Another must-watch NBA slate is on tap tonight, with eight games between 16 teams set to tip off. At 8:00 p.m., the Rockets travel to Atlanta for a date with the Hawks. Elsewhere, the first-place Pistons hope to add another win against the surprisingly competitive Suns. To cap things off, it’s a Western Conference Finals rematch between the Thunder and Timberwolves.
On this loaded slate, which players should bettors trust this evening? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Thursday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Paul George 16+ points (-110)
It was a blast from the past on Tuesday, as Paul George dropped 32 points against the Bucks. Performances of this caliber have been few and far between for the 35-year-old since joining the 76ers. This season, the forward is averaging 16.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists. To make matters worse, he’s delivered mediocre 42/39/86 shooting splits. With respect to his stellar showing vs. Milwaukee, PG-13 has left much to be desired in Philly.
As bad as things have been, this is still a future Hall-of-Famer. Perhaps Tuesday’s offensive output is a sign of things to come. It’s worth mentioning that the Sixers have gone up against some quality defenses over the past few weeks. Going forward, the opposition should get a bit easier. That includes tonight against the Kings. Sacramento is giving 120.8 points per game, fourth-most in the NBA. George, for all his flaws, can still exploit lackluster competition; expect another quality outing from the veteran.
Kevin Durant 6+ rebounds (-130)
An already short-handed Rockets squad was dealt yet another blow on Wednesday. Steven Adams is set to miss the remainder of the regular season as he undergoes ankle surgery. Houston, a team that prides itself on hard-nosed defense, will be without its most intimidating presence down low. As a result, others will need to pick up the slack on the boards. That includes Kevin Durant, who already does a little bit of everything. The former MVP has posted 26.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
Wednesday’s matchup presents an opportunity for the Rockets to dominate the glass. Houston will take on a Hawks club that has had its issues boxing out opponents. Atlanta is surrendering 54.6 rebounds per game, ninth-most in the association. To boot, starting center Onyeka Okongwu (face) is questionable to suit up. Durant has snagged six or more boards in eight of his last 13 games. KD should find a way to surpass this total on the road tonight.
Coby White 21+ points (-112)
To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Bulls are on track towards another play-in appearance. Few players represent this perpetually middling era of Chicago basketball better than Coby White. The guard is undeniably talented, but much of his production feels like empty calories for a team going nowhere significant. It’s been the case yet again this season; White is averaging 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. The 25-year-old has managed to shoot 45% from the field (37% 3PT).
Those are all perfectly fine numbers for a perfectly fine player. While it sounds like I’m down on White, the opposite is true. He’s the perfect under the radar pick for what should be a shootout tonight. The Bulls rank fifth in pace of play this season (101.2). Their opponents, the Heat, top the list (104.0). It’s no coincidence that Miami has allowed the sixth-most points per game (118.4) this season. White has been on fire recently, notching 21+ points in five of his last six contests. That bodes well for his chances at a similar performance on Wednesday.
