Bryan Armetta picks three NBA player props to back for Thursday night.
Basketball is finally back! With so much uncertainty over playing time and team fit, it’s difficult to pin down a winning player prop right now. However, uncertainty creates opportunity. If you look close enough, there’s value to be had in the NBA betting market, even at this early point in the season.
While four games doesn’t give us much to work with, there’s still a few savvy plays on Thursday’s slate. Here are three prop bets to start the weekend in style.
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While the price is steep on this line, I’m not going to be a prisoner of the moment. In case you missed it, the Celtics had one of the greatest shooting performances in NBA history. In their 132-109 win over the Knicks, Boston nailed a record-tying 29 three point shots, with six of them coming from Derrick White.
While I have no doubt over White’s shooting ability, two straight games with more than four treys is simply elite. Last season, he averaged 2.7 makes on 40% shooting. Those numbers, while fantastic, are not in the Curry realm as far as volume. For all their flaws, the Wizards allowed 12.28 three pointers per game last season, eighth-best in basketball. There’s also a scenario where this game is over by the third quarter, which would give Boston’s starters plenty of rest.
The Spurs are a difficult team to figure out. While the roster underperformed mightily last season, they went out and acquired some intriguing veterans and rookies to surround Victor Wembanyama. That includes Harrison Barnes, who spent the last six seasons with the Kings. Although he’s never excelled at any given facet of the game, there is one thing the former NBA champ does well: score the basketball.
That’s perfect for the Spurs, who need scoring badly with Devin Vassell injured. Outside of Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson (who might not even start) and Chris Paul, nobody on this roster has ever averaged more than 15 points per game over a full season. Greg Popovich and San Antonio’s front office finally seem committed to winning games, which should leave a hefty workload for the veteran Barnes.
‘Mixed’ is the best way to describe fan reaction to the Nuggets signing Russell Westbrook to a two-year deal this offseason. Despite being a future Hall of Famer, Russ’ lack of shooting and waning athleticism makes him a tricky fit in the modern NBA. Still, Westbrook does contribute in other ways, as he averaged 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in a reserve role with the Clippers last season.
With that in mind, Thursday’s line doesn’t seem so daunting. Denver’s rotation is thin, so finding 20+ minutes for Russ shouldn’t be much of an issue. Westbrook’s former team, the Thunder, played at the eighth-fastest pace in the NBA last year, which should lead to plenty of possessions tonight. I’d back the former MVP to have a solid showing off the bench.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is barmy) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
