players have had an assists line of 2.5 against Washington and gone over their lines. Six of them had at least four assists.
While Suggs may join that list tonight, I am adding his points because I like him to score tonight as well. Some combination of 16 points and assists gets us this over.
D'Angelo Russell Over 5.5 Assists (+100)
7 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass
This season, D'Angelo Russell is averaging 6.2 assists per game. That means an average game from him will clear this line. He has done so in 10-of-18 games this season. Additionally, he has been hooked on five assists five times already this season. So, Russell is not far off from an over 80% hit rate thus far.
In Monday's game against the Sixers, Russell had seven assists. It was one of the few Lakers props to go over in the loss. Tonight, Russell has a strong matchup against the Pistons, who allow the 12th-most assists per game and the 13th-most to point guards. Additionally, the Pistons allow the ninth-most points in the paint (52) per game in the league. That means the Lakers' finishers, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, will be in good position to score.
James leads the Lakers in assists (6.5) and will take advantage of this as well. However, I prefer Russell at plus money in this spot. Russell has notched eight assists five times already this season, including three in his past 10 games. He had 11 assists against Portland as well, another rebuilding team. If you're bullish on his passing, you can bet Russell for eight assists at +360 and 10 assists at +1100 on FanDuel.
Use the Action Network’s Caesars Sportsbook promo code for a signup bonus when betting D'Angelo Russell's player prop.
Russell Westbrook Over 9.5 Rebounds + Assists (-120)
10 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass
Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double for an entire season four times in a five year span. When I saw this line, my first thought was how 10 rebounds and assists combined would be a footnote in another triple-double for him. While his triple-double performances are less frequent now than they used to be, that has not stopped him from hitting this line.
Westbrook has hit this line in 10-of-16 games this season for a 62.5% hit rate. Perhaps more relevant is that he has hit this line in three of his last four games. The Clippers remain a work in progress following the James Harden trade. However, it appears at least that they have established their rotation, which helps when betting on their props. Westbrook has played at least 25 minutes in three of his past four games, going over this line in the three games.
He is averaging 6.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game for 11.8 per game combined. He is averaging nearly 12 per game when we need 10 here. Tonight, he faces the Kings, who played last night in an emotional comeback victory over the Warriors. While the Kings are a young team, they are still playing a back-to-back after a win that likely took a lot out of them. If they are a step slow on a rebound or two, it could end up in Westbrook's hands.
Additionally, the Kings are allowing the eighth-most assists per game this season. Westbrook had 10 assists in four of five games against the Kings last season. While 10 is unlikely tonight, five to six assists along with five to six rebounds will put him in a good position to clear this line.
If Westbrook does get 10 assists (or rebounds) tonight, there is value on him to get a double-double. Westbrook had 14 points and 11 rebounds on Monday night. You can take him to get a double-double in tonight's game at +750 on FanDuel.
