Our NBA betting picks and Nikola Jokic predictions see the Nuggets big man exceling when it comes to setting up his teammates at Ball Arena on Friday night vs. the Thunder.
The Oklahoma City Thunder recovered from a Game 1 loss to the Denver Nuggets by handing out a 149-106 thrashing on Wednesday night to even their second-round series at 1-1. Game 3 is set to tip off at Ball Arena tonight, and Nikola Jokic’s squad will look to get back in front against the top team in the Western Conference.
My NBA picks believe Jokic will shine as a set-up man on Friday, May 9.
Nikola Jokic player prop picks
Best bet
Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists
(+110)
SGP pick
Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists
Nikola Jokic Over 1.5 made 3-pointers
Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 rebounds
(+450)
Nikola Jokic best bet
Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists (+110 at bet365)
Nikola Jokic thrives as the Denver Nuggets’ premier scorer and playmaker. While many expect Jokic to be extremely aggressive looking for his own shot in a series that’s knotted at 1-1, he’s actually been a better passer at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder so far this season.
Jokic is averaging just 19.5 points on 45.5% shooting through two matchups with the Thunder at Ball Arena. He tallied 13 and 16 assists, respectively, in those home games. The reigning MVP should be much more comfortable in front of Nuggets fans and has tallied at least 12 dimes in four of his previous five home games against OKC.
Bettors should expect Jokic to bounce back as a passer in a major way after only managing to put up 12 assists through Games 1 and 2 combined.
Oklahoma City has been one of the NBA’s best defensive teams all year. However, the opposing teams haven’t been scared to shoot the long ball against them. The Thunder gave up 39.3 3-point attempts per game during the regular season. Only seven teams allowed more.
Opposing teams shot a league low 34.2% on those attempts from range, but the Nuggets are among the NBA’s most efficient 3-point shooting teams. Denver converted 37.6% of its heaves from distance during the regular season. That figure has risen to 38.2% so far in the playoffs.
Jokic, who shot 41.7% from deep during the regular season, is shooting 43.9% from beyond the arc during the playoffs. He’s made at least two triples in six of the nine playoff games he’s appeared in so far. I love his odds given that he’s entering Game 3 shooting 4-for-8 from deep against OKC in the second round.
Jokic’s odds to snag at least 10 rebounds are -800, so this is really just a sweetener. The Thunder limited his rebounding in Game 2, but he opened the series with 22 rebounds in Game 1. Jokic also averaged an impressive 16 rebounds per game against OKC at Ball Arena during the regular season.
