As the NBA gets closer to the playoffs, Friday night offers a basketball extravaganza with eight exciting games on the schedule. The game between the Golden State Warriors and the Indiana Pacers appears to be the most interesting as Indiana kicks off its three-game California road trip. The Pacers have won four consecutive road games and are ready for an exciting matchup as both Indiana and Golden State continue to compete for playoff spots in their respective conferences. One prop bet from that matchup immediately caught my attention, so without further ado, let's dive into Friday's recommendations.
Stephen Curry over 36.5 points, rebounds and assists.
Curry cleared 36.5 points, rebounds and assists in two of his past three games since returning from an ankle injury and in his previous game against the Pacers on Feb. 6. Both teams rank in the top half of the league in pace, and this game claims the highest point total of Friday night's slate at ESPN BET (239.5). With both the Warriors and Pacers battling for playoff positioning, it's safe to expect a competitive game from Curry.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 30.5 points.
SGA should go off in his hometown of Toronto tonight. He has surpassed this line in 12 of his past 20 games and in 67% of his games this season. He boasts a 33.5% usage rate on the road, and while the Thunder are 15.5-point favorites, Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently cleared this line 61% of the time when Oklahoma City wins by 16 or more points.
Austin Reaves over 24.5 points, rebounds and assists.
The Lakers are entering a crucial part of their season where they will need to win most of their remaining games to avoid the play-in tournament. Expect Reaves to continue to be actively involved regardless of the status of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He has eclipsed this line in 13 of his past 20 games while averaging 34.4 minutes per game with a 20.2% usage rate over that span.
Jayson Tatum under 42.5 points, rebounds, and assists.
The Celtics are 13.5-point favorites on the road against a dreadful Detroit Pistons team that ranks 28th in points allowed per 100 possessions. Boston should take care of business easily Friday, which might spell less playing time for Tatum. He has gone under this line in six of his past 10 games and in 62% of his games this season. That percentage increases to 69% in games the Celtics have won by 14 or more points. Tatum has also recorded 31 or more points and assists in five straight games against the Pistons and has a 29.7% usage rate on the road.
Projections and injury reports
Odds provided by ESPN BET. Basketball Power Index by ESPN Analytics Injury aggregation by Rotowire.com.
Boston Celtics at Detroit Pistons
7 p.m. ET, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
Records (Against the Spread)
Celtics: 55-14 (37-29-3)
Pistons: 12-57 (34-34-1)
Line: Celtics (-13.5) Total: 222.5
Money Line: Celtics (-1200), Pistons (+750)
BPI Projection: Celtics by 15.2, straight up 91%, 234.5 total points.
Injury Report:
Celtics: Al Horford, (GTD - Toe); Jaylen Brown, (GTD - Ankle); Jayson Tatum, (GTD - Ankle); Kristaps Porzingis, (GTD - Hamstring); Sam Hauser, (GTD - Ankle); Jrue Holiday, (OUT - Shoulder)
Pistons: Quentin Grimes, (OUT - Knee); Simone Fontecchio, (OUT - Toe); Stanley Umude, (OUT - Ankle); Taj Gibson, (OUT - Hamstring); Ausar Thompson, (OUT - Illness); Isaiah Stewart, (OUT - Hamstring)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Toronto Raptors
7 p.m. ET, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
Records (Against the Spread)
Thunder: 48-20 (39-28-1)
Raptors: 23-46 (31-38-0)
Line: Thunder (-15.5) Total: 231.5
Money Line: Thunder (-1800), Raptors (+900)
BPI Projection: Thunder by 14.2, straight up 90%, 235.1 total points.
Injury Report:
Thunder: None reported
Raptors: D.J. Carton, (OUT - Ankle); Immanuel Quickley, (OUT - Personal); Chris Boucher, (OUT - Knee); Jakob Poeltl, (OUT - Finger); RJ Barrett, (OUT - Personal); Scottie Barnes, (OUT - Hand)
New Orleans Pelicans at Miami Heat
8 p.m. ET, Kaseya Center, Miami
Records (Against the Spread)
Pelicans: 42-27 (38-30-1)
Heat: 38-31 (33-35-1)
Line: Heat (-3.5) Total: 209.5
Money Line: Pelicans (+130), Heat (-150)
BPI Projection: Pelicans by 1, straight up 54%, 223.2 total points.
