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NBA Player Props & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Predictions for Thursday

Zachary Hanshew

Last Updated: February 22, 2024 4:14 PM EST • 4 min 50 sec read.

Best bets today from around the NBA.
Best bets today from around the NBA.

Our NBA player props and best bets for Thursday based on the best NBA odds are targeting a handful of combo props for Nikola Jokic and others.

In the first day back from the NBA All-Star break, the Association has gifted us a monster 12-game Thursday slate featuring some of the biggest starts in the sport.

Combo props for centers provide the best value, and we’re eyeing four. Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons face the Indiana Pacers’ generous frontcourt defense, and Precious Achiuwa will look to continue his dominant run when the New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers.

Andre Drummond could be in line for an expanded role with the Chicago Bulls due to injuries, and he’ll seek to provide some significant production against the Boston Celtics. Finally, we’ll look to MVP favorite Nikola Jokic as his Denver Nuggets host the Washington Wizards in what could be the most favorable matchup of the night.

Here are our NBA player props and best bets for Thursday (NBA picks based on odds via our best NBA betting sites; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Thursday’s NBA schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

Thursday’s NBA best bets

  • Jalen Duren Over 27.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Pacers (-115 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Precious Achiuwa Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. 76ers (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Andre Drummond Over 20.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Celtics (-105 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐
  • Nikola Jokic Over 49.5 points + rebounds + assists (-118 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Thursday’s NBA player props

Jalen Duren Over 27.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Pacers (-115 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fresh from a week off, Detroit’s young center gets one of the best matchups available for a big man when the Pistons head to Indiana on Thursday. The Pacers are allowing the most points in the paint per game at 60.2. They’ve been even more generous over their last three contests while surrendering 64.7 paint points. Indiana also gives up the 12th most rebounds to opponents at a healthy 51.9 per outing.

Duren went into the All-Star break with averages of just 7.5 points and 8.5 boards across 23 minutes in his last two games. However, he averaged 15.6 points, 15.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in the eight games before that while posting at least 28 PRAs five times during that span. He notched 13 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists at Indiana back in November, eclipsing this prop by two.

To sweeten the deal, he averages 28.9 PRAs on the road compared to 28.2 at home. We’ll take the Over and never look back.

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Precious Achiuwa Over 23.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. 76ers (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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“The Big Sneeze” has blessed New York’s frontcourt with 13.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 40.4 minutes over his last nine appearances. He’s started each of those games while landing in Tom Thibodeau’s good graces. OG Anunoby is set to be re-evaluated next week, Julius Randle has still not been cleared to practice, and Isaiah Hartenstein is dealing with an Achilles injury that may limit him. Achiuwa is in line for big minutes once again.

New York’s newest big man has eclipsed 24 PRAs six times over his last nine starts. He’ll get a favorable draw with a Philly team allowing the 10th most rebounds and the 12th most points in the paint. The Sixers’ defense just isn’t the same without Joel Embiid, and given his recent big minutes and production, Achiuwa is in a great position to succeed.

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Andre Drummond Over 20.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Celtics (-105 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

This one is the biggest stretch of our four props on Thursday, but it’s still quite an attainable number for Chicago’s backup big.

Drummond was averaging 11.6 points and 12 rebounds over his last five games before the All-Star break (two starts). He’s been great in nine starts, averaging 13.8 points and 17 boards. Torrey Craig sprained his knee over the break, and he’ll be out for at least two weeks. Patrick Williams is still out due to a foot injury, and Chicago’s frontcourt is ridiculously thin.

Drummond will get a chance to start alongside Nikola Vucevic in a jumbo starting five after posting at least 21 PRAs in 10 games off the bench.

Even better news for this prop? Drummond has averaged 13.9 PRAs in games played with Craig compared to 20.7 without him. The veteran is averaging 16.6 PRAs with Williams compared to 19.8 without him.

With both forwards out, he should feast during a matchup that’s not as scary as it may seem. Boston is middle-of the-pack in rebounds allowed. Give us the Over again.

Nikola Jokic Over 49.5 points + rebounds + assists vs. Charlotte (-118 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There are some favorable matchups on the slate, but there may not be a better one than riding with Jokic here.

The Wizards allow an Association-worst 57.3 rebounds to opponents per game. Washington gives up 58.8 points in the paint, which is second most. But the Wizards have coughed up an astonishing 70.7 paint points over their last three games.

Jokic has hit this mark in 23 of 53 games, and he posted a season-high 42 points at Washington on Jan. 21 to go with 12 rebounds and eight assists. Joker shouldn't struggle to cruise past this line while getting easy buckets and rebounds in the paint against Marvin Bagley III, Richaun Holmes, and Washington’s lackluster frontcourt rotation.

NBA best bets made 2/21/2024 at 8:50 p.m. ET

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Written By:
Zachary Hanshew
Zak is a lucky husband and blessed father of four. He’s been writing about sports since 2018 with prior stops at FantasyPros, RotoWire, and FantasyLabs. In addition to Sportsbook Review, you can find his work at NBC Sports Edge, Yahoo, and OwnersBox. When he’s not writing, Zak can be found playing the guitar, hanging out with his family, coaching his son’s basketball team, or laughing way too hard at old Simpsons episodes.