3 Best NBA Prop Bets Today for Pelicans vs. Knicks (RJ Barrett, Jonas Valanciunas to Dominate Again)
By Peter Dewey
The New York Knicks are just 2.5-point favorites on Thursday night when they host the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans is just 6-17 away from home this season, but it will have a chance to beat a Knicks team that has lost back-to-back games.
I’ve got a few player props that I like in this matchup, with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:
Best Prop Bets for Pelicans vs. Knicks
- RJ Barrett OVER 19.5 Points (-115)
- Julius Randle OVER 19.5 Points (-115)
- Jonas Valanciunas OVER 11.5 Rebounds (+105)
RJ Barrett OVER 19.5 Points (-115)
This is purely a volume play for RJ Barrett, who posted a career-high 35 points in the last meeting between these two teams.
Barrett has taken 16 or more shots in each of his last eight games, and he is averaging 23.5 points per game over that stretch, clearing this prop number four times.
The Pelicans aren’t that great of a team defensively, and I think the Knicks go back to Barrett to help them break this two-game losing streak.
Julius Randle OVER 19.5 Points (-115)
I’m surprised this Randle number has dropped below 20 points even though he had 21 points in the Knicks’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Randle only scored 10 points in his first meeting with the Pelicans, but it was because RJ Barrett had a career-high 35 in the game and Randle took just nine shots.
Jules has cleared this number in four of his last eight games and is averaging 19.1 points per game on the seasons. New Orleans is just 24th in the NBA in defensive rating this season, so I think Randle can have a big game on Thursday.
Jonas Valanciunas OVER 11.5 Rebounds (+105)
Jonas Valanciunas has cleared this line in five of his last seven games, and I think he will have a chance to clean up on the boards against a Knicks team that simply hasn’t shot the ball well this season.
The Knicks are just 25th in the NBA in field goal percentage this season, and the Pelicans are third in the NBA in rebounding percentage this season. Mitchell Robinson may provide some tough battles for Valanciunas, but he grabbed 14 boards the first time these teams met this season.