Player props have become one of the NBA’s most entertaining ways to bet, offering value beyond the standard spread or total. Each night, this column highlights the best opportunities on the board — from points and rebounds to assists and combo lines — using matchup data, recent performance, and betting trends to find edges. Keep reading for the top NBA player prop picks for March 5. Also, make sure you check out our live VSiN programming for more. Our hosts and analysts will be all over the NBA, which is why it pays to be a VSiN Pro subscriber.
MORE: Check out the VSiN Pro Picks page for more bets from our talented hosts and analysts!
2025-26 NBA Record: 370-354 (+5.41 units)
Thursday Player Prop Best Bets
Below you’ll find my official plays on the player prop market for Thursday. These are the ones that make the VSiN Pro Picks page and count towards my season-long record.
Reed Sheppard Over 3.5 First Quarter Points (+135 – 0.5 units) vs. Warriors
Warriors at Rockets – 7:30 pm ET
This is a riskier play than I usually make, as there’s a chance Sheppard isn’t in the starting lineup. Ime Udoka recently said that he plans to go back to his original starters when his team is healthy, even with Sheppard giving this team a shot in the arm on offense lately. However, are we sure he’s telling the truth? Sheppard has scored at least 15 points in seven of the last 10 games, and his ability to shoot the ball gives this team court spacing that actually makes sense. Also, even if Udoka is telling the truth, do we know for a fact that the Rockets will be healthy tonight? Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun, three of the team’s normal starters, are listed as questionable. Well, if they’re without one or two of those guys tonight, Sheppard will likely be in the starting five. Then, you’re backing a player that has scored at least six points in the opening 12 minutes in four of the last five games — and you’re getting plus-money odds to do it. That said, I’m taking a small flier on this.
Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 Points (-107) vs. Pistons
Pistons at Spurs – 8:00 pm ET
Champagnie had 17 points in 36 minutes the last time the Spurs faced the Pistons, and that game was just a little over a week ago. Well, I’m not sure Champagnie will be seeing wildly different looks in this game, and I think this is another contest in which he’ll get at least 25 minutes. Harrison Barnes will be out for San Antonio here, meaning more minutes in the frontcourt for a bigger wing like Champagnie. The 24-year-old also happens to shoot higher percentages at home, and that last game was in Detroit. I just don’t see any reason he can’t get to 11 here.
RELATED: Check out our new live NBA in-game odds page!
Noteworthy OptaAI Player Prop Edges
Check out the OptaAI Player Props pages for more of these! VSiN Pro subscribers can find 50+ player prop ideas on a daily basis! We’ll list the top edges in some of the biggest markets below, but there will always be a lot more to uncover on the pages themselves.
Cody Williams Over 8.5 Points (+103) vs. Wizards
Our OptaAI player prop projections have him going for 11.43 points.
Justin Champagnie Over 5.5 Rebounds (-132) vs. Jazz
Our OptaAI player prop projections have him finishing with 7.54 rebounds.
Russell Westbrook Over 4.5 Assists (-151) vs. Pelicans
Our OptaAI player prop projections have him projected for 6.04 assists.
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