This article is part of our NBA Picks series.
Alex Barutha
Tyrese Haliburton over 28.5 points + assists at Magic (-115) -- FanDuel, 2:36 PM CT
Haliburton is consistently putting up fantastic numbers with the Pacers, and it seems unlikely Orlando will be the team to stop him. With Indiana, he's averaged 19.8 points and 10.7 assists. His percentages (53/48/80) will come back down to Earth, but he's taken double-digit field goals in every game and has dished at least eight assists in each of the past five matchups. Earlier in the year against Orlando, he posted 18 points and 11 assists in 38 minutes.
Nikola Vucevic under 31.5 points + rebounds + assists (-140) at Heat -- FanDuel, 2:38 PM CT
This number is relatively low for Vucevic, but he's struggled lately and is facing a really tough matchup against Bam Adebayo on the road. Vucevic is averaging 22/13/3 this month but just 12/11/2 over the past two games. On Dec. 8 in Miami, he posted just 10/8/2, and when Miami was in Chicago, Vucevic posted just 7/13/3.
Domantas Sabonis over 39.5 points + rebounds + assists (-118) at Thunder -- FanDuel, 2:39 PM CT
Sabonis has settled in well with Sacramento. In his six appearances, he's averaged 19.3 points, 12.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 33.3 minutes -- and that includes one dud against the Nets where he posted a 9/9/2 line in 26 minutes. Over the past three games, he's averaging 23/14/7. OKC has one of the worst frontlines in the league, and with De'Aaron Fox being checked by a good defender in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all night, Sacramento may need to lean on Sabonis more than usual. In OKC on Jan. 28, Sabonis posted 24/18/10.
Nick Whalen
Indiana Pacers +2.5 (-110) at Orlando Magic -- DraftKings Sportsbook, 2PM CT
These teams may only be separated by a couple spots in the standings, but Indiana has been the far more competent outfit for most of the season. The Pacers did lose to the Thunder last week, but they bounced back with an impressive blowout victory over Boston on Sunday. Heading to Orlando to finish out a back-to-back is a tough schedule break, but the Pacers have the talent advantage -- particularly if Malcolm Brogdon is able to play on the second half of the B2B. If Brogdon sits, I'll re-think this. But for now, I like Indiana to win outright and spoil Markelle Fultz's debut.
