It’s trade deadline day! We’ve already had our fair share of shocking moves over the past 48 hours. Now, hoops fans wait with bated breath to see what unfolds this afternoon.
While the off-court headlines garner most of the attention, there’s still basketball to be played. Eight games between 16 teams make up Thursday’s NBA slate. Which names should bettors prioritize this evening? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Jalen Johnson 2+ three-pointers made (-130)
It’s been quite the month for Atlanta, one of the NBA’s most frequent trading partners. One player on the Hawks that has some job security is Jalen Johnson. The 24-year-old has emerged as an all-around threat, earning his first career All-Star Game selection. Through 47 games, the Duke alum is putting up 23.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists while shooting 50% from the field. JJ’s nine triple-doubles rank second in the NBA, behind only Nikola Jokic (17).
Johnson has improved in a number of different categories this season, including his long distance shooting. The forward has notched a career-best 36% three-point percentage, attempting 4.7 shots per game from beyond the arc. Tonight, Atlanta takes on the NBA’s worst defensive unit. In spite of their trade for Jaren Jackson Jr., the Jazz are still human turnstiles. This season, Utah is giving up the most points (126.9) and three-pointers made (15.8) per game. When these teams last met in November, Johnson drained four treys. It’s fair to assume he can reach half of that total tonight.
Jalen Smith 13+ points (-113)
The Bulls have been a busy shopper as well, dealing away several high-profile names. That includes shipping off Nikola Vucevic to Boston. As a result, Jalen Smith is next in line to take over at center. The sixth-year pro has done a solid job coming off of the bench for Chicago this season. Over 42 appearances, he’s posted 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds. That’s despite averaging around 20 minutes per game. Equipped with a bigger role going forward, Smith could become a nightly double-double threat.
Thursday presents an ideal spot for Chicago’s big man. The Raptors remain without starting center Jakob Poeltl (back). Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles has done an admirable job down low, but he’s a bit undersized at 6’7″. Smith, a multi-faceted scorer, can do damage inside the paint or from the outside. The veteran has notched at least 13 points in five of his last six contests. Toronto’s defense is solid, but this is more about a lack of internal competition. The list of Bulls that won’t suit up tonight is lengthy. Smith has shown he can reach this total off the bench. As a primary option on offense, he’s poised for an even better performance.
Moussa Diabate under 9.5 rebounds (-103)
The up-and-coming Hornets are headlined by the backcourt duo of Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball. However, don’t overlook some of their lesser-known frontcourt pieces. Charlotte is hauling in 55.9 rebounds per game, fourth-most in the NBA. Key to those efforts is big man Moussa Diabate. The fourth-year pro has hauled in 8.5 boards per game this season. In addition, he’s taken control of the starting center job from rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner.
With that being said, tonight’s matchup presents some potential challenges on the glass. Houston, even with Steven Adams injured, excels at boxing out their opponents. The Rockets are allowing 49.5 rebounds per game, third-fewest in the association. In addition, their glacial pace on offense limits overall possessions for both sides. Diabate has failed to record double-digit boards in three of his last ten outings. The odds are against him reaching that mark on Thursday.
