With March Madness in full swing, the NBA slates will be a bit light over the next week. Here are our top NBA player props and best bets for Saturday are based on the best NBA odds.
Saturday’s eight-game slate features two early matchups (Denver Nuggets-New York Knicks, Orlando Magic-Los Angeles Clippers) that we won’t look at here. Instead, we’ll turn our attention to the evening’s six-game main slate.
The Toronto Raptors are huge home favorites, but can they can cover against the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves? Conversely, the Utah Jazz are modest home dogs, and they’ll look to steal a victory from the visiting Boston Celtics.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ backup point guard is in prime position to cash a plus-money player prop against the visiting Golden State Warriors, and we’ll be looking at a points, rebounds, and assists prop for the Sacramento Kings’ big man on the road against the Washington Wizards.
Here are our top NBA player props and best bets for Saturday (odds via BetMGM, DraftKings Sportsbook, WynnBet; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
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(odds via DraftKings)
This is my favorite bet of the night. We get a player who’s been blisteringly hot against a hated rival, playing at home, and plus-money odds. What’s not to love? Over the last two seasons, Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones has averaged 14.8 points, 3.5 boards, and 7.0 dimes when Ja Morant is unavailable. He’s produced a double-double in 10 of those 25 contests.
Jones has been in the starting lineup for each of Memphis’ last seven games, and he’s averaged 16.9 points, 4.7, rebounds and 7.7 assists, including his first career triple-double Friday night. Over those seven games, he’s double-doubled four times, and he should be fired up to do so again Saturday night. The Warriors have allowed the second most points to opponents on the road this season at 124.2, and Golden State has allowed the most assists per game on the road at 27.7. Lock this one in!
I’m feeling great about this one, too! The Kings’ big man has been electric this season, and his stellar play is a big reason the team is in the hunt for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference after years of mediocrity. Over his last six games, Sabonis has averaged 43.9 PRAs and totaled at least 41 five times.
Since the All-Star break, Sabonis has averaged 42.2 PRAs, and he’s posted a triple-double in four of his last six games overall. Sabonis went for 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists on Dec. 23 in his only other matchup with Washington this season, and we’re banking on him having another strong game.
Check out our NBA Finals odds and NBA MVP odds.
Things aren’t looking so good for Minnesota these days. There’s still no return date in sight for center Karl-Anthony Towns, and forward Anthony Edwards rolled his ankle in the first quarter of Friday’s matchup with Chicago. Ant Man didn’t return after he had to be helped off the court, and it’s unlikely he takes the court Saturday with such a quick turnaround.
Can Minnesota stay competitive with Toronto on the road down another superstar and following a double-OT loss to the Bulls less than 24 hours ago? That seems unlikely. The Raptors are a solid 21-14 against the spread at home this season, and the team has covered in three of five games when favored by at least 9.5 points at home.
Boston will play its fifth straight road game and second game of a back-to-back set Saturday against the Jazz. Boston has won three of four contests on its current road trip, but that includes a two-point win over Minnesota and a two-point loss to Houston. The Celtics certainly haven’t been dominating opponents, and the Jazz have been feisty at home this season.
Utah has covered in four straight, and the team is 8-1 ATS and 7-2 straight up as the home underdog. The Jazz have only been home dogs by at least 4.5 points twice this season, and they won both matchups against Denver and Philly. On the second night of a back-to-back, Boston could be missing Al Horford, and with Robert Williams still sidelined, Utah’s frontcourt of Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler could take full advantage of a favorable situation. We’ll take Utah to pull off the upset in Salt Lake City.
NBA best bets made 3/18/2023 at 11:45 a.m. ET.
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