We hit two NBA props Monday to close February and fully expect to hit all three on Wednesday’s schedule with NBA odds from BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review), one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, March 02, 2022 – 07:00 PM EST at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
LaMelo Ball
On Monday, we took Minnesota Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell over 29.5 points + rebounds + assists in Cleveland with the thinking that Russell would put up big offensive numbers because the Cavs’ two best guards, Darius Garland and Caris LeVert, were out and Russell wouldn’t have to focus much on defense.
The same thing applies here to Hornets All-Star LaMelo Ball. LeVert is for sure out, while Garland probably will be a game-time call. He has missed three straight games and eight of Cleveland's last 11 contests due to low-back soreness. I tend to doubt Garland plays and even if he does will not be 100%. Thus, Ball should put up big numbers barring foul trouble/injury/blowout.
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The Hornets have faced the Cavs three times this season and Ball is averaging 20.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. Again, though, he won’t be wasting as much energy defensively this time.
Ball is coming off a great February where he averaged 21.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.5 assists. He had 39 made three-pointers and shot 41.1% from deep as he was just one of eight players to shoot at least 40% from three-point range on 75 or more attempts in February. If Ball is hitting his three-pointers, he’s all but unstoppable.
NBA Prop Pick: Ball Over 31.5 P+R+A (-114) at BetOnline
New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Wednesday, March 02, 2022 - 07:30 PM EST at Wells Fargo Center
James Harden
This is the first game of an ESPN doubleheader, followed by Trail Blazers vs. Suns. Both are likely to be blowouts.
In fact, the likelihood that the Sixers will have this game in hand by mid-third quarter is why I’m going to lean under this total even though James Harden clearly has been re-energized by his trade from Brooklyn, where he was barely trying at the end.
In two games with the Sixers, the former MVP and scoring champion is putting up 28.0 points, 14.0 assists, and 9.0 rebounds per game. Philadelphia has outscored the Knicks and Timberwolves by 43.1 points per 100 possessions with Joel Embiid and Harden on the floor at the same time.
On Sunday, the 76ers won at the Knicks 125-109 and Harden had 29 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds. However, he also played 39 minutes and I expect something closer to 30 tonight with the Knicks likely not putting up much of a fight on the road and the Sixers having two much more important games up next (vs. Cleveland and Miami). This will be Harden’s home debut in a Philly uniform.
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"I feel good," Harden said. "It's my second game in damn near a month, but just my body feels great, man. Feels great. I haven't felt this way in a really, really long time. So just my pop, me getting to the rim, my extra step, feels really great. So just got to continue to work, continue to build my body and legs, and keep pushing."
NBA Prop Pick: Harden Under 43.5 P+R+A (-110) at BetOnline
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Wednesday, March 02, 2022 - 08:00 PM EST at Fiserv Forum
Jimmy Butler
On Monday, we picked two props involving Jimmy Butler against the Bulls: Under 37.5 points + rebounds + assists and over 6.5 assists. Our thinking was that Butler would score and rebound a bit less but serve as more of a facilitator against Chicago because Heat starting point guard Kyle Lowry was out.
We were half right. Sort of. Butler was well under the 37.5 total as he finished with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in the 112-99 victory. I have ZERO doubt that Butler would have gone over the assists had the game not been in hand – he only played 29 minutes.
The Heat is not blowing out the Bucks tonight and again Lowry is out for personal reasons. Butler is going to play probably at least 35 minutes – especially with Caleb Martin also in question – and might have to score and rebound a bit more against a championship-caliber team, so I’m staying away from the P+R+A combo but do like the over assists again.
Butler has seven games this season alone with at least 10 assists. Even better, we get this prop at a plus-number with the under at -154.
NBA Prop Pick: Butler Over 6.5 Assists (+118) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
