We only have two games scheduled in the NBA on Wednesday night before we see the lower-seeded teams take their act on the road. In the East, Orlando will try to take a 2-0 lead back home when they host Detroit, while Oklahoma City hopes to continue asserting its dominance after a 119-84 victory over Phoenix in Game 1.
Our approach for this preview won't necessarily be to break down these individual matchups. Instead, we'll seek to highlight players that offer the best value in the DraftKings Game Leaders market.
NBA Game Leader Picks, Predictions: Wednesday, April 22
- Magic vs Pistons 3-Point Leader – Duncan Robinson (+312)
- Suns vs Thunder 3-Point Leader – Isaiah Joe (+1240)
Magic vs Pistons 3-Point Leader Prediction
The Detroit Pistons (35.6%) are the only lower seed in this first round to rank in the bottom half (17th) for 3-point percentage. They're facing an Orlando team that shot even worse from the perimeter, ranking 27th at 34.3%.
Since those numbers are merely a compilation of individual performances, it's fair to say that both teams probably aren't blessed with great shooters.
However, two players that do stand out are Detroit's Duncan Robinson and Orlando's Desmond Bane. Robinson shot 41% from the perimeter while Bane finished the year at 39.1%.
The difference between the two players is that Robinson shot almost two more attempts (7.0) than Bane (5.2) on average.
It's worth noting that 77.8% of Robinson's field goal attempts all occurred from beyond the arc.
Therefore, we have a clear volume shooter here who is also the best 3-point specialist on the court, and yet, his odds to finish with the most 3-pointers are as high as +312.
This is good value for the price and a great opportunity to get a bit of a return on our investment.
Pick: Most 3-Pointers Made: Duncan Robinson (+312)
Suns vs Thunder 3-Point Leader Prediction
I'd be a bit concerned if I were a Suns fan following their 119-84 drubbing in Game 1. Phoenix was sloppy with the ball, committing 19 turnovers, leading to 34 points for the Thunder.
The Suns' roster isn't good enough for their best player, Devin Booker, to shoulder the burden of also being the team's primary facilitator.
OKC barely had to get out of second gear and it wouldn't surprise me if we see another lopsided result with the Thunder currently as high as a 17.5-point favorite.
As a result, the Thunder bench could see plenty of action if this game gets out of hand, and OKC's Isaiah Joe is one one player who comes to mind.
Joe is often one of the first players off the bench, averaging 21.2 minutes during the regular season. He's also the best perimeter player in this series, shooting 42.3% from long range.
79% of his field goal attempts (7.6) are from beyond the arc, so he gets plenty of volume when on the court.
While we'd have to fade a handful of players who are likely to play more minutes, Joe is the perfect kind of longshot at +1240 for most 3-pointers if this game turns into a blowout.
Pick: Most 3-Pointers Made: Isaiah Joe (+1240)
