Bryan Armetta shares his three favorite player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s five-game NBA slate.
The weekend is here, which means an intriguing five-game slate of NBA action is on tap. Saturday offers up several can’t-miss matchups, starting with Rockets vs. Heat in Miami. Later, the Lakers and Warriors battle in a showdown between Western Conference playoff hopefuls.
Which players should bettors prioritize, or fade, during this select group of games? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Amen Thompson 7+ rebounds (-134)
Steven Adams’ season-ending ankle injury has left a major void down low for Houston. Fortunately for the Rockets, there are several other capable rebounders on this roster. That includes Amen Thompson, already one of the NBA’s premier stat-stuffers. Through 56 games, the guard has recorded 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists. On a squad lacking ball handlers, the third-year pro is averaging 37.0 minutes a night. That’s the second-highest mark in basketball, behind only Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey.
A massive workload gives Thompson a safer floor than some of his peers. That should come in handy going into this afternoon’s matchup in South Beach. The Heat operate at the NBA’s fastest pace on offense, leading to frequent shootouts. Unsurprisingly, Miami is giving up 55.5 rebounds per game to opponents, fifth-most in the association. Thompson has snagged at least seven boards in three of his last four outings. I’d even consider playing this line up to eight rebounds at +127.
Gui Santos 14+ points (-120)
The injury-depleted Warriors have been forced to get creative on offense in recent weeks. Fortunately, that’s given Gui Santos an opportunity to shine. The sharpshooting Brazilian has made a major impact, emerging as a key contributor for Golden State. Over his last ten appearances, the forward has recorded 15.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists to go with 60/45/70 shooting splits. At this point, Santos is one of the team’s most consistent scorers.
There’s a good chance the 23-year-old keeps it up this evening in primetime. The Lakers struggle to stop anyone, posting the NBA’s seventh-lowest defensive rating (117.7). To boot, Los Angeles is allowing the 12th-most three-pointers made per game (13.4). That doesn’t bode well against the trigger-happy Warriors. As a starter this season, Santos is attempting 4.5 three-pointers per game. To boot, he’s tallied at least 14 points in seven of his last eight contests. Don’t be shocked if that success continues on Saturday.
Saddiq Bey 3+ three-pointers made (+130)
It’s difficult to get excited about anything going on in New Orleans. Regardless, the Pelicans have a chance at picking up a win tonight against an equally bad Jazz club. One area where the visitors have an edge is their depth. One role player worth mentioning is Saddiq Bey, a decent supporting option for any club. This season, the wing is putting up 17.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
One area where Bey has shown improvement is from beyond the arc. The fifth-year pro is knocking down 35.5% of his three-point attempts, his best mark since 2023. To boot, he’s taking nearly six shots per game from long distance. In comparison, the Jazz are allowing an NBA-worst 15.5 three-pointers made per game. When these teams last met on Thursday, Bey drained five treys on nine attempts. At +130, I’m willing to bet the veteran can find similar success this weekend.