Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors) Under 8.5 Assists (-114)

Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing

As the Raptors roll into Memphis, all eyes will be on Scottie Barnes, but I'm leaning toward a different narrative: the under on his assists at 8.5. While he's been dazzling this season, averaging 12.2 assists over his last five games, his performance tends to take a dip on the road. Specifically, he's averaging just 9.6 assists away from home, and against the Grizzlies, that number plummets to 5.2. With Memphis boasting a tough defensive scheme, Barnes may find it challenging to connect with teammates effectively. His overall hit rate shows he's gone under this mark 12 times in the last 15 away games, and with an expected stat value of only 6.15 assists, the odds are leaning in our favor. Sometimes, less is more, and in this case, I expect Barnes to distribute fewer dimes than anticipated.

Kam Jones (Indiana Pacers) Under 4.5 Assists (+101)

Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing

As the Hornets head into Indiana, all eyes will be on Kam Jones, but I'm betting on him to fall short of the 4.5 assists mark. Jones has been decent, averaging 3.8 assists over his last five games, but let's dig deeper. When playing away, his average bumps slightly to 4.2, yet historically against the Pacers, he's only managed 2 assists in their last five encounters. His recent form shows that while he's hit the over three times in the last four games, he's also been underwhelming against this specific opponent. With an impressive 15 out of 19 hit rate on the road, it's tempting, but those numbers are skewed by other matchups. Given the Pacers' defensive schemes and the way they stifle playmakers, I see Jones struggling to reach that 4.5 mark tonight. This could be a classic case of underwhelming expectations in a tough away environment.

Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks) Under 17.5 Rebounds + Assists (-106)

Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing

As the Atlanta Hawks prepare to face the Brooklyn Nets, Jalen Johnson finds himself in a tough spot, particularly when it comes to hitting the over on his combined rebounds and assists. Averaging just over 14 in his last few outings, the 17.5 mark feels a bit lofty, especially for an away game where he's only managed 7.6 assists and rebounds combined. Against Brooklyn, his numbers dip further, averaging just 2 assists and 7.2 rebounds on the road. The Nets present a solid defensive front, and Johnson's recent form shows that he's fallen short of this combined total more often than not, hitting the under in 4 of his last 7 away games. With the odds favoring the under at -106, it seems prudent to bet that Jalen Johnson will struggle to exceed the 17.5 threshold come Friday night.

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