It is back to business for the Pacers after a surprising run to the In-Season Tournament Championship game. Tonight, they will be in Detroit as Cade Cunningham will look the help the Pistons snap their losing streak.
On December 1st, the Knicks pulled out a 13-point win over the Raptors in Toronto. Julius Randle was an assist away from a triple-double. Back at Madison Square Garden tonight, Randle could be in for another big night against the Raptors.
Luka Doncic is certainly no stranger to racking up triple-doubles. If he gets one tonight, he will likely have 10 assists. He is in a great spot to do so against the Grizzlies.
Cade Cunningham Over 22.5 Points (-125)
7 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass
Tonight's game has a total of 247.5 points, which is par for the course with Pacers' games. In the first meeting, the Pistons and Pacers combined for 249 points. In that game, Cade Cunningham scored 31 points. It was one of five 30-point games for him this season. However, looking back at that game, I noticed Cunningham's night could have been even bigger.
He scored 31 points while shooting just 10-for-26 from the field. While he did go 9-for-9 at the free throw line, a more efficient night could have led to 35 or even 40 points. Cunningham was able to get that much volume in part because the Pacers are first in pace while the Pistons are not far behind in seventh.
Indiana is 29th in points allowed per game and it is 25th in points allowed per game to point guards. Meanwhile, Cunningham has scored 23 points in five of his last 10 games. In two other games in that span, he scored 20 and 21 points, so he is a bucket away from a 70% hit rate of late.
Cunningham is averaging 35 minutes and 19 field goal attempts per game, so he should have the volume to score 23 points. If you want to back him to score 30 points against the Pacers again, you could take him at +280 and at +700 for 35 points on FanDuel.
Pick: Cade Cunningham Over 22.5 Points (-125)
Use the Action Network’s DraftKings promo code to get a signup bonus when betting the NBA.
7:30 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass
Julius Randle Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds (-115)
After a rough start to the season, Julius Randle is now averaging 21.4 points per game. He scored less than 20 points in each of his first six games. Since then, he has scored 20 points in 14 of his last 15 games. That includes 20 points against Toronto in the first meeting this season.
Attacking the glass has remained consistent for Randle this season. He is averaging 9.7 rebounds per game this season. He has pulled down 10 rebounds in 12-of-21 games this season, including 10 against the Raptors. If Randle has an average night, he will be right in the range for this combo. However, I am betting that we don't have to worry about being hooked.
Since joining the Knicks, Randle is averaging 22.8 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. He has had 32 points and rebounds combined in six of those games and finished with 30 in three more games. One of those games he had 30 was in the first meeting 10 days ago. However, Randle has hit this line in four of his last five games against the Raptors, averaging 38.8 points and rebounds in that span.
Additionally, going back to his last 15 games, Randle has hit this line in nine of those games. He is in a good spot to extend that trend to 10-of-16 tonight.
Pick: Julius Randle Over 31.5 Points + Rebounds (-115)
8 p.m. ET | NBA TV
Luka Doncic Over 9.5 Assists (-105)
Also on December 1st, the Grizzlies defeated the Mavericks in Dallas. I was prepared to back Doncic in that game, but he was out for personal reasons. It turns out that he had much more to celebrate as he and his fiancée welcomed their daughter into the world. With the same matchup in Memphis tonight, I am going back to him here.
Since missing that game against the Grizzlies, Doncic has had at least 10 assists in his last his three games. He had 18 assists against Oklahoma City in one of the craziest games this season. Irving did not play in that game and he will be out again tonight after suffering a heel contusion against Portland.
Against Memphis, Irving dealt with constant pressure and double teams without Doncic to worry about. I expect the same for Doncic tonight and with his points at 34.5, I find more value in his assists line in this matchup. Memphis is allowing 25.6 assists per game this season. They are allowing 9.3 assists per game to point guards, which ranks 25th in the league.
Doncic has had 10 and 12 assists in his last two games against the Grizzlies. In the last game he played against them in October, he had 12 rebounds as well. Considering that Memphis is also 23rd in rebounds allowed per game, a triple-double for Doncic is worth sprinkling. You can back Doncic for a triple-double at +270 on FanDuel.
Pick: Luka Doncic Over 9.5 Assists (-105)
ESPN Bet launched! Get ready for all the betting action with our ESPN BET promo code.
