Zach Thompson details his best player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s game between the Spurs and the Pelicans.
On Monday night, the NBA tips off the week with a little three-game slate that serves as a warmup for the Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinals over the next two days. In the latest of those three games, the San Antonio Spurs visit the Pelicans in New Orleans at 8 p.m. ET. The Spurs will get Stephon Castle back in action, but Victor Wembanyama and Zion Williamson are both sidelined from what could have been a headline matchup in the frontcourt.
There are still plenty of player prop bets that stand out as strong plays from both sides of this matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook.
In the big picture, the Spurs are 9.5-point road favorites, with the game total set at 238.5. The Pelicans have dropped six straight and are only 3-21 on the year after losing Saturday in Brooklyn. The Spurs also lost their most recent game, which was last Friday in Cleveland. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games, though, and are an impressive 15-7 on the season.
Despite their bad record, the Pelicans have some exciting individual players, and the Spurs have multiple young talents in their rotation as well. With some fun options on both sides, here are my top three player prop bets from this Western Conference matchup.
Spurs vs. Pelicans Best Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Dylan Harper over 3.5 assists (-108)
Harper has handed out at least five assists in three straight games while ramping back up to over 20 minutes per game. The second overall pick from this year’s draft missed 10 games with a calf injury but has looked sharp in his last three games as a creator, even though he struggled with his shot, going just 1-for-11 from the field on Friday.
With Castle back, the backcourt rotation could be a little different, but Harper should still stay very involved since the Spurs hope he’s a big part of their future.
Before his injury, he played over 22 minutes in his first five games, all alongside Castle. He averaged 4.6 assists and went over this prop line in four of those games.
With a young backcourt on the other side of the matchup as well, the Spurs should be able to run their offense at a high level, and Harper should get a chance to be in the mix.
Saddiq Bey 18+ points (+115)
Bey has been carrying more of the Pelicans’ offense with Zion Williamson and Jordan Poole sidelined. He has scored at least 18 points in eight straight games, and is averaging 14.2 points a night in his 23 games this season.
Bey has taken at least 12 shots in each of those eight games and has a 20.9% usage rate in 34.1 minutes per game.
Even though he only had nine points and 10 points in his two previous matchups with the Spurs, he should be more involved and capable of topping 18 points again on Monday.
Harrison Barnes under 18.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-121)
Barnes has helped pick up some of the extra work with all the injuries in the Spurs’ rotation, but with Castle back, his role could shrink a little bit. He exploded for 31 points last Tuesday against Memphis, blowing this PRA (points, rebounds, and assists) total away. But other than that, he has floated under this prop line.
Over his last seven games, he has been under this prop line six times, and he also came up short in both of his earlier matchups with the Pelicans.
If the game gets lopsided in either direction, the Spurs typically lean more heavily on the young players, resting veterans like Barnes, which should keep him under this PRA prop on Monday night.
Bonus Parlay Pick: Stephon Castle over 9.5 Rebounds + Assists (-136)
If you’re looking for a fourth leg for your Same Game Parlay or SGPx, you can add in this Castle prop. He’s expected back after an extended absence, so he could be on a minutes limit. Still, he should be capable of reaching this production, even if he’s in a limited role.
He averaged 5.8 rebounds and 7.6 assists for 13.4 rebounds-plus-assists per game. He went over this prop line in eight straight full games before leaving early with his injury on Nov. 16.
SGP odds: +1100
