Two pivotal Game 6’s are on tap for Thursday across the NBA. Out east, the Pistons will hope to force a Game 7 when they host the Knicks. Later, the Nuggets are set to visit Los Angeles in an elimination game for the Clippers. With these can’t-miss playoff contests on tap, there are several bets worth placing on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are three player props catching my eye tonight.
Josh Hart over 26.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)
On Tuesday, the Knicks were out-muscled and out-rebounded by the Pistons. New York’s star duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns shot a combined 9-of-30 from the field. One of the few players on the team that did step up was Josh Hart. The two-way wing dropped 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists over 36 minutes. If the ‘Bockers are going to wrap this series up, they’ll need a similar performance tonight.
An all-around threat such as Hart is difficult to pin down. On one night, the forward could serve as a secondary scorer. On another, he may focus more on crashing the boards and setting up teammates. Regardless, the 30-year-old has reached 27 points + rebounds + assists in each of his last two appearances. With Detroit’s defense locked in on Brunson and Towns, there should be room for Hart to produce. One of the sport’s ultimate glue guys should thrive in a potential grind-it-out slugfest on Thursday.
Tim Hardaway Jr. over 2.5 three-pointers made (-115)
We’ll stay in Motown, where the Pistons will attempt to even things up with New York. Other than Cade Cunningham, four different Detroit players have scored 20 points in a game this series. That includes Tim Hardaway Jr., acquired last summer from the Mavericks. It’s been a mixed bag for the veteran this series; despite a few big nights, he’s shot 35.0% from the field.
Hardway Jr., while streaky, is still someone that can take advantage of opposing defenses. In this series, he’s enjoyed three different outings of three or more shots made from beyond the arc. That includes Games 3 and 4, both played in Detroit. This season, opponents have knocked down 36.5% of their three-point attempts vs. the Knicks, the seventh-highest mark in basketball. After a rough showing on Tuesday, expect the Pistons to give their sharpshooter several good looks from deep.
James Harden over 14.5 assists + rebounds (-135)
Having suffered two straight losses, the pressure is on Los Angeles to avoid elimination tonight. If there’s any optimism for the Clippers, it’s due to stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. The latter hasn’t served as a primary scoring option, reaching 20+ points only twice in this series. However, the guard has dished out an average of 8.6 assists per game this postseason. That level of playmaking has come in handy against a Nuggets team that struggles to defend the perimeter.
At 35 years old, Harden’s best days are behind him. However, the former MVP doesn’t need 30+ points to make an impact. This season, the Nuggets have allowed 28.8 assists per game, third-most in basketball. A savvy ball handler such as The Beard should be able to exploit Denver’s inability to guard passes. If Harden comes close to his season-long average of 5.8 rebounds, he can easily clear this total tonight.
