Bryan Armetta shares his three favorite player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s ten-game NBA slate.
The NBA is finally back! To kick off the second half in style, fans will be treated to a ten-game, 20-team slate on Thursday. That means plenty of must-watch matchups for hoops fans to enjoy. Among the contests to watch, a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview between the Pistons and Knicks. Later, the scrappy Suns take on Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs. As a nightcap, the Celtics travel to San Francisco for a date with the Warriors.
Which players are poised to cash in for bettors on Thursday? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Will Riley 12+ points (-123)
Making sense of this Wizards roster can be a chore. Washington, after years of lottery picks, almost has too much depth. Rotation consistency can be difficult to come by for its young talent, including Will Riley. The first-round selection during last summer’s NBA Draft has had to sit on the bench for most of this season. However, he’s seen a notable uptick over the past few weeks. During Riley’s previous seven games, he’s averaging 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Most important, he’s logged just over 29 minutes per game during that times.
Alex Sarr (hamstring) remains sidelined, leaving an opening in Washington’s frontcourt. On an otherwise unproven starting five, there’s no reason to think Riley can’t contribute once again tonight. Thursday’s opponents, the Hawks, are giving up 118.6 points per game, sixth-most in the NBA. In addition, Atlanta has allowed the association’s eighth-most points per game in the paint (52.6). Riley has notched at least 12 points in five of his last seven outings. Another productive showing from this rookie is the expectation this evening.
Matas Buzelis 15+ points (-110)
The Bulls are another squad with next to nothing left to play for. Following a busy trade deadline, Chicago is left without much talent on its roster. That’s before factoring in a potential absence tonight for Josh Giddey (hamstring). With or without the guard in action, Matas Buzelis should enjoy a busy Thursday. The second-year pro is one of the few players worth tuning in to in the Windy City. Through 55 games, the wing is putting up 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47% from the field.
A stellar stat line could prove difficult on Thursday against a solid Raptors defense. However, there’s too much of a track record here to ignore. Buzelis has tallied at least 15 points in eight of his last nine appearances. In fact, he’s reached this total in over 56% of his outings this season. When these teams last met on February 5th, Buzelis accounted for 18 points over 33 minutes. A similar showing wouldn’t come as a surprise tonight. Given the lack of quality scorers in Chicago, the 21-year-old should have ample opportunity to produce.
Myles Turner 6+ rebounds (+100)
Full disclaimer: Myles Turner, as of Thursday morning, is listed as day-to-day on the injury report. However, with a full week of rest, I’m expecting the center to take the floor this evening. Should that occur, he’ll have to step up for a Bucks squad missing Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf). It’s been a mixed first season in Milwaukee for Turner. Over 50 games, he’s delivered 12.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. In addition, he’s recorded 44/39/76 shooting splits. If those numbers feel unimpressive, that’s because they are.
With that being said, tonight’s contest presents an opportunity for Turner to dominate. The Pelicans are a mess on both ends of the floor, especially when it comes to boxing out. Opponents are snagging 56.0 rebounds per game vs. New Orleans, the fourth-worst mark in basketball. Granted, Turner has never been a monster on the glass. However, he’s snagged six or more boards over his last four games. Without Giannis, there’s more room to operate down low, as well. At even money, I’d be willing to place a wager on Milwaukee’s starting center.