With a week of NBA action remaining, contenders are scrambling to secure playoff positioning. That includes Saturday’s modest slate, pitting six teams across three games. The headliner is a marquee matchup between the Spurs and Nuggets this afternoon. At night, the shorthanded Pistons battle the 76ers in a potential playoff preview.
Which players should bettors be targeting today? Here are my two favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Saturday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Pelle Larsson 15+ points (-131)
Norman Powell (illness) is out for tonight’s contest, leaving Miami without one of its best players. In the All-Star’s absence, an expanded role has been granted to Pelle Larsson. The former college standout at Arizona has taken some time adjusting to the pros. However, the second-year pro has put together a solid season in South Beach. Through 66 games, he’s averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 50% from the field. The wing has notched at least 15 points in each of his last three appearances.
The Heat, while inconsistent, are angling for improved Eastern Conference play-in positioning. That’s far more than the rebuilding Wizards have to play for at the moment. When these two clubs last played, Bam Adebayo dropped a historic 83 points. Safe to say, this is one of the worst defenses in recent NBA history. Washington is allowing 124.3 points per game to opponents, second-worst in the association. There’s a decent chance the team is without rim protector Alex Sarr (toe) as well. Even if this one becomes a blowout, the 25-year-old Larsson should garner at least 30 minutes from head coach Erik Spoelstra. Another productive outing for the youngster shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Stephon Castle 9+ assists (+106)
Victor Wembanyama is San Antonio’s best player, but Stephon Castle is the engine that keeps this offense humming. The reigning Rookie of the Year has taken his game to new heights this season, emerging as an elite playmaker. Over 65 outings, he’s accounted for 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game. That last mark is good enough for seventh-best in the NBA. As a unit, the Spurs rank fifth in basketball with a 118.6 offensive rating. With defenses honing in on his seven-foot teammate, Castle usually has ample room to operate.
The UConn alum has been a willing passer, especially as of late. Castle has notched at least nine assists in seven of his last ten matchups. On four of those occasions, the 21-year-old didn’t even log 30 minutes due to a commanding Spurs lead. That’s unlikely to be the case this afternoon against a contending Nuggets squad. Still, even if this one gets out of hand, Castle has shown he can put up numbers in a hurry. Denver is coughing up 27.5 assists per game to opponents, 11th-most in the NBA. Another standout performance is the expectation at this point.
