NBA Player Prop Bets, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (3/12)
Welcome to another day of basketball as we are deep into the NBA season with the All-Star break behind us. If you're joining us for the first time, welcome. It's been a great year, and I hope we continue that trend as we look to the playoffs. We have a nine-game slate tonight, so we have plenty of options for player props.
As always, monitor injury news and lineup announcements. The best way to stay sharp regarding NBA player props is by staying on top of the news. The second-best way is to shop around at different sportsbooks. Player props rarely have identical odds across platforms, so ensure you get the best value. Let's get to it.
Unless specified otherwise, each bet will be for a single unit.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA Player Prop Bets
Last Time: 3-0 | Season: 119-85 | Odds Courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
Lauri Markkanen Over 24.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
The Memphis Grizzlies quickly became my go-to team when betting on opponents’ player props. No team has allowed more combined points + assists + rebounds to opposing small forwards in the last 30 games than the Grizzlies. That's because their pace is absolutely breakneck. The total of this game is at 243 and rising.
Memphis may be a big favorite, but since the All-Star break, their defense has ranked in the bottom 10 in the league and it's only gotten worse as the season has progressed. Zach Edey is questionable, which helps Lauri Markkanen down low.
You'd think the books would adjust for the up-tempo game here, but Markkanen has covered this spread in 58% of his games this year. Of course, the elephant in the room is his lower back injury, but he's expected to be back. With so many possessions, even if he is limited a bit beyond his normal 32 minutes a night, he can get there on this combo prop.
Jayson Tatum Under 44.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds (-115 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Jayson Tatum is another player questionable tonight. The Boston star is dealing with a lower-body injury that caused him to miss his last game. Even if he is back at full health tonight, I'm still riding the under. Oklahoma City has allowed the fewest points to opposing small forwards in their last 15 games and consistently ranks as the best defense in the league.
I know the Celtics’ lineup is changing, but Tatum has only covered this line in five of the last 15 games. Yes, this is a pace-up spot but the total is 227 and I trust the Thunder defense to travel. Even if the injury isn't limiting, which there's a fair chance it is, Oklahoma City is going to be too much to handle for the star who has made me the most money among any NBA player in my betting history.
Max Christie Under 19.5 Points + Rebounds (-105 at ESPN Bet)
Sometimes you trust the projections, and this is that. The BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet judges this as one of the best bets of the day, projecting Max Christie closer to 15 on the combo points + rebounds prop. He hasn't covered this prop once in his last five games, and I don't think that's changing today.
Despite playing 34 minutes a game, he's only averaged 11 points a game with under four boards. The Spurs are an easy team to bet the over against, but this is too much. Call me crazy but in the last 30 games, the Spurs have allowed the fifth-fewest points to opposing shooting guards. I'm comfortable riding the under.
Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.