NBA Player Props and Best Bets: Kyrie Under and a Lakers vs. Timberwolves Parlay

The weekend has almost arrived, and I'm contributing to the building anticipation by sharing my favorite NBA player prop picks for Thursday's games.

The Detroit Pistons beat the Celtics by 20 points to cement their first eight-game winning streak since 2008. They won despite making eight fewer threes than Boston, largely because they scored 42 more points in the paint.

Meanwhile, Amen Thompson’s 25 points, nine rebounds, and five assists helped elevate the Houston Rockets to the fourth seed in the Western Conference thanks to a win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Here are my best NBA player prop bets for Thursday.

Additionally, be sure to check out our other NBA article, a game preview for the Denver Nuggets vs. Milwaukee Bucks matchup.

Best NBA Prop Bets for Thursday, February 27

Royce O’Neale Over 2.5 Threes

O’Neale is on a great stretch shooting the ball, going over in eight of his last 10 games and shooting 43.2 percent from beyond the arc in February. He also played 27.9 minutes per game this month and went 5-8 from three-point land the only time he faced the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Pels, meanwhile, are an unmitigated disaster defensively, allowing the third-most threes per game and 36.4 percent three-point shooting (22nd). Phoenix found some new life with its new starting lineup, and O’Neale is consistently getting open looks because of the attention that has to be paid to Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal.

Jaden McDaniels Under 1.5 Threes

McDaniels put up 27 points and 10 rebounds in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ improbable 25-point comeback overtime win in their last game, but somehow, he did not take or make a single three during that game. He’s now gone under this line in four straight and in six of his last eight games.

McDaniels, who was a pick of the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night, is only shooting 29.8 percent from three in February and 32.7 percent for the year overall. The Lakers are only 18th in made threes allowed per game over their last 10 games, although they held their opponents to 33.7 percent shooting (ninth) and kept McDaniels under in two of their three prior meetings.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Under 7.5 Points

The offseason acquisition of KCP looked like one of the best in the league, but it has fallen extremely short of that mark. The two-time champion only averaged 8.6 points per game and is down to 6.4 per game in February on 40/28/82 shooting splits, well below his career marks of 43/37/82.

Caldwell-Pope went under this line in six of his last eight games, although he scored nine points the last time he played the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 3. Golden State’s recent trade for Jimmy Butler means that Caldwell-Pope will likely be chasing either Steph Curry or Butler around the court, which means he’ll have less energy to pour into getting over his scoring total.

Christian Braun Over 5.5 Rebounds

Braun, a third-year player and first-time starter for the Denver Nuggets, grabbed eight rebounds in his last game, averaged 7.0 boards per game in February, and went over this line in eight of his last 10 outings. He now faces the Milwaukee Bucks, who rank 29th in rebounds allowed per game to opposing shooting guards. 

Milwaukee allowed the fifth-most rebounds per game overall and is in even worse shape on the boards without Bobby Portis available for action. Braun is playing heavy minutes as of late and clearly has the trust of his coach, and his recent box scores show there’s been an improved focus on the glass.

Kyrie Irving Under 5.5 Assists

The Dallas Mavericks are battered and bruised, and there aren’t all that many credible scoring threats for Irving to give assists to. That’s part of why he went under in four straight and in seven of his last 10 games. 

The Dallas Mavericks are preparing to face the Charlotte Hornets, who were blown out in historic fashion in their last three games. But as bad as the Hornets have been, especially on defense, Irving only managed three assists when he played them on Jan. 20 and will be less inclined to pass given who’s surrounding him.

NBA Same-Game Parlay (+315) at FanDuel

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers (-6)

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker 2+ Threes: He went over in nine of his last 13 games and in two of three meetings with the Lakers.

• LeBron James 8+ Rebounds: James beat this line in three straight and averaged 9.4 rebounds per game in February, while the Wolves will be without the injured Rudy Gobert.

• Austin Reaves 15+ Points: Reaves went over in 10 of his last 11 games and averaged 23.5 points per game in February, and the Wolves are undermanned.

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