A hectic week of transactions finally comes to a close on Thursday with the impending NBA trade deadline. While there’s plenty of off-court drama, six games between 12 teams are on tap tonight across the association. Among the matchups to watch, a Finals rematch in Boston between the Celtics and new-look Mavericks is must-see TV. Later this evening, LeBron James and Steph Curry battle once again when the Lakers host the Warriors. With so many players taking the floor, narrowing down a handful of names to back is easier said than done. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are three player props catching my eye tonight.
Paolo Banchero over 4.5 assists (-140)
Even after a win last night in Sacramento, the Magic have been free-falling in the Eastern Conference standings. Orlando has gone 4-11 over its last 15 games, even with the return of stars Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero from injury. The latter has had a rough few months, putting up 20.1 points on 40.1% shooting since January 10th. However, he has recorded 6.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists during that time.
The former Rookie of the Year will need to play a big role if Orlando has any shot at an upset victory tonight. On a Magic team lacking firepower, most of the offense flows through their two dynamic forwards. Even if the shooting is inconsistent, Banchero should find some room to operate as a playmaker on Thursday. This season, Denver has allowed 29.7 assists per game, the worst mark in basketball. The 22-year-old is a good bet to dish out some dimes to his teammates in this one.
Draymond Green over 6.5 rebounds (+105)
The Warriors pulled off a blockbuster trade for Jimmy Butler last night, shipping out Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and Dennis Schröder. While the move should make Golden State more competitive going forward, it does deplete their roster for tonight’s game. That means an even larger workload for the rest of the team, including Draymond Green. This season, the veteran has averaged 8.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game.
The former Defensive Player of the Year’s impact usually goes far beyond the box score. However, Thursday’s contest could lead to a solid stat line. Much like Golden State, the Lakers are thin down low after trading Anthony Davis to Dallas this week. During Green’s last eight meetings with Los Angeles, he’s grabbed seven or more rebounds seven different times. There’s no reason not to expect a busy day on the glass for the four-time All-Star.
Keegan Murray over 11.5 points (-115)
It’s been a busy deadline for the Kings, who have said goodbye to De’Aaron Fox while welcoming Zach LaVine and Jonas Valanciunas. Even with so much of the roster in flux, Sacramento has plenty of quality pieces. That includes Keegan Murray, who has shown signs of life following a rough start to the season. Since January 1st, he’s recorded 12.7 points on 48.4% shooting from the field (40.2 3PT%).
The former lottery pick has scored 12 or more points in five of his last eight outings. He’ll have an opportunity to continue that trend on Thursday against the Trail Blazers. This season, Portland has surrendered the eighth-most points per game (117.3) and the ninth-highest three-point percentage (36.5%). On a Sacramento offense trying to reinvent itself, don’t be surprised if Murray takes on a larger role tonight. The young forward won’t even need many touches to reach this modest total.
