Thursday features a modest three-game lineup of NBA contests, including a pair airing on NBA TV.
Here are four Thursday NBA props to consider at NBA betting sites for tonight’s action.
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Top Player Props for Thursday NBA Action
Kawhi Leonard Under 13.5 Points
We won’t blame you if you also think Leonard’s point total is curiously low. However, there are factors to consider.
The Clippers continue to treat Leonard with kid gloves, and he’ll be playing in the second leg of a back-to-back plus his third game in four nights. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see head coach Tyronn Lue ease the load on Leonard on Thursday.
Do you completely disagree? If you like Leonard’s chances of lighting up the scoreboard to a higher degree, FanDuel Sportsbook offers an alternate scoring line: +115 for Leonard to score 15-plus points.
Paul George Under 4.5 Assists
George is subject to some of the same load management tactics the Clippers apply to Leonard, and it’s worth wondering what his workload will look like after playing 32.5 minutes on Wednesday night. It’s also worth factoring the Clippers +5 line at FanDuel.
Sure, they’re playing on the road against a quality opponent, but it’s not as if the Miami Heat are clicking on all cylinders themselves. It’s not out of bounds to anticipate a relatively quiet night for the Clippers’ star duo.
Nikola Jokic Over 8.5 Assists
Jokic is averaging 8.8 assists in eight games since returning from a three-game absence. He hit Over 8.5 assists in four of those contests, and we like him to hit the mark again tonight.
While the Nuggets rank fifth in offensive rating, neither they nor the Blazers offer much defensive resistance. Neither team looks to push the offensive pace either. Jokic should have the opportunity to dictate the flow on the offensive side, and enjoy a high level of efficiency as well.
DraftKings Sportsbook is hanging a 227 total on this contest, so there should be a reasonable amount of scoring.
Damian Lillard Over 3.5 Three-Pointers
Lillard returned from a calf strain on Sunday to play 32 minutes and convert five attempts from beyond the arc. He hoisted 10 threes in that contest, right at his season average (10.1).
He’s only shooting 34.7 percent from three-point range on the season, but keep in mind he’s only played 12 games, and he struggled through a four-game stretch in November in which he only hit eight of 40 attempts from three (20%).
He’s had plenty of time to polish away lingering rust ahead of Thursday night’s contest, and we expect him to shoot a high volume of threes once again.
