An eight-game, sixteen-team slate of NBA action tips off on Thursday night. Among the matchups to watch, Steph Curry and the Warriors will visit Cade Cunningham and the surging Pistons. Later on, Southwest division rivals meet when the Grizzlies host the Rockets. With so many stars taking the floor, narrowing down a few players to back is easier said than done. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t bets worth placing. Here are three props catching my eye tonight.
Steph Curry over 5.5 three-pointers made (+114)
It hasn’t been the best stretch for the 18-18 Warriors; following a terrific start to the season, the team has lost 15 of its last 21 games. Even the great Steph Curry hasn’t been immune from Golden State’s struggles. The future Hall of Famer is having his worst campaign in over a decade, averaging 22.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 45.5% shooting from the field (42.3 3PT%).
Still, this is the NBA’s greatest shooter, and that remains true in a down year. Detroit might enter Thursday’s matchup on a hot streak, but its perimeter defense leaves much to be desired. The Pistons have allowed opponents to connect on 37.9% of their three-point shots, second-highest in the NBA. Curry has nailed a combined 20 shots from beyond the arc over his last three appearances; expect another stellar shooting performance against a team that loves to give up treys.
Naji Marshall over 4.5 rebounds (-125)
It’s a new day in Dallas, as the team is still adjusting to life without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. With his two best players injured, head coach Jason Kidd has gotten creative, even going with a zero-point guard starting lineup against the Grizzlies on Monday. Naji Marshall is among the players to see a minutes boost. Signed this offseason, the former Pelican has put up 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists through 28 games played.
After two straight outings of over 30 minutes, it’s apparent that Kidd values Marshall in his starting lineup. The wing has done well when given a bigger workload, especially on the glass. Through ten appearances of 28 minutes or more this season, the veteran has gone over five rebounds seven different times. Dallas’ opponent, the Trail Blazers, are giving up the seventh-most boards in the NBA (53.2). For someone set to play more than two-thirds of tonight’s contest, Marshall’s rebounding line offers plenty of value for bettors.
Ryan Dunn over 9.5 points (-110)
Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer made headlines this week when he opted to bench both Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic. The move, while bold, is a much-needed shakeup for a struggling Phoenix team. As a result, 22-year-old Ryan Dunn has entered the starting lineup. Despite his modest stats (6.8 PPG, 3.0 RPG), the second-round pick has impressed this season as a two-way forward.
Since joining the first unit on Saturday, the Virginia alum has averaged 11.3 points through three outings. While that sample size isn’t much, it bodes well for the wing heading into tonight’s game. This season, Atlanta has given up the third-most points (119.8) and the most three-pointers made (15.5) to opponents. That’s perfect for Dunn, who has taken over 60% of his shots from beyond the arc. As long as Phoenix’s talented rookie stays on the floor, he should be able to clear this reasonable point total.
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is b.armetta) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
