The NBA has eight games on the schedule for the Ides of March, but the biggest matchup is the featured game on national TV as the Warriors welcome the Knicks. The Knicks are the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference coming into the game, while the Warriors roll in as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference trying to avoid falling into the Play-In Tournament. It should be a great matchup with plenty of plot lines to enjoy, so let’s take a look at my top three Warriors vs. Knicks prop bets from the player prop market on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Overall, the Warriors are 7.5-point home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook with the total set at O/U 228.5 points. The most impactful injuries for both teams are in the backcourt. Jalen Brunson (ankle) remains out for New York, while the Warriors will remain without Brandin Podziemski (back).
Best Warriors vs. Knicks Player Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Jimmy Butler over 29.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-105)
Butler played only 28 minutes on Thursday against the Kings and had just 18 PRA (Points + Rebounds + Assists) in the Warriors’ comfortable win. He had played at least 35 minutes in four previous games and went over 30 PRA in each of his last three.
He had a triple-double against Portland with 35 PRA in his previous contest, 40 PRA against the Pistons, and 33 PRA against the Nets. As long as he gets a full complement of minutes against the Knicks, he should be a good pick to go over 30 PRA again on Saturday since he is setting into a larger role in the Golden State offense as he adjusts to his new team.
Josh Hart to record a double-double (-120)
Hart has racked up 29 double-doubles in 62 games this season (47%). He has three double-doubles in his last four games and fell just one assist short of a triple-double in Wednesday’s win over the Trail Blazers.
In the four games he has played this year without Brunson, Hart has averaged 14.5 points and 12.75 rebounds. He continues to play huge minutes and have a big worload. Especially with Brunson out, Hart has a great shot at a double-double against the Warriors.
Mikal Bridges 20+ points (+145)
Bridges has gone over this line in two of his three games since Brunson was injured and is coming off a huge 33-point performance against the Trail Blazers. He hit the game-winner on Wednesday and will need to continue to step up with Brunson sidelined.
In his four games this year without Brunson, Bridges’ usage climbs from his season average of 19.4% to a 20.2% usage rate. He has averaged 24.25 points per game in those four contests.
While it’s definitely not a sure thing against a strong Warriors’ defense, Bridges is a soli pick at plus-money to get at least 20 points, making him one of my top Knicks vs. Warriors prop bests in this contest.
Bonus Play: Gary Payton II 2+ three-pointers (+390)
This is a long-shot play, as you can tell from the +390 odds on it. Payton has played 53 games this season and is only averaging 0.5 three-pointers in 14.2 minutes per game. However, he has been getting more work lately with Podziemski out. He has played at least 21 minutes in each of his last four games and is averaging 23.1 minutes per game.
Payton hit four three-pointers on his way to a career-high 26 points against the Trail Blazers on Monday. On Thursday, he continued his production by knocking down three more three-pointers against the Kings.
Normally, The Mitten is known for his defensive work and production and scoring is secondary, but after knocking down multiple threes in each of the last two contests, getting him at almost 4:1 to hit a couple of threes against the Knicks is a flier that I like in the Knicks vs. Warriors game Saturday night.
