- Five NBA games are scheduled for Thursday night
- There’s a playoff rematch between the Bucks and Nets, and the Jazz look to end a losing streak against the Lakers
- Read below for the latest NBA player props and best bets
Starting off with the Sixers against the Pistons, Thursday night is going to shift the playoff standings in both conferences. Philly is unsurprisingly favored by 10.5 to take on Cade Cunningham and co. It’s a tighter affair when the Bucks visit the Nets for a 7:30pm ET tip off with Milwaukee priced as 1.5-point underdogs.
With Paul George back in action, the Clippers are just 3.5-point underdogs for their road game in Chicago. The night rounds out with the slumping Jazz against the LeBron James-less Lakers – Utah are 12-point favorites despite their recent losing streak.
NBA Player Props – March 31st
| PHI @ DET | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joel Embiid (PHI) | 30.5 (O -114 | U -108) | 11.5 (O -122 | U +100) | 3.5 (O +104 | U -128) | 1.5 (O +176 | U -230) |
| James Harden (PHI) | 21.5 (O -114 | U -108) | 7.5 (O +114 | U -140) | 9.5 (O -142 | U +116) | 2.5 (O +134 | U -172) |
| Tyrese Maxey (PHI) | 16.5 (O -106 | U -116) | 3.5 (O +128 | U -158) | 3.5 (O +110 | U -134) | 1.5 (O -136 | U +106) |
| Tobias Harris (PHI) | 15.5 (O -106 | U -116) | 6.5 (O +118 | U -144) | 2.5 (O -138 | U +112) | 1.5 (O +102 | U -130) |
| MIL @ BKN | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three Pointers Made |
| Giannis Antetokoumpo (MIL) | 31.5 (O -110 | U -110) | 13.5 (O -105 | U -115) | 5.5 (O +116 | U -142) | 1.5 (O +190 | U -250) |
| Khris Middleton (MIL) | 22.5 (O -106 | U -116) | 5.5 (O +118 | U -144) | 5.5 (O +120 | U -148) | 2.5 (O -138 | U +108) |
| Jrue Holiday (MIL) | 19.5 (O -102 | U -118) | 4.5 (O -104 | U -118) | 7.5 (O +118 | U -144) | 2.5 (O +152 | U -196) |
| Kevin Durant (BKN) | 29.5 (O -108 | U -114) | 7.5 (O +116 | U -142) | 5.5 (O -130 | U +106) | 2.5 (O +106 | U -136) |
| Kyrie Irving (BKN) | 26.5 (O -110 | U -110) | 4.5 (O +118 | U -144) | 5.5 (O +114 | U -140) | 3.5 (O +114 | U -146) |
| LAC @ CHI | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three Pointers Made |
| DeMar DeRozan (CHI) | 26.5 (O -106 | U -116) | 5.5 (O -105 | U -115) | 4.5 (O +126 | U -154) | 0.5 (O -104 | U -122) |
| Zach LaVine (CHI) | 23.5 (O -104 | U -118) | 4.5 (O +110 | U -134) | 3.5 (O -144 | U +118) | 2.5 (O +108 | U -138) |
| Nikola Vucevic (CHI) | 19.5 (O -102 | U -120) | 10.5 (O -114 | U -106) | 2.5 (O -110 | U -110) | 1.5 (O +124 | U -160) |
| Alex Caruso (CHI) | 7.5 (O -106 | U -116) | 3.5 (O -138 | U +114) | 3.5 (O -105 | U -115) | 1.5 (O +180 | U -235) |
Odds as of Mar 31 at FanDuel Sportsbook
While he has fallen to a distant third in the latest NBA MVP odds, Giannis Antetokoumpo is still rewarded with the highest points line of Thursday night at 31.5.
Flat-Track Harden Dominates Pistons
James Harden has been inconsistent since joining the Sixers. He still looks a step slow, and is lacking the burst to score as efficiently as earlier in his career. Harden still dropped 32 and nine on the Bucks last time out, though, and is only a couple of games removed from a 29 and 15 performance against a usually solid Clippers defense.
There have been embarrassing big-game performances up against the Nets and Suns. Harden, however, has generally been able to compile stats when facing weaker opposition, including a recent 24 and seven outing when facing the lowly Lakers.
While the former MVP’s usage is down at 25% as a Sixer, he’s still getting to the free throw line at a prolific rate, averaging 9.9 attempts from the stripe per game. He’s up at 23 points and almost 10 assists per contest in a Philly uniform.
Detroit is 11th in defense since the break, but this is still a favorable matchup for the beard. The Pistons foul more than any team in the league. Harden has passed this points and assists line in six of his last nine – he’s a good bet to do so again.
- Pick: James Harden over 31.5 points and assists (-115)
2022 NBA Playoffs Bracket: Projected Seedings, Matchups and Schedule
Underrated Holiday Keeps Contributing
Just quietly going about his business, Jrue Holiday has had another stellar season. He’s averaging 7.5 assists and 20.4 points per game since the break, and has the advantage of facing a Nets defense which ranks 25th across the same span. Brooklyn’s perimeter rotation isn’t exactly renowned for its defense either.
The points and assists line of 26.5 is on the low side. The former Pelican has passed this in each of his last three and eight of his last 13 outings. Milwaukee’s attention will be on slowing down Giannis Antetokoumpo, and as is so often the case, Holiday is able to benefit from more favorable matchups. He can use his strength and size against Brooklyn’s smaller guards to score himself or create for others.
Cade Cunningham dropped 34 and six against the Nets. Before that, it was LaMelo Ball with 33 and nine. A couple of games prior, De’Anthony Melton and Desmond Bane had big nights.
There’s no question Brooklyn is vulnerable to perimeter talent. Holiday might not put up the flashiest line of the night, but we like his chances of hitting this over.
- Pick: Jrue Holiday over 26.5 points and assists (-108)
The post March 31 NBA Player Props – Over/Unders & Thursday Picks for Nets vs Bucks, Lakers vs Jazz appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
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