You want hoops? Look no further than Saturday’s ten-game, 20-team helping of NBA action. The stars will be out tonight, especially for teams with playoff stakes on the line. This evening, it’ll be the red-hot Lakers battling the Magic in central Florida. Elsewhere, the Heat hit the road against Kevin Durant’s Rockets. Other contending clubs such as the Thunder, Cavaliers and Spurs are all taking the floor as well.
Which players should you be backing ahead of today’s NBA contests? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
LaMelo Ball 20+ points (-118)
Charlotte has transformed its identity this season, going from a run and gun squad to a more defensively-minded group. Still, the Hornets possess an abundance of talented scorers. That includes franchise mainstay LaMelo Ball. Despite middling efficiency (41% FG), the guard remains capable of putting up serious numbers. Through 60 games, he’s averaging 19.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists. Post All-Star break, Ball’s scoring (20.3 PPG) and usage rate (32.1%) have seen a slight increase.
Tonight presents a golden opportunity for Charlotte’s entire roster to go off. The now-rebuilding Grizzlies are an absolute mess, especially on defense. In the second half of the season, Memphis has posted the NBA’s fourth-worst defensive rating (120.0). Ball has managed to record at least 20 points in five of his last seven appearances. Even if things get out of hand, the former All-Star should find a way to put up buckets in this one.
Victor Wembanyama 12+ rebounds (-135)
A 50-win Spurs juggernaut has been built around the otherworldly talents of Victor Wembanyama. What makes the former first overall pick so special is the number of different ways he can impact a game. Whether its taking over as a scorer or rim protector, The Extraterrestrial tends to make his presence felt. This season, the center is putting up 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game to go with 51/36/82 shooting splits.
On most nights, Wemby is a good bet; that’s especially true against an awful defensive unit. However, be careful what you wish for. The Pacers, in their current injury-depleted form, are so bad. That’s especially true in the front court, where they’ve allowed the second-most rebounds per game (56.1) to opponents. It’s not out of the question to assume this game is over by the fourth quarter. Regardless, Wembanyama has managed to dominate the glass in a hurry before. On ten different occasions this season, the Frenchman has snagged 12+ boards in less than 30 minutes. This double-double machine is poised for another stuffed stat line tonight.
UPDATE: Wembanyama (ankle) has been downgraded to questionable tonight.
Bobby Portis 23+ points + rebounds (-113)
It looks like Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) will be shut down for the remainder of the season. That leaves an already uninspiring Milwaukee roster without its clear-cut best player. Down low, expect Bobby Portis to handle an even bigger workload on both ends of the floor. It’s been another quality campaign from the 11-year pro. Over 66 matchups this season, the Arkansas alum has accounted for 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field.
Keep in mind, the majority of Portis’ statistics have been recorded while sharing the floor with Antetokounmpo. In 31 games played this season without the Greek Freak, he’s notched 15.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. Saturday’s opponents, the Suns, are dealing with a few major injuries. Center Mark Williams (foot) and forward Dillon Brooks (hand) are both sidelined. Phoenix is a middle of the road team in terms of rebounding with those two active. A slightly diminished presence on the glass could lead to a productive outing for Portis.
