Experts Pick Four Prop Bets for Suns-Warriors
PHOENIX -- Phoenix Suns basketball is back, and so too are the plenty of opportunities to make bets on their games (where applicable, of course).
The Suns arrive to San Francisco hoping to steal a road win from the Golden State Warriors. Draymond Green has already been ruled out by the Warriors while Bradley Beal isn't expected to play. Devin Booker reportedly is good to go.
Now's the time to place the first - and hopefully winning - bets of the season:
Sports Illustrated: Klay Thompson Under 20.5 Points
Kyle Wood: "Both teams underwent big changes in the summer, which should make for an interesting matchup. Paul’s presence could open up more quality looks for Curry and Thompson while his absence in Phoenix leaves playmaking questions for Beal and Booker, both of whom have primarily played shooting guard throughout their careers.
"Thompson has only eclipsed 20 points in a season opener once in his career and Booker outscored Curry in two of the three games both were active last year."
Covers.com: Kevon Looney Over 10.5 Rebounds
Douglas Farmer: "Looney was not that productive in the regular season, but still, in his last seven games without Green in the lineup, he averaged 12.7 rebounds. He did struggle in his first two games in that instance, but the Warriors struggled as a whole.
"The selection size of his last seven regular-season games without Green both better portrays Golden State in 2022 and still includes a couple of lesser games from Looney; it's not a wholly charitable selection.
"Then Looney’s postseason breakout began when Green was suspended for Game 3 against the Kings, Looney grabbing 20 rebounds in 31 minutes, posting a +21 plus/minus as the Warriors won by 17.
"They learned how to best function without Green but with Looney, and that lesson will not be changed by Chris Paul’s arrival. Against an undersized opponent, Looney should feast on the glass tonight."
Action Network: Chris Paul Over 23.5 Points+Rebounds+Assists
Matt Trebby: "The assumption is that Paul and Steph Curry will see their minutes staggered to ensure one elite ball-handler will be on the floor at all times. When Curry is out, Paul will run the show, likely with Klay Thompson and/or Andrew Wiggins by his side. Hell, the NBA might not be ready for the CP3-Jonathan Kuminga pick-and-roll after seeing the efficiency that the latter put up in the preseason.
"In 20.2 preseason minutes, Paul averaged 7.5 points, 5.8 assists and four rebounds for 17.3 PRA. I’m not going to treat preseason efficiency as gospel here, but it’s about all we have to go off for CP3’s Warriors role. Extend that to 25-30 minutes, and the veteran would be expected to go over.
"Also helping Paul will be the absence of Draymond Green, who will miss this game with an ankle sprain. Obviously, the two play different positions, but that opens up some ball-handling responsibilities in the Warriors offense that could go to Paul."
DraftKings: Jusuf Nurkic Under 2.5 Assists
Henry Palattella: "Last year Deandre Ayton had 51 games where he finished with an assist total of less than three, and I’m predicting that type of production to be Nurkic’s future at the Suns new big man. While he averages 2.3 assists per game, that total is inflated thanks to him averaging four assists a game in the 2019-20 season. I can’t see him having much of a playmaking role in Phoenix’s offense tonight."
