Best Bets on Today’s NBA Player Props Market
The NBA slate for Wednesday, March 8th is absolutely loaded, so we’re here to point you in the right direction on the betting market. VSiN already has you covered with moneylines, spreads and totals elsewhere, but we’re looking specifically at player props in this column. Keep reading to find out how we’re betting on Marcus Smart, Evan Mobley and Russell Westbrook, with the help of one of our favorite tools.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on March 8
Here are our favorite NBA prop bets for Wednesday, March 8 (odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook):
Portland Trail Blazers at Boston Celtics (-10, 231.5)
Marcus Smart has taken a step back as a playmaker since returning from his injury in February, but it’s hard to envision that lasting all that long. Smart is averaging 6.7 assists per game for Boston, and he has had eight games in which he has recorded at least 10 assists this season. This is a guy that is good at setting up his teammates, so it’s only a matter of time before he finds that part of his game again.
This matchup is one in which Smart really should regain his playmaking chops a bit. The Blazers are giving up more assists per game than all but three teams this season, and this game also happens to have a very high point total. If Smart can’t take advantage of this very opponent, this might be a prop we’ll avoid the rest of the way. But according to our Daily Prop Analyzer, the Over has hit in 32 of the 49 games that Smart has started with an assist total of 5.5. With that said, we’re feeling pretty good about it.
Bet: Smart Over 5.5 Assists (+125)
Cleveland Cavaliers (-2, 215.5) at Miami Heat
Evan Mobley has taken his game to another level offensively over the last few months, as the second-year big man has scored at least 16 points in 19 of his last 25 games. Tonight, we’re counting on the 21-year-old to do exactly that in a meeting with the Heat.
There’s no denying that Miami can be extremely difficult to score on, as the Heat are now up at fifth in the league in defensive rating this season. And center Bam Adebayo is a big reason for that, and he’s the one that will be defending Mobley in this one. But Mobley scored 19 points when he faced Adebayo and the Heat on January 31st. And overall, the big man has had some big offensive performances against better defenses than Miami’s — including a 25-point outburst against the Celtics on Monday.
It’s just hard not to back Mobley’s Over with the way he’s playing right now. He averaged 19.2 points per game in February, and this new increase in shot attempts doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. Mobley has also gone Over on his point total in 39 of the 65 games he has started this year, according to our Daily Prop Analyzer.
Bet: Mobley Over 15.5 Points (-115)
Toronto Raptors at Los Angeles Clippers (-3, 229)
The Clippers said that they were going to let Russell Westbrook be Russell Westbrook and they have stayed true to their word through six games. Westbrook is playing 31.7 minutes per game since getting to the Clippers, which is up from the 28.7 minutes per game he was playing with the Los Angeles Lakers. And the point guard has been getting a lot of on-ball opportunities, despite playing on a team that is loaded with talent.
The beauty of Westbrook seeing extended minutes on a nightly basis is that he’s a fun player to bet on the player props market. And this evening, we’re playing the Over on his turnover total. Westbrook has had at least four turnovers in five of the six games he has played with the Clippers, so it’s a little odd seeing plus-money odds on him to do it again.
The Raptors also happen to be a nightmare of a matchup for Westbrook, as Toronto is averaging 9.2 steals per game this season. That’s the highest mark in all of basketball, so the team’s lengthy wings might give Westbrook a little trouble tonight. When he was with the Lakers, Westbrook had five turnovers against this team on December 7th.
Bet: Westbrook Over 3.5 Turnovers (+110)
Did you know that you can parlay these three picks together at +783 odds? Try out our VSiN Parlay Calculator HERE!
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