Monkey Knife Fight NBA DFS Prop Picks — Sunday, February 6th
Pro Bowl!? Ain’t nobody got time for that! We’ve got a full slate of NBA action on the docket, and we’re taking to Monkey Knife Fight to place a plethora of prop bets. MKF has skyrocketed in popularity since it launched, and it’s widely regarded as a fantastic site for NBA DFS props. Check out RotoGrinders’ Monkey Knife Fight Review for more info!
So, let’s launch right into our favorite picks and plays on Monkey Knife Fight for what should be a great day of Sunday hoops!
NBA DFS Props for Sunday
More or Less (2/2, 3x Your Buy-In)
- Joel Embiid UNDER 30.5 Points at Chicago
- Luka Doncic OVER 29.5 Points vs. ATL
My picks here have less to do with home-court advantage and more to do with matchups. So, hear me out before you laugh your way out of this column!
Joel Embiid has been absolutely electric the past two months—playing at an MVP level, no doubt—and he’s exceeded 30 points in 17 of his last 22 games. However, he’s going up against a red-hot Nikola Vucevic in Chicago on Sunday, a matchup that has not exactly yielded scoring explosions for the Philly frontman. In 13 career games against Vucevic, Embiid has averaged 22.5 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Now, that would be a superb fantasy line—but it wouldn’t be an OVER in this ‘More or Less’ prop.
Embiid has only surpassed 30 points vs. Vuc once in his career—a 32-point effort in October 2018 when Vucevic was still with the Magic. And the MVP candidate hasn’t seen over 15 minutes of rest in a game since January 23. Sixers coach Doc Rivers has been riding him, and he’s clearly a little fatigued from the extremely high usage rates and tough, physical 34-plus minute nights. Philly has lost its last two games, and Embiid has scored 27 of fewer points in three of its last four. Fairweather fans will go OVER here—savvy bettors will go UNDER and cash.
Then there’s Luka Doncic, also an MVP candidate. The Matador may have been a little rusty out of the gate this season, but he’s certainly trampling defenses over the past couple weeks. The three-time All-Star has scored 33 or more points in each of the Mavericks’ last three games, and reached 30 points in six of Dallas’s last nine. He’s on a tear, and he should once again feast against an Atlanta team that often practices ‘matador defense.’ Don’t expect Doncic to suddenly cool down, especially against Trae Young and the Hawks. Atlanta traded Doncic for Young on Draft Night back in 2018, only for the Slovenian to prevail as the eventual Rookie of the Year. I think he prevails with at least another 30-burger tonight.
Triple Doubling (1.2x-20x)
- James Harden at Denver
- Luka Doncic vs. Atlanta
- Nikola Jokic vs. Brooklyn
Now, you may want to play it safe here and go with Kyrie Irving instead of James Harden, considering Harden has missed games recently with respective hand and hamstring injuries. But I think Harden plays, showcases his all-around dominance for all to see, and gets himself traded to Philly within the next few days like he wants. Whether or not a trade is imminent, Brooklyn needs the Beard tonight. The Nets have lost seven straight games, Irving can only play in away games, and Kevin Durant probably won’t return until the playoffs (how’s coaching life, Mr. Nash?). Harden has two triple-dubs in his last five starts—he should cruise to another one tonight.
Doncic and Jokic are the easy ones in this prop, though. Doncic, who just entered the top 10 all-time list for career triple-doubles at friggin’ 22 years old, has three triple-dubs in the Mavs’ last five games. In a big game against a surging Hawks team (8-2 in their last 10), I think he’ll pour it on once again. And what can we say about Jokic, the reigning MVP and arguably the most effortlessly all-around talented big man in hoops? The dude’s a cheat code. He’s registered triple-doubles in six of his last 11 games, and finished within an assist or two of triple-doubles in those other five. Against a Brooklyn squad dominated by guards and lacking in height and rim protection, Jokic should go off like always. Go with OVER 1.5 here for the 3x prize, unless you want to get really brazen and go OVER 2.5 for 20x.
Rapidfire (3x)
- Points: Luka Doncic (Bonus +1.5 Points) Over Joel Embiid
- Assists: Trae Young (Bonus +2.5 Assists) Over James Harden
I already explained why I like Luka Legend to exceed 30 points this evening, and why I think Embiid will be held below 31. So, naturally, I’m doubling-down in Rapidfire, where I can pick Doncic with a 1.5-point handicap in a scoring contest with the Process.
As for the assist prop here, it’s damn close. But I’m intrigued by the 2.5 boost we’re getting for Young, who is totally healthy and definitely not the subject of trade rumors right now—unlike his bearded counterpart.
Young has reached 12 or more assists in two of Atlanta’s last three games, and he’ll be in high gear against friendly foe Doncic this evening. So, while I may have picked Harden to possibly register a triple-double, I also think it’s probably a stretch for him to dish three more assists than Young tonight.
Image Credit: Imagn