Xam’s Daily Gems:
Celtics/Pistons Over 222.5 Points -110 FanDuel
The Celtics have been dominant offensively all season long. They’re averaging 121 points per game on the year! They’ve been dominant all season in fact, as they are putting the finishing touches on clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference. These two teams just played a few days ago at TD Garden and Boston dominated as you would expect, winning by 25 points. That brings us to the key of the game: Detroit keeping it close! The Celtics aren’t quite as good defensively on the road as they are at home. They’re giving up 111 points per game on the road this season. Detroit’s defense is terrible and has been terrible all year. They’re giving up 120 points per game. The Celtics could’ve dropped even more than the 119 points they scored if they needed to. The Pistons have lost 4 in a row and having already been eliminated don’t have much to play for aside for pride. The Celtics should still be motivated as they’ll want to wrap up the top seed as quickly as they can. If the Pistons can keep the Celtics interested and do some scoring, the Celtics should roll offensively and do the rest.
Heat Money Line -178 FanDuel
The Pelicans will be playing the second game of a back-to-back and their 3rd game in 4 nights. Star Brandon Ingram suffered a lower body injury and seems to be unlikely to play in this game. Miami is a stout defensive team, giving up just 109 points per game. As impressive as that is, that number dips to under 106 points in their last 10 games. The Pelicans are a solid team, but this is just a brutal matchup for them. On the road, on short rest, and a significant coaching disadvantage. Every game is so important to the Heat, as they come into play just a 1/2 game back of the 6th seed in the East, and getting out of the Play-In Tournament. This is a veteran team that simply knows how to win when their backs are against the wall. They have been better offensively at home this year. They’re scoring over 112 points per game at Kaseya Arena. Guys like Zion Williamson and Cj McCollum may even get some rest tomorrow. This is just not a game that is going to favor the Pelicans. If the Heat can get their offense going early, their signature defense should be able to clamp down and get the job done in front of the home crowd.
Stephen Curry Over 36.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists -120 DraftKings
Curry is coming off a rare off performance in his last game, where he scored just 14 points with 2 rebounds and 3 assists in a dominant Warriors win. Tonight should be different. The projected total of the Pacers/Warriors game is the highest of the entire slate in the NBA tonight and for good reason. Both the Pacers and Warriors love playing offense and hate playing defense. The Warriors are scoring 118 points per game this season and the Pacers are giving up a whopping 120 points per game. The Warriors are 5-5 in their last 10 games and are just 2.5 games up on the Rockets for the 10th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Simply put, the Warriors need Curry to have a vintage game tonight. When the Warriors played the Pacers earlier this year, Curry dropped 42 points alone in the contest. He should be able to do similar things tonight and help his team get a much needed win.
LeBron James Over 42.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists -102 FanDuel
LeBron James has gone over 41.5 PRAs in each of his last 2 games and in 4 of his last 5 games. Overall, in his last 10 games, he’s been dominant in all aspects of the game. He’s averaging over 28 points, over 7 rebounds per game, and over 9 assists per game. He’s also shooting it more efficiently from the floor, from deep, and from the free throw line in his last 10 games. LeBron is also coming into this game pretty well rested, as the Lakers have only played one game since the 16th. Add all this up, and LeBron should be set up to have a big game. The Lakers need all the wins they can get. Coming into tonight, they’re only a 1/2 game up on the Warriors for the 9th spot in the Play-In Tournament and 3 games up on the Rockets for the 11th spot. The Lakers need every win they can get, and for that to happen, LeBron needs to step up. Against an inferior team, look for him to step up in a game the Lakers really need to win.