This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Alex Barutha
Will Barton over 29.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Pacers -- FanDuel Sportsbook, 2:45 PM CT
With both Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. out, Barton should take full control of the offense. With those two off the court (49-minute sample), he's averaged 25.7 points on 19.8 shots, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per 36 minutes. It's a high number, but Barton could also play well over 36 minutes if the game stays relatively competitive.
Nick Whalen
Ja Morant OVER 24.5 points (+100) vs. Charlotte Hornets -- DraftKings Sportsbook, 2:00PM CT
For as great of a start as he's off to, Morant's scoring has been a bit up-and-down of late, but he's matching up against a Hornets team that not only has the league's worst defense but also plays at a near-league-leading pace. Given those factors, and the fact that Morant is averaging 26.0 points per game on the year, the line feels a little low.
Toronto Raptors +3.0 (-115) at Boston Celtics -- DraftKings Sportsbook, 2:00PM CT
I'm feeling a little frisky after hitting the Jusuf Nurkic double-double prop yesterday, so bear with me. The Celtics are at home, but without Jaylen Brown are we sure they're the better team? Toronto got Pascal Siakam back over the weekend, and he looked good in his debut. With a few more days to recover and shake off any lingering rust, Siakam is a major chess piece added back to the mix for Toronto, which is starting to round into form as a very good defensive team. The Celtics may have the best individual player in the game, but the healthy Raptors have several viable defensive options -- OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, Siakam -- to throw at Jayson Tatum. I like Toronto to steal a road victory on a night when Boston struggles to score.
Ken Crites
I'm taking the OVER on Dennis Schroder scoring 15.5 (-110) -- DraftKings, 10:52 AM CT
Schroder has scored 18 and then 20 points on nights when Jaylen Brown has been out. Brown will be sidelined for the next week or so. That means Schroder is back in the starting lineup and ready to pick up the slack. Toronto does play solid defense (101.8 points/game), but their focus will be on Jayson Tatum. Expect Schroder to get a few easy catch-and-shoots when Tatum drives.
Joe Bartel
Wendell Carter to record double-double (+150) against BRO -- DraftKings, 12:13 PM CT
This really boils down to whether or not Carter will score double-digit points since the Nets do allow the 10th-most rebounds to opposing power forwards. The o/u for his total points sits at 12.5, and while the Nets are shockingly pretty good at defending the aforementioned power forward position, I think Carter's gotten to a point within the offense where he'll be a focal point every single night. I'm fine taking the over, but the better odds obviously lie with the double-double possibility.
Jacob Lebowitz
Wizards ML @ Cavaliers + Suns ML vs. Trail Blazers Parlay (+139) -- DraftKings, 12:41 PM CT
This parlay is free money. The Trail Blazers haven't won a game on the road this season and they're coming off a loss to the Clippers in LA last night. On the other hand, the Suns have won five games in a row, so this should be an easy win for Phoenix. As for the Wizards, they'll be taking on a Cavaliers team that is on fire. They've won four games in a row, but one of their main scorers, Collin Sexton, just tore his meniscus and will miss Wednesday's game. I expect the Wizards to continue their dominant start to the season and have no problem handling the Sexton-less Cavaliers.
Michael Spero
Jalen Green over 13.5 points (-120) vs. Pistons -- DraftKings Sportsbook, 2:18 PM
Tonight's contest between the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons marks the first career matchup between Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green. I like Green to have a good showing against Detroit and see him easily passing his 13.5 point line.
