- We’ve got free NBA player props tonight — I’ll tell you how to play guard Collin Sexton and his 22.5 points total
- He and the Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Portland to face the Trail Blazers — tip-off at 10:00 PM ET
- The Cavs are 3.5-point underdogs in a game with a 222-point total
Another Friday, another great night to be an NBA fan (and bettor). Twenty-two teams will be in action, flush with some intriguing matchups. My favorite NBA player prop tonight involves the upstart Cavs and their leading scorer.
Bet the Prop’s free plays are on fire this week, including another win last night, so let’s stay hot.
Editor’s Note: We’re hitting 60% on NBA player props –– join our community today, up and get nightly NBA prop bets and more alert to your device!
NBA Player Props Tonight (2/12)
Cavaliers Guard Collin Sexton
Over 22.5 Points (-108 @ FanDuel)
Sexton has emerged in his third year, averaging a career-best 22.7 points per game backed by very effective shooting (48.5% field goals, 42% three-pointers). In fact, he’s one of only six guards averaging at least 20 points on 45%/40% shooting, joining the likes of Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving.
The sharp-shooting guard has scored at least 23 points in 11 of his 21 games this season, with a median score of 23. He is, however, coming off his worst game of the season, only scoring four points in a blowout loss versus the Nuggets on Wednesday.
But, in Sexton’s short career, he’s been excellent at bouncing back from poor showings.
- In his last nine games following after shooting 35% or worse, Sexton has scored at least 23 points six times (66.7%)
- In those games, he shot a collective 57% from the field
So knowing Sexton is in a prime spot to atone for his poor showing last game, we shift our focus to the defense he’ll be facing.
The Matchup
No matter how you shake it, the Trail Blazers are poor defensively.
- They rank 28th in defensive efficiency
- 25th in points allowed per game
- And allow the third-most points to opposing backcourts
Portland allows the third-highest effective field goal to their opponents and the eighth-most three-pointers per game. Without injured big man Jusuf Nurkic, they also struggle to protect the rim. With Sexton being a three-level scorer, he’s likely to see little resistance versus his offensive arsenal.
The Alabama alum has typically thrived versus weaker defenses. In eleven games versus teams ranking in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency, he’s averaging 23.5 points, with a median total of 25. He’s scored at least 23 points in seven of these matchups (77%).
Conclusion
All of these factors lend to Sexton thriving tonight.
With Portland coming off a tough victory versus the Sixers last night, I like the Cavs to keep this one close. I’m projecting Sexton’s point total close to 26 in this fantastic matchup for him.
