This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Roundtable attendance is thin today, but Nick and Alex have their sights set on the same game.
Alex Barutha: Aaron Gordon, OVER 30.5 points + rebounds + assists (-118) vs. Timberwolves -- FanDuel Sportsbook, 2:06 PM CT
I promise I am not being paid by Aaron Gordon or being held hostage by him as I recommend taking the over on his points + rebounds + assists prop for the second time in three days. Over the past 10 games, he's averaging a combined 33.9 P+R+A with the Magic scoring an average of 110.1 over that period. Tonight, Orlando is expected to rack up 120 points against the run-and-gun, defense-is-optional Timberwolves. Since the All-Star break, per 48 minutes, the Timberwolves are allowing the most points (130.0), fourth-most rebounds (48.3) and fifth-most assists (27.0).
Nick Whalen: Nikola Vucevic OVER 36.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists vs. Timberwolves -- 1pm DK Sportsbook
This number should probably be a little bit higher, but it could be a reaction to Vucevic tallying 32 and 31 PTS+REB+AST, respectively, over his last two games. Both of those games came against good matchups (Atlanta and Brooklyn), but Minnesota is the fantasy team to target right now. Since the trade deadline, the Timberwolves are both the second-worst defense in the NBA and the league's fastest-paced team. The Wolves are also bottom-five in rebound percentage, while ranking dead last in opponents' points in the paint (59.7 PPG). Meanwhile, Vucevic has picked things up over the last month, averaging 19.7 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists in just under 34 minutes. With an average of about 34 PTS+REB+AST in that span, even a slightly above-average game in a great matchup should get Vucevic to the over on 36.5.
