Friday NBA Picks: Fats Baller looks to start 2021 off right with the Hornets, Wiggins, McCollum, and Durant

It was a fitting end to the sh--storm that last year was, but last night Fats got 2020'd by 2020. Skunked. Shut out. 0-5. The Knicks winning at +320 was always a longshot, but the other wagers all had a fighting chance to cash . . . until they didn't (details below).

Tonight, one line pick and the rest player props. Andrew Wiggins snapped out of his funk in the last game and traditionally plays well against the Blazers. CJ McCollum has been on fire and the Warriors haven't figured out how to play defense yet. Kevin Durant obliterated that number last game out and seems on the verge of consistent double-doubles. The Grizzlies, meanwhile, looked so bad against the Celtics and the Hornets have been playing tough. In this year's NBA, however, Memphis could be up 30 at the half and Charlotte clears its bench. But I'm betting against that. Payoffs based on $10 wagers.

Grizzlies at Hornets 7:05 pm EST. Hawks at NETS 7:35 pm EST. Blazers at WARRIORS 10:35 pm EST.

3-pointer: Andrew Wiggins (Warriors) Over 28.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10)

2-pointers: CJ McCollum (Blazers) Over 31.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10)

Free throw: Kevin Durant (Nets) Over 38.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10)

Steal: Hornets -4 Over the Grizzlies -112 (returns $19.00)

Thursday Results

Winners:

0

Losers:

3-pointer: Knicks Moneyline over Raptors +320 (returns $42.00). Against a Toronto team that chucked up nearly 50 threes, the Knicks shot 3-for-36 from behind the arc. RJ Barrett epitomizes the Knicks woes: In the season-opener he was 11-15 from the field, 3-3 from 3. Since then he's 17-66 from the field and 0-21 from 3. That's today's NBA, folks: A guy putting up a goose egg is taking 5 threes a game and averaging 16 shots from the field.

2-pointers: Brandon Ingram (Pelicans) Over 33.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10) AND Mike Conley (Jazz) Over 25.5 points, rebounds, assists -121 (returns $18.30). Today's NBA No. 2: On Tuesday the Pelicans lost to the Suns 111-86. Last night they beat the Thunder 113-80 and OKC scored 7 points in the 4th quarter. SEVEN! In an NBA game! That meant Brandon Ingram, who had 29 PRA in 26 minutes, got to end his night at 26 minutes. In the Suns-Jazz matchup, Mike Conley made a late run to get to 25 PRA, but neither he nor the Jazz could get over the hump.

Free throw: Julius Randle Over 38.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10). The Knicks inability to shoot and spread the floor allowed the Raptors to swarm Randle, who ended up with 31 PRA and may have got a deep bruise at the end of the game. Not as deep as Fats's ego, but deep.

Steal: Elfrid Payton Over 24.5 points, rebounds, assists -110 (returns $19.10) Payton was humming along with 21 PRA in 23 minutes but spent the 4th quarter on the pine.

$50 wagered (0-5), $0 returned.

Day 8: -$50.00

Total: -$85.95 (16-25 off 41 $10 wagers)