Warriors vs. Raptors prop picks: Expect a big effort from Barnes
The Toronto Raptors hope to avoid extending their four-game losing streak when they host the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
The pre-game narration: Jordan Poole has a bigger role with Steph Curry injured, but that can’t translate into assists. Klay Thompson hasn’t been himself behind the arc lately and Scottie Barnes is well placed to put up solid numbers.
Check out our Warriors vs. Raptors prop picks for December 18th.
Odds as of 10:06 am on 12/18/2022.
Warriors vs. Raptors prop picks
best bid : Jordan Poole under 5.5 assists (+112)
With Curry’s absence increasing Poole’s on-ball load, it stands to reason that this line would creep in. However, it can still be a touch high.
The Warriors guard is averaging 4.5 assists this season and hitting them just over 30% of the time. In the four games Curry missed, he’s 2-for-4 on that line.
We have a good idea of how an increased workload could affect Poole’s overall support given the Warriors promoted him to the starting lineup prior to the Curry injury. Since Dec. 3, Poole has started every game for Golden State, topping that once in seven games.
The quality of the Raptors’ defense won’t help him. Toronto has the seventh lowest points per game in the NBA (110.7) and is even tighter at Scotiabank Arena (108.8).
Key Stats: Poole has six or more assists in just two of his 11 starts for the Warriors this season.
Quick selection
Thompson under 4.5 threes (-122): Though Thompson is capable of monster nights beyond the arc, that line doesn’t reflect his production this season. The 32-year-old has had five or more 3-pointers in just seven of his 24 appearances. Even if he shoots more threes with Curry, five makes is a lot to ask.
There’s also evidence his shooting has been on the cold side lately. He’s hit this in just one of his last seven games, shooting a pedestrian 34.7% from behind the line in that span.
Barnes on 29.5 PRA points (-125): Curry’s absence grabs all the headlines but the absence of Andrew Wiggins should allow Barnes to thrive. Draymond Green is likely to have his hands full with Pascal Siakam in this game, leaving Barnes up against untested full-backs such as Andrew Lamb and Moses Moody.
It doesn’t hurt that the sophomore has two monster performances where he averaged a 38 PRA. He should be able to keep Golden State going for the third straight game with a man down.
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