The inaugural NBA postseason play-in tournament continues Wednesday with a Western Conference doubleheader. Below, we’ll highlight the top NBA player prop predictions.
Technically, this is the first season of the play-in tournament, but the 9-seed Memphis Grizzlies are playing a play-in game for the second straight season. This time against the 10-seed San Antonio Spurs in the FedExForum at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Memphis was eliminated by the Portland Trail Blazers from the Orlando Bubble in last season’s postseason play-in game after the regular-season restart concluded.
Perhaps the biggest game thus far on the NBA calendar tips off afterward at 10 p.m. ET in the Staples Center when LeBron James and the 7-seed Los Angeles Lakers host Stephen Curry‘s eighth-place Golden State Warriors.
Wednesday’s NBA player prop bet predictions
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:45 p.m. ET.
Memphis Grizzlies PG Ja Morant OVER 20.5 points (-125)
There’s been a lot of noise in the basketball media this week about how last season’s Rookie of the Year Ja Morant needs to step up if Memphis is going to advance to the playoffs, and I think he comes through for the Grizzlies.
Morant has only eclipsed 20 points in one of the three Spurs-Grizzlies meetings this season with a 44-point eruption Dec. 23 and, in the other two meetings, he still shot efficiently but didn’t play much since both games were Memphis blowouts.
In fact, Morant is averaging 25.3 points per game on 68.2% true shooting (.620/.375/.846) this season vs. San Antonio, and Morant’s 130 offensive ratings against the Spurs is his highest of any Western Conference opponent.
Furthermore, the Spurs have struggled against point guards this season, allowing the fifth-most points per game and worst defensive field goal shooting (FG%) vs. opposing point guards.
BET Ja Morant OVER 20.5 points (-125) for 1 unit.
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Los Angeles Lakers C Andre Drummond UNDER 11.5 rebounds (-125)
In a must-win with the defending champion Lakers flirting with disaster, I cannot believe Andre Drummond will be on the floor long enough to grab 12 boards.
First, Drummond is averaging the fewest minutes per game since his rookie season. Also, we know that it takes time for LeBron to warm up to new teammates, and there have been instances where’s not warmed up to teammates at all.
Well, Drummond has only played four games with LeBron since joining the Lakers at the end of March, and there’s no guarantee he plays more minutes than Marc Gasol, who has a lot more big-game experience.
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Also, Drummond gets himself into foul trouble and he’s constantly benched because of this. For instance, Drummond is in the top-20 for personal fouls drawn for the seventh time in his nine-year career.
In fact, Drummond led the NBA in fouls in back-to-back seasons (2013-15), has been top-4 five times) and ranks 13th this season even though he’s missed 23 games.
BET Andre Drummond UNDER 11.5 rebounds (-125) for a half unit.
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