There are only three NBA games tonight, as the Charlotte Hornets host the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Philadelphia 76ers and the Memphis Grizzlies battle the New Orleans Pelicans. I make a play on one player from each game - Trey Murphy, Anfernee Simons and Jarrett Allen.
Here are the three best NBA PrizePicks player predictions for Friday, January 24th.
There are only three NBA games tonight, as the Charlotte Hornets host the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cleveland Cavaliers visit the Philadelphia 76ers and the Memphis Grizzlies battle the New Orleans Pelicans. I make a play on one player from each game - Trey Murphy, Anfernee Simons and Jarrett Allen.
Here are the three best NBA PrizePicks player predictions for Friday, January 24th.
Trey Murphy has faced the Pelicans twice this season. In one game, he went 5-of-12 from beyond the arc. In the other, he went 2-of-8. Murphy is coming off a 4-of-10 game from beyond the arc, but he's made two three-pointers in three of his last four. For the season, Murphy is averaging just 3.1 made three-pointers per contest.
While Murphy had one successful game against the Grizzlies, I don't expect him to have another. The Grizzlies rank 15th in the league when it comes to threes allowed per game. However, they're also holding opponents to just 34.8% from deep this season. That's the fifth-best mark in the league. Murphy is a 35.8% three-point shooter this season, so don't be surprised to see him struggle tonight.
Anfernee Simons More Than 4.5 Assists
Anfernee Simons is averaging 4.9 assists per game, but he's in a little bit of a funk. Since January 9th, he's recorded four or fewer assists in six out of seven games. He has back-to-back three-assist performances, and he's about to face a defense ranked right in the middle of the league when it comes to assists allowed per game.
Simons has yet to face the Hornets this season, but he's getting them at a good time. While they are allowing just 26.7 assists per game, they're allowing 29.7 over their last three contests. They gave up 36 assists to the Grizzlies on Wednesday. The Trail Blazers rank near the bottom of the league in scoring, but the Hornets are allowing over 113 points per game, so Simons should have increased chances tonight.
Jarrett Allen Less Than 11.5 Rebounds
Jarrett Allen has faced the 76ers twice this season, pulling down 12 rebounds in one game and six in the other. Both of his performances came without Joel Embiid on the court, which will be the same case tonight. While Allen is coming off a 13-rebound performance against the Houston Rockets, this number is just too high.
Allen is averaging 10 rebounds per game this season. This month, he has pulled down at least 11 rebounds in five games, but he's only gone over 11 rebounds in two contests. Allen only has four games with at least 12 rebounds since December 1st.
Embiid's absence will certainly be a factor tonight, but the 76ers' star player has barely seen the court this season. They rank 17th in rebounds allowed per game. If this was set at 9.5, I'd be taking the more than. But at 11.5, the less than is the right play.
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Friday:
