Editor’s Note: Don’t just bet your favorite sports. LIVE YOUR BET LIFE! Get started today at PointsBet with two risk-free bets up to $2,000. Bet now!
We are in the final third of the NBA’s regular season. The good teams are ratcheting it up a notch or two as they eye the playoffs. Keep that in mind when playing this week’s NBA “Pick N’ Roll” contest on the NBC Sports Predictor App powered by PointsBet. It is a free-to-play game.
It is a weekly game and the prize is $50,000. Get involved for your chance to win or split a $50,000 jackpot! Download the NBC Sports Predictor app to join the party right now. There are other free-to-play games on the app. Download it now and enjoy.
To help you out, here are the eight questions for Wednesday’s Pick N’ Roll contest along with some statistics and suggested picks.
Question #1 Most Points By A Player
Joel Embiid vs. New York Season Avg. 29.7ppg
Nikola Jokic vs. Oklahoma City Season Avg. 26.0ppg
Brandon Ingram vs. Sacramento Season Avg. 22.1ppg
De’Aaron Fox vs. New Orleans Season Avg. 21.7ppg
No one in the NBA other than perhaps DeMar DeRozan has been scoring like Joel Embiid. The MVP-frontrunner is scoring even more with James Harden running the floor with him. Jokic may be the best all-around player in the league but he is not scoring like Embiid. Ingram is playing well alongside CJ McCollum and De’Aaron Fox has taken on a larger share of the scoring for the Kings since the trade deadline, but again, Embiid has been at the top of the scoring column just about every night he laces up his sneakers.
Suggested Answer: Joel Embiid to score the most points of this group.
Question #2: 76ers Points vs. Knicks
0-98, 99-104, 105-109, 110-114, 115-120, 121+
Philadelphia scored 125 points this past Sunday in an afternoon tilt at Madison Square Garden. The 76ers are averaging just under 119 points in their last three games while the Knicks have given up nearly 118 points per game in their last three outings. No reason to think Philadelphia scores less in their rematch with New York in the City of Brotherly Love this week.
Suggested Answer: 76ers to score 115-120 points vs. the Knicks
Question #3: Knicks’ Assists vs. 76ers
0-17, 18-20, 21-22, 23-24, 25+
No team in the NBA shares the ball less than the Knicks. They average 21.5 assists per game this season led by Julius Randle (5.3 assists/game). In their last three games, however, they have been better distributing the ball averaging 23 assists per game. Philadelphia’s opponents are averaging just over 23 assists per game this season. Since the arrival of James Harden, the 76ers’ opponents have averaged approximately .5 assists more per game.
Answer: Knicks to tally 23-24 assists vs. the 76ers
Question #4: Kings’ Points vs. Pelicans
0-100, 101-106, 107-112, 113-118, 119-124, 125+
The Kings average nearly 110 PPG this season. The offense appears to be gaining some momentum following a busy trade deadline a couple of weeks ago as they have averaged just under 113 PPG in their last three games. The Pelicans are giving up approximately 110 PPG this season and are slightly worse in their own end since the trade.
Answer: Kings to score 107-112 points vs. the Pelicans
Editor’s Note: Now, all our premium tools for Fantasy, DFS and Betting are included in one subscription at one low price. Customers can subscribe to NBC Sports EDGE+ monthly ($9.99) or save 20% on an annual subscription ($95.88). And don’t forget to use promo code SAVE10 to get 10% off. Click here to learn more!
Question #5: Pelicans’ Rebounds vs. Kings
0-38, 39-42, 43-45, 46-48, 49-52, 53+
The New Orleans Pelicans are averaging 53.1 rebounds per game this season led by Jonas Valanciunas (11.6 rebounds/game). Sacramento allows nearly 54 rebounds per game this season. That number has improved slightly for the Kings since the trade deadline, but not enough to think New Orleans will not eclipse at least 50 boards Wednesday night.
Answer: Pelicans to pull down 49-52 rebounds vs. the Kings
Question #6: Total 3-Pointers Thunder vs. Nuggets
0-18, 19-21, 22-24, 25-27, 28-30, 31+
Denver ranks in the Top Ten in 3-pointers made per game averaging 13 per game. The trio of Monte Morris (38.9%), Will Barton (36.7%), and Nikola Jokic (36.4%) lead the Nuggets from deep. OKC ranks 10 spots lower on the list. They knock down approximately 12 3-pointers per game. Mike Muscala shoots over 40% from behind the arc for the Thunder. Both these teams allow 13 3-pointers per game. These two teams will get up and down the court. More possessions mean more opportunities.
Answer: The Nuggets and the Thunder to make a combined total of 25-27 3-Pointers.
Question #7: Winner of Knicks vs. 76ers
Margin of Victory
1-2, 3, 4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11+
New York threatened to make it a game when these two teams met this past Sunday afternoon at MSG, but it always felt like Philadelphia was in control. The rematch in Philadelphia should be no different. James Harden looks to be exactly what Philadelphia needed to max out the MVP season of Joel Embiid. RJ Barrett is making a statement that he is the lead dog in New York, but the cupboard on Broadway has little else.
Answer: 76ers to win by 7-8 points against the Knicks
Question #8: Winner of Kings vs. Pelicans
Margin of Victory
1-2, 3, 4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11+
The Pelicans have won their last two including a rout of LeBron James and the Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday night. The Kings are playing better offensively of late but are still a bad defensive team, and this is the second half of back-to-back road games for them.
Answer: Pelicans win by 11+ against the Kings.
PointsBet is our Official Sports Betting Partner and we may receive compensation if you place a bet on PointsBet for the first time after clicking our links. NJ, IA, IN, IL, CO, MI, VA, WV only. 21+. T&C apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
