Friday Best Bets: Back Kyrie Irving, Utah Jazz

So, yeah … let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the room right off the rip: As a group, we’re in a funk with our Best Bets right now.

Not only have we dropped eight of our last 11 Best Bets the past three days, but we couldn’t even count on ol’ reliable Thursday: Denver Nuggets do-everything center Nikola Jokic missed his assist prop by two dimes, resulting in a rare NBA Prop loser.

A sliver of light peeking through this current dark cloud? Our first Best Bet of the MLB season connected, as the Astros and Angels failed to score a first-inning run Thursday. That winner came courtesy of The Bostonian vs. The Book team. Unfortunately, it was the only Thursday winner.

Hey, we warned you when we launched this endeavor that there would be rough times — and a 3-8 record over a three-day stretch certainly qualifies. But here’s the beauty of sports betting: It only takes one big day to reverse momentum. Is that big day coming Friday? Beats us — we’re not soothsayers. But we are certainly willing to give it the old college try.

With that, let’s get to Friday’s two Best Bets, both from the NBA.

Best Bets Track Record

Wednesday: 1-3
Year-To-Date: 47-43-1

Bostonian vs. The Book: 13-14-1
BetPrep Prop of the Day: 11-17
NBA Props: 17-6
NHL Props: 6-6
MLB Props: 1-0

NBA Prop: PG Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)

The bet: Over 3.5 made 3-pointers (vs. Cleveland)
The odds: +115
Where to bet: DraftKings
From: Jim Barnes via Friday NBA Props

The Nets will have to participate in the NBA’s play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference, but there’s an easy path and a difficult one. If Brooklyn beats Cleveland on Friday, the Nets will lock up the No. 7 seed, host their play-in games and need to win only once to get into the main bracket. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are desperately trying to hold on to the No. 7 spot for the very same reason.

If the Nets lose, they could very well end up in the No. 9 spot and have to win two play-in games, on the road, just to make it into the main playoff bracket. All that is to say, the Nets will be going all out Friday — but against a motivated opponent.

That brings us to Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving and this 3-pointer prop. Irving has been on a tear from beyond the arc, having made four or more 3-pointers in eight of the Nets’ past 11 games. Two of the three times he came up short were on the second night of back-to-backs.

Irving and the Nets have been idle since Wednesday, and he should go off against the Cavaliers, who rank 16th in the league in 3-point defense. Back Irving to sink at least four 3-pointers at a plus-price.

NBA Game Prop: Utah Jazz vs. Phoenix Suns

The bet: Utah -0.5, first half (vs. Phoenix)
The odds: -110
Where to bet: FanDuel
From: BetPrep Prop of the Day via BetPrep.com

The BetPrep crew dropped its Best Bet on Thursday, as Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris failed to go Over 2.5 assists.

For Friday, the folks at BetPrep are switching things up, laying a half-point with the Utah Jazz in the first half against the Phoenix Suns.

Here’s the rationale for BetPrep’s Best Bet for Friday:

• Phoenix has failed to cover the first-half line in nine straight games overall.
• The Suns also are 0-8 ATS in the first half in their last eight on the road.
• The Jazz are 5-1 ATS in the first half in their last six overall and 4-1 ATS in the first half in their last five at home.

Looking to jump on this best bet? You can find the Jazz -0.5 (-105) in the first half at BetMGM. If you’d rather not risk losing your wager if the game is tied at halftime, you can get Utah on the first-half moneyline at -125 at BetMGM.