Injury Report:
Pelicans: Brandon Ingram, (GTD - Knee); Matt Ryan, (GTD - Illness); Dyson Daniels, (OUT - Knee)
Heat: Bam Adebayo, (GTD - Back); Duncan Robinson, (OUT - Back); Kevin Love, (OUT - Heel); Tyler Herro, (OUT - Foot); Josh Richardson, (OUT - Shoulder)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves
8 p.m. ET, Target Center, Minneapolis
Records (Against the Spread)
Cavaliers: 43-26 (33-35-1)
Timberwolves: 47-22 (35-31-3)
Line: Timberwolves (-7.5) Total: 206.5
Money Line: Cavaliers (+240), Timberwolves (-290)
BPI Projection: Timberwolves by 4.2, straight up 65%, 218.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Cavaliers: Dean Wade, (OUT - Knee); Evan Mobley, (OUT - Ankle); Max Strus, (OUT - Knee); Ty Jerome, (OUT - Ankle); Donovan Mitchell, (OUT - Nose)
Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, (GTD - Finger); Naz Reid, (GTD - Head); Rudy Gobert, (GTD - Ribs); Jaylen Clark, (OUT - Achilles); Karl-Anthony Towns, (OUT - Knee)
Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs
8 p.m. ET, Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
Records (Against the Spread)
Grizzlies: 23-47 (33-37-0)
Spurs: 15-54 (34-34-1)
Line: Spurs (-6.5) Total: 216.5
Money Line: Grizzlies (+200), Spurs (-240)
BPI Projection: Spurs by 4.7, straight up 66%, 229.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Grizzlies: Desmond Bane, (GTD - Back); John Konchar, (GTD - Heel); Scotty Pippen Jr., (GTD - Lower Leg); Vince Williams Jr., (GTD - Knee); Brandon Clarke, (OUT - Achilles); Lamar Stevens, (OUT - Thigh); Luke Kennard, (OUT - Personal); Yuta Watanabe, (OUT - Personal); Marcus Smart, (OUT - Finger); Derrick Rose, (OUT - Groin)
Spurs: Zach Collins, (GTD - Concussion); Charles Bassey, (OUT - Knee)
Indiana Pacers at Golden State Warriors
10 p.m. ET, Chase Center, San Francisco
Records (Against the Spread)
Pacers: 39-31 (37-31-2)
Warriors: 36-32 (36-30-2)
Line: Warriors (-4.5) Total: 240.5
Money Line: Pacers (+160), Warriors (-190)
BPI Projection: Warriors by 3.6, straight up 62%, 244.9 total points.
Injury Report:
Pacers: Obi Toppin, (GTD - Ankle); Bennedict Mathurin, (OUT - Shoulder)
Warriors: Draymond Green, (GTD - Back); Moses Moody, (GTD - Knee)
LA Clippers at Portland Trail Blazers
10 p.m. ET, Moda Center, Portland
Records (Against the Spread)
Clippers: 43-25 (34-34-0)
Blazers: 19-50 (33-36-0)
Line: Clippers (-13.5) Total: 216.5
Money Line: Clippers (-1200), Blazers (+700)
BPI Projection: Clippers by 9.4, straight up 80%, 227.0 total points.
Injury Report:
Clippers: Moussa Diabate, (GTD - Hand); Norman Powell, (GTD - Lower Leg); Terance Mann, (GTD - Shoulder); Russell Westbrook, (OUT - Hand)
Blazers: Anfernee Simons, (GTD - Knee); Jerami Grant, (GTD - Hamstring); Matisse Thybulle, (GTD - Ankle); Malcolm Brogdon, (OUT - Elbow); Shaedon Sharpe, (OUT - Abdomen); Robert Williams III, (OUT - Knee)
Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers
10:30 p.m. ET, Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
Records (Against the Spread)
76ers: 38-31 (36-33-0)
Lakers: 37-32 (31-38-0)
Line: Lakers (-7.5) Total: 224.5
Money Line: 76ers (+250), Lakers (-300)
BPI Projection: Lakers by 6.5, straight up 72%, 231.9 total points.
Injury Report:
76ers: Tobias Harris, (GTD - Ankle); De'Anthony Melton, (OUT - Back); Robert Covington, (OUT - Knee); Joel Embiid, (OUT - Knee)
Lakers: Anthony Davis, (GTD - Achilles); LeBron James, (GTD - Ankle); Gabe Vincent, (OUT - Knee); Jarred Vanderbilt, (OUT - Foot); Colin Castleton, (OUT - Wrist); Christian Wood, (OUT - Knee)