A year after narrowly missing out on the Sixth Man of the Year award, Malik Monk has taken on an even bigger role for the Kings. 

The high-flying guard joined Sacramento’s starting lineup earlier this month, and he’s seen his numbers take off. 

In five games since joining the starting unit, Monk is averaging 19.4 points, 6.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game in what has been one of the best stretches of his eight-year NBA career. 

Monk’s increase in production stretches back a bit further, in fact, when Kings head coach Mike Brown decided to give the Kentucky product a minutes boost. 

In two games before the lineup change, Monk averaged 28 points, nine assists and 5.5 rebounds in 35.5 minutes a game. 

Oddsmakers, apparently, haven’t taken notice. 

Monk’s points + rebounds + assists is sitting at just 25.5 against the Pelicans on Thursday night at most major sportsbooks, a number he’s blown past consistently in recent games. 

He’s gone over 25.5 in all but one of his last seven games. 

In the only game he fell short, a 44-point blowout win over the Jazz, Monk left the game with 3:09 left in the third quarter and didn’t return with the game out of hand. 

Even in just 27 minutes in that game, Monk put up 21 PRA.

It hasn’t been particularly close in most of the games he went over, too, eclipsing 30 PRA in five of them. 

The Pelicans don’t pose a particularly tough challenge for Monk and the Kings offense tonight, allowing the 8th-most points per game (116.7) in the league. 

Bet on Monk to fill the statsheet once again. 

The play: Malik Monk more than 25.5 points + rebounds + assists (-125, bet365)