Best NBA Player Prop Bets: Avoid Being an April Fools’ (Archive)
Friday is April Fool’s Day, but we aren’t kidding around when it comes to betting on the NBA’s 10-game schedule. Here are three NBA prop picks for the night via BetOnline, one of BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks.
Detroit Pistons vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday, April 01, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at Paycom Center
Theo Maledon
- Over/Under 29.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists
This game is utter trash and in fact, both should TRY to lose. Why? To finish with one of the three-worst records in the NBA and thus the best chance (equal to the three-worst teams) of winning the draft lottery.
Detroit does have the third-worst currently at 21-56 with Oklahoma City fourth-worst at 22-54.
The Pistons are actually playing pretty well of late and have been an against-the-spread machine for weeks.
The Thunder have completely thrown in the towel and already have ruled a few guys out for the season, including star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Someone has to put up points, rebounds, and assists tonight, and that will be Frenchman Theo Maledon, a second-round pick in 2020.
His numbers are actually down across the board from his rookie season, but Maledon has become the clear top guy with Gilgeous-Alexander and Tre Mann (not officially done for the season but will not play again Friday) out.
In the past four games, Maledon is averaging 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. If he simply hits those numbers, we are going over 29.5.
The Pistons are not a good defensive team, allowing 112.1 ppg and it’s also the second of a back-to-back for them, which usually means the defense suffers.
NBA Pick: Maledon over 29.5 P+R+A (-115) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Phoenix Suns vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Friday, April 01, 2022 – 08:00 PM EDT at FedExForum
Devin Booker
- Over/Under 27.5 Points
The tail end of the regular season is great in the NFL and Major League Baseball, but in many ways, it stinks in the NBA because teams are basically throwing away games to either rest guys for the playoffs or tank to improve their lottery position.
This NBA TV matchup between the Suns and Grizzlies should be must-see TV as they have the two best records in the league and could meet in the Western Conference Finals.
However, Memphis has basically said it doesn’t care about this one because it is locked into the No. 2 seed in the West.
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All-Star Ja Morant remains out legitimately injured, while Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Tyus Jones, and Steven Adams all are doubtful.
This prop pick has nothing to do with Booker himself, who is averaging 26.4 points on the season and averaged 30.1 points in March.
I simply don’t think Coach Monty Williams will leave him out there very long in a meaningless game – think about it: Memphis “accidentally” injuring Booker would hugely benefit the Grizzlies in the playoffs. The Suns could get up huge early and empty the bench.
NBA Pick: Booker under 27.5 points (-113) with BetOnline
Dallas Mavericks vs. Washington Wizards
Friday, April 01, 2022 – 07:00 PM ET at Capital One Arena
Kristaps Porzingis
- Over/Under 31.5 Points + Rebounds
It’s the first meeting between the teams since the Mavericks surprisingly traded Kristaps Porzingis to Washington for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.
The deal actually has worked out pretty well for both.
Dallas has been great since the trade. Washington hasn’t been great because it doesn’t have a ton of talent with Bradley Beal out (and now Kyle Kuzma as well), but Porzingis looks rejuvenated.
He’s averaging 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 13 games with Washington. If you add 21.8 points and 8.3 rebounds, that wouldn’t go over 31.5 points + rebounds.
However, the Wizards have been eliminated from contention for the play-in tournament so this game is all about Porzingis sticking it to his former team.
I fully expect the offense to run through him. The most shot attempts the Unicorn has had with his new team is 22 on March 25 when he scored 30 points in Detroit.
It wouldn’t shock me if he gets 25 or maybe even 30 shot attempts tonight. We will throw in the rebounds just in case.
Porzingis comes off a 35-point, eight-rebound game Wednesday in a win over Orlando.
NBA Pick: Porzingis over 31.5 P+R (-120) with 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.