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Was on the fence here regarding whether to take the +6 or the total, but since I'm a Bulls fan will pass on the side because I'm invested personally. Both these teams have been great defensively since the All-Star break, but wow this is a low number in a season where offenses exploded league-wide. Both teams can't score at least 106 points? They both average about 113. Toronto finished as the only team in the NBA to have five players average 15-or-more points. Might be the only Over I've played all season.
Poeltl is already averaging 24.3 PRA this season, and that's while averaging 26.5 minutes. Playoff games mean more minutes for key players, and Nick Nurse especially has a history of giving his starters extra minutes, so we can expect to see Poeltl play 30+ tonight. He played 30+ minutes in 10 games with Toronto this season and averaged 31.7 PRA. Before he was traded, he played 30+ minutes in 9 games with the Spurs and averaged 31.9 PRA. This number is likely low because Poeltl didn't play a lot to end the regular season - but the Raptors didn't need him - so we're going to gladly accept this gift!
Poeltl is averaging a combined 24.3 PRA. He has faced Chicago 3x in the regular season and averaged 16.3 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.3 APG, good for 27.9 PRA. Raptors have gone 15-11 since acquiring him at the trade deadline. 30 minutes is a key number for him. He has played 30 minutes in 10 appearances since being acquired by Toronto and has eclipsed this combo line nine times while averaging 31.7 PRA. Nick Nurse is well known for leaning heavily on his starters, particularly in the playoffs. I think the big man fills it up tonight and this number should have opened at 24.5.
In the 3 games against the Toronto Raptors this season Nikola Vucevic averaged 18.7 and 10 in 33 minutes. Based off of yesterdays games the stars are playing 35-41 minutes without overtime, the extra opportunity should push him over. Hear all the statistics on Early Edge in 5 at 4pm ET.
OG Anunoby is somewhat of a forgotten man on the Raptors but there is a lot to like about his prop tonight. For starters, this is a friendly line as Anunoby is averaging 16.8 PPG. However what I especially like about this prop is I could see him playing upwards of 40+ minutes. Toronto coach Nick Nurse tends to lean heavily on his starters in the playoffs especially in a win or go home scenario. I also think OG has the best individual matchup and unsurprisingly he has played well against the Bulls this season and throughout his career. Chicago struggles defending the perimeter considering nearly half of OG's shot attempts are from three point land, this bodes well for us. He also plays better at home where he averages additional 3 PPG.
Gary Trent, Jr's return from injury is progressing nicely. Since missing seven games towards the end of the regular season he's put in 27 and 21 minutes respectively in his last two games and should go 30+ Wednesday night against the Bulls. Trent, a 38.4% career shooter from three should put up 8-9 attempts from behind the arc which likely will pair nicely against a Chicago team allowing opponents to shoot 36.1% from three when the Bulls play on the road. We only need GTJ to shoot 25% from downtown and we cash. In a must-win game at home I like our odds.