Monday night marks the beginning of the Knockout Round for the NBA's inaugural In-Season Tournament. Only eight squads remain, with the top four set to take center stage in Las Vegas later this week. Two of the four quarterfinal matchups tip off tonight, starting with the 15-4 Celtics heading to Indy to battle the 10-8 Pacers (11:30 a.m. AEDT), and the 11-7 Kings hosting the 11-10 Pelicans in prime-time (2:00 p.m. AEDT).
Tonight's quarterfinal matchups also offer several valuable player prop opportunities on TAB, providing bettors with a chance to cash in.
Let's get to our picks and break down four of our favorite player props on TAB, for Monday night's TNT doubleheader. Remember: you don't necessarily have to combine all four picks together. You could make separate two-leg or three-leg multis to increase your win probability, or you could attempt to hit it big if all four picks come through.
Best NBA prop bets today: Top player prop picks for Celtics-Pacers, Kings-Pelicans
All player props courtesy of TAB.
1. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kings vs. Pelicans — OVER 6.5 assists ($2.00)
Fresh off a 16-assist effort in the Kings' 123-117 win over the Nuggets on Saturday night, we're backing Sacramento's lead guard to record seven-plus assists for the sixth time in his last 10 games. With a strong supporting cast of shot makers on his squad (Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes, and Malik Monk), Fox's job of running Mike Brown's offense becomes immensely easier.
When Fox decides to get downhill and drive towards the basket, something he does 18.6 times per game, look for Pelicans' defenders on the wing to fill in from the weak side, opening up opportunities for Fox to find open teammates on the perimeter. With Sacramento attempting the third-most three-pointers per game (41.7), as long as the Kings shoot the three-ball at a respectable clip, Fox has a real shot to end the night with seven-plus assists.
2. Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Pacers vs. Celtics — UNDER 27.5 points ($1.87)
Haliburton is currently questionable for tonight's quarterfinal, as the superstar guard is dealing with a bruised knee while also battling an upper respiratory infection. In five games against the Celtics as a member of the Pacers, Haliburton has averaged 25.4 points, going UNDER 27.5 points in three of five games.
Of course, it's never easy to bet against one of the league's most dynamic lead guards, but with Hali less than 100 percent and facing an elite Celtics' perimeter defense, if there's a time to fade him, tonight's the night.
3. Jonas Valanciunas, C, Pelicans @ Kings — OVER 13.5 points ($2.00)
Valanciunas has an ideal matchup, facing a susceptible Kings interior defense, boosting his chances of going OVER his point total. The Kings currently rank 20th in two-point percentage defense, so Willie Green's team should look to dominate in the paint if they plan on advancing to the IST semifinals.
Valanciunas figures to have the upper hand on offense in one-on-one situations against Domantas Sabonis, as Valanciunas is averaging nearly 15 points per game in five matchups against Sacramento since Sabonis joined the Kings.
4. Jrue Holiday, PG, Celtics @ Pacers — OVER 6.5 rebounds ($2.00)
Holiday is an exceptional rebounding guard, entering Monday night averaging 7.2 rebounds per game, as the veteran guard can truly do everything on the court. With Kristaps Porzingis out tonight recovering from a calf strain, more rebounding opportunities should come Holiday's way. Factor in a fast-paced game (over/under 244.5 points) against a Pacers team that sits atop the Association's pace metric (104.2), and there's likely to be enough missed shots that end up landing in Holiday's hands.
