12 games between 24 different teams are slated to take the floor tonight across the NBA. That includes a showdown between Cooper Flagg’s Mavericks and the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. Elsewhere, the Magic will visit the Nuggets in a battle between postseason contenders. Later, Steph Curry and the Warriors face off against Devin Booker’s Suns.
With so many options to choose from, it’s difficult to narrow down a handful of best bets. Fear not – there are three picks that stand out above the rest. Here are my three favorite NBA player prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Jay Huff 16+ points + rebounds (-122)
It’s a clear rebuilding year for the six-win Pacers, one of the worst teams in basketball. The biggest weakness on the roster is down low, as starting center Myles Turner departed for Milwaukee this offseason. In his absence, Indiana has shuffled through several uninspiring options at the five. With that being said, head coach Rick Carlisle may have found a solution in Jay Huff. The former Grizzlies big has spent his five-year NBA career as a backup. Now, with ample minutes up for grabs, he’s earned an increasing amount of trust. Through 26 games, Huff is averaging 8.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and a league-leading 2.5 blocks.
The 27-year-old’s rim protection has been invaluable for an otherwise lackluster defense. Still, he offers plenty on the other end of the floor, as well. Over Huff’s last nine outings, he’s posted 11.0 points on 50/37/93 shooting splits. In six of those games, he tallied at least 16 points + rebounds. There’s a decent chance that trend continues tonight against a shorthanded Knicks squad. New York’s big men, Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) and Mitchell Robinson (ankle) are both questionable to play. If even one of those two is held out, Huff’s job gets even easier. Indy’s newest weapon is poised for another solid stat line on Thursday.
Davion Mitchell 9+ assists (+107)
The Heat are a flawed team, but they are fun to watch. Miami plays at the NBA’s quickest pace, pushing the ball up court at will. That means extra possessions, and counting stats, for everyone on the team. Davion Mitchell is no exception, serving as a primary ball handler for head coach Erik Spoelstra. The Baylor alum, in addition to stellar defense, has impressed on offense. This season, he’s notched 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and a team-leading 7.7 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field.
Mitchell’s scoring might be inconsistent, but his role as lead distributor is secure. In fact, no other Heat player is averaging more than 5.0 assists per game. There should be even more points for Miami on Thursday against a subpar Nets defense. Brooklyn has surrendered 28.4 assists per game to opponents, sixth-most in basketball. In comparison, Mitchell has delivered nine or more dimes in five of his last seven appearances. There’s no reason to think he can’t do so again tonight against one of the NBA’s worst clubs.
Victor Wembanyama under 20.5 points (-118)
The NBA Cup final proved to be difficult for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. However, it was only the center’s second game back since returning from injury. In addition, San Antonio has kept its face of the franchise on a strict minutes limit. While Wemby’s workload will increase going forward, expect a gradual ramp-up process. With that in mind, the All-Star is no guarantee to log more than 25 minutes tonight. That doesn’t preclude the Frenchman from another terrific performance, but it does hurt his chances.
In theory, Thursday presents the perfect spot for Wembanyama to dominate. The Wizards rank 30th in points allowed (126.7) and 28th in rebounds allowed (57.4) per game to opponents. Over four career meetings with them, Wemby has produced 31.8 points and 10.0 rebounds. However, Washington’s ineptitude means this game could get out of hand quickly. The Spurs will be looking for any good reason to give their superstar extra rest. Therefore, don’t be shocked if the big man falls short of this total while sitting on the bench.
