3 Point Shootout – Portland Blazers/Sacramento Kings
If you’ve continuously followed this article, you may be cringing at the thought of playing Buddy Hield once again, but it’s a new year, right? In all seriousness, this line looked entirely too low. These two teams are combining to average 22.5 three-pointers made per game, while combining to allow 22.9 three-pointers per game. Damian Lillard leads the way with an average of 3.1 three-pointers made per game for Portland. He has made at least three three-pointers in seven of his last nine games, including two games with six three-pointers. Lillard has the potential to post well over half of the shots needed for this line to hit on any given night. The same can be said for Buddy Hield, who is also averaging 3.1 three-pointers made per game this season. Excluding his two outlier games where he saw limited minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, Hield has made between four and seven three-pointers in seven of his last eight games. He’s attempting double-digit three-pointers on a near nightly basis at this point in the season, and it’s clear that Hield has a massive role in the offense. Bogdan Bogdanovic isn’t as aggressive as the other two, but he’s averaging 2.1 three-pointers made on 5.6 three-pointers attempted per game this season. While he has the upside for more, Bogdanovic generally sits around two or three three-pointers made per game, and he’s a bit of a consistency factor here. Since I’m only giving out two plays today, I’d like to add that I also like the 10.5 (3x) and 12.5 (5x) plays here, as well. Hield and Lillard truly have the potential to hit those together, and a couple three-pointers from Bogdanovic makes the numbers a bit more believable. For what it’s worth, I’d like play the $50 on the 2x and then lowering the amount to $20 on the 3x and $10 on the 5x. In a perfect world, you win $160. You still profit $20 if only the 2x hits, as well.
Play $50 on Damian Lillard, Buddy Hield, and Bogdan Bogdanovic to make OVER 9.5 three-pointers to win $100 (2x)
Over Under 5/5 – Utah Jazz/Toronto Raptors
Let’s start 2019 off with a bang, right!? Kawhi Leonard is the clear-cut focal point of the offense with Kyle Lowry out, and he’s averaging 28.8 points per game over the last 10 days. He has also scored 28+ points in seven of his last 10 games, and the Utah Jazz no longer feature an elite defense in the NBA. Donovan Mitchell is extremely inconsistent, and it’s difficult to get a read on him on a nightly basis. He has scored less than 21 points in five of his last six games, though, and Toronto has performed extremely well defensively against shooting guards this season. Rudy Gobert feels like the lock of this play, as he’s averaging 13.2 rebounds per game over the last 10 days. He has also recorded double-digit rebounds in each of his last 10 games, failing to record 11 rebounds in only one of those games. Furthermore, he needed only 29.3 minutes to record 12 rebounds in his first matchup against the Toronto Raptors. Joe Ingles is a great shooter, but statistically over 2.5 three-pointers made in this game simply doesn’t make sense. He has recorded fewer than three three-pointers made in seven of his last 10 games, and his three-point percentage drops from 41.5% at home to 34.3% on the road. Ricky Rubio’s assist total looks a bit low, but he has failed to record seven or more assists in seven of his last 10 games. He’s also averaging only 5.0 assists per game on the road this season, and that will be a major factor tonight.
Play $50 on Kawhi Leonard OVER 27.5 points, Donovan Mitchell UNDER 20.5 points, Rudy Gobert OVER 10.5 rebounds, Joe Ingles UNDER 2.5 three-pointers made, and Ricky Rubio UNDER 6.5 assists to win $700 (14x)
