NBA’s Friday night card features a glimpse into the future when Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks host Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans. The slate also features a meeting between two of the best in the Association with the Milwaukee Bucks playing the Utah Jazz. Here are a few NBA player prop predictions to consider Friday.
Friday’s NBA player prop bet predictions
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Washington Wizards PG Russell Westbrook UNDER 24.5 points (-115)
The New York Knicks head to the nation’s capital to take on the Bradley Beal-less Wizards, which allows New York’s fifth-rated defense to focus its energy on bottling up Westbrook.
The price for Westbrook’s points prop is out of whack because it figures Washington’s offense will run through the former scoring champion.
However, Westbrook has gone Over 23.5 points in only three of his 15 games played this season and New York does a good job defending point guards.
The Knicks allow the 10th-fewest points per game to point guards and the second-fewest 3-pointers and if Westbrook settles for threes that’ll be in New York’s best interest.
Westbrook is having his worst shooting year since his rookie season and is averaging fewer than 20 points per game for the first time since his second season.
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Los Angeles Lakers SF LeBron James OVER 3.5 turnovers (-140)
The Memphis Grizzlies stop by Staples Center Friday for their final regular-season meeting with the Lakers and James faces a feisty Grizzlies defense.
You know the saying, “to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs”? Well, that’s the explanation behind LeBron being sixth in the league in turnovers per game (3.7), since he’s always running the Lakeshow (seventh in usage rate (31.4)).
Creating havoc defensively is where Memphis specializes. The Grizzlies defense has the second-highest turnover percentage and forces the most turnovers per game vs. opposing small forwards.
Also, LeBron is averaging 4.3 turnovers per game and has gone over 3.5 turnovers in seven of his eight games against Memphis since joining the Lakers.
Also see: Grizzlies at Lakers odds, picks and prediction
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Portland Trail Blazers PF Carmelo Anthony OVER 14.5 points (-115)
The Trail Blazers play the second of a back-to-back against the Cleveland Cavaliers and this is a good spot for Anthony to get buckets. ‘Melo is averaging 18.4 points per game on .478/.542/.867 shooting over his last five games.
Cleveland’s bigs are elite but the Cavs struggle against stretch fours, which is essentially how Anthony is being used. The Cavs give up the most points per game to power forwards and allow the highest field-goal and 3-point percentages.
Plus, Trail Blazers PG Damian Lillard is playing at an MVP-caliber so his gravitational pull on defenses inherently creates open looks for his teammates. ‘Melo will be one of the benefactors of said gravitational pull as his usage has been pretty steady in recent games.
Also see: Cavaliers at Trail Blazers odds, picks and prediction
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