NBA PrizePicks Player Predictions: Friday (3/21)
There's a full slate of NBA games tonight, as 20 teams take the court with less than a month remaining in the regular season. How will De'Andre Hunter perform when his Cleveland Cavaliers battle the Phoenix Suns? Can Cade Cunningham make multiple threes against the Dallas Mavericks for the second time this season? And will Isaiah Collier record at least seven assists against the Boston Celtics?
Here are the three best NBA PrizePicks plays for Friday, March 21.
Friday’s Best NBA PrizePicks Player Predictions
This Season: 59-47
De'Andre Hunter Over 1.5 Made Three-Pointers
Since joining the Cavaliers, Hunter has failed to make a three-pointer in three games. However, he's made at least two threes in 11 of his last 16 games. Considering he's made at least two in three of his last four games, I'm confused why this total is set as low as it is tonight.
Hunter is only averaging 1.9 made threes this month, but he's averaging 2.3 per game since joining the Cavs. That's not far off what his average was when he was with the Atlanta Hawks. Tonight, he faces a Suns' defense that is allowing 14.0 threes per game. That ranks 21st in the league. Since this is a good matchup and Hunter has been shooting well over his last few games, there is no reason not to take this Over.
Cade Cunningham Over 1.5 Made Three-Pointers
Despite averaging 25.6 points per game, Cunningham is only averaging 2.1 made threes per contest. Tonight, he gets a tough matchup against a Dallas Mavericks defense that ranks seventh in the league in opponent three-pointers allowed per game. Yet, I still like Cunningham to make at least two threes in this game.
The only other time that Cunningham faced the Mavericks this season, he went 3-of-8 from deep. However, Cunningham has struggled of late. In March, Cunningham is averaging just 1.4 made threes per game, and he has made one or fewer threes in four of his last five. That said, on Wednesday, he went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc against the Miami Heat, and that may single the end of his cold spell. Cunningham had made two or fewer threes in 11 consecutive games before that performance, but that game gives me confidence in him even in a tough matchup tonight.
Isaiah Collier Under 6.5 Assists
Collier is averaging 6.2 assists per game, so I don't understand why this total is set at 6.5 against one of the best defenses in all of basketball. The Celtics rank third in scoring defense, and they're allowing the third-fewest assists per game. When Collier played them on March 10, he managed just four assists in 28 minutes.
Since that game, Collier has dished out at least six assists in five consecutive contests. But the fact remains that the Celtics are a terrible matchup for him, and even if he dishes out six assists as he's done in five of his last nine games, he will hit this Under. And finally, Collier has at least six assists in eight of his last nine games. The only opponent he failed to hit that number against was the Celtics. Nothing has changed in 11 days. Take this Under with confidence.
Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.