Christmas is over, but the NBA keeps rolling along. Following yesterday’s terrific holiday slate, nine more games between 18 teams are set for Friday. That means ample opportunity for interested bettors. Still, with so many options available, narrowing things down to a few picks is difficult.
Which players will exceed, or fall short, of their totals tonight? Here are my three favorite NBA player prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Sandro Mamukelashvili 14+ points (-120)
Jakob Poeltl is injured once again for the Raptors, currently dealing with a back issue. In his absence, Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili should see more minutes. However, the former of the two is listed as questionable with an illness. If CMB sits out, an already mediocre Toronto front court gets even weaker. In addition, Mamukelashvili has a clear path to 25+ minutes. This season, the Seton Hall alum is averaging 10.5 points and 4.6 rebounds off the bench. From the field, he’s notched 53/41/77 shooting splits.
Mamu is a true microwave scorer, usually hovering just around 20 minutes per game. However, tonight’s matchup appears promising. The Wizards are a mess, putting up the NBA’s worst defensive rating (124.2). In addition, they’ve surrendered the second-most three-pointers made per game (15.0). That bodes well for a sharpshooter such as Mamukelashvili. In his three most recent starts, the veteran has tallied at least 14 points. Against a vulnerable opponent, expect another solid stat line from the center.
Payton Pritchard under 2.5 three-pointers made (+103)
The Celtics might be the biggest surprise in basketball, racing out to a 18-11 record without Jayson Tatum. Several supporting pieces have taken on larger roles this season, including Payton Pritchard. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has now established himself as a starter. While less efficient, the guard is delivering much better counting stats. Through 29 games, he’s putting up 16.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.
Pritchard, usually a knockdown shooter, has looked off from beyond the arc. He’s making 2.7 three-pointers on 8.0 attempts per game. Still, that level of volume makes the 27-year-old viable from long distance for bettors, on most nights. Friday’s contest could prove more difficult than usual. The Pacers, for all their flaws, excel at preventing treys. Indiana has held its opponents to the second-lowest three-point percentage (33.5%) and fewest makes per game (11.5) from deep. When these clubs last met, on December 22nd, Pritchard only hit one long ball. Don’t be shocked if that trend continues tonight.
Kel’el Ware 12+ rebounds (-128)
The new-look Heat have prioritized pushing the pace, operating at the association’s quickest pace. It’s a surprising result on a number of levels for Miami, once considered a hard-nosed, grind-it-out squad. The team goes fast despite rostering two terrific centers, Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware. The former is currently listed as questionable due to back soreness. On the first leg of a back-to-back, there’s a decent chance the All-Star sits out. Should that occur, Ware should enjoy an even more productive stat line.
The Indiana alum has been terrific this year, recording 12.2 points and 10.7 rebounds on just 24.5 minutes per game. If not for Adebayo, Ware would surely receive more consistent playing time. Still, when he does take the floor, opponents need to pay attention. That’s especially true on the glass; the center has snagged 10+ boards in four of his previous five outings. Tonight, the Heat will take on a short-handed Atlanta squad. The Hawks have given up 54.2 rebounds per game, tied for the 11th-worst mark in basketball. To make matters worse, Kristaps Porzingis (illness) remains sidelined. With or without Adebayo, Ware is poised for another stellar rebounding performance.
