With just two games left in the regular season, NBA betting can get squirrely at this time of the year. That's especially true for NBA player props with teams looking to rest key players before the postseason or shut them down with nothing left to play for.
That's why we're looking at teams who are out of contention since we have a better idea of what to expect. Let's cheer the guys trying to earn a roster spot and those who stat pad on bad teams, with our best free NBA player prop picks for Friday, April 8.
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NBA player props for April 8
Picks made on 4/08/2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
The odds widgets below represent the best odds currently available for each betting market at regulated sportsbooks.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Today’s best NBA player props
It's Getting Easier Being Green
The Houston Rockets keep losing but their young guard duo of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green continue to improve.
When the Rockets shut down Christian Wood, Eric Gordon, and Dennis Schroder at the end of March, it became apparent that those young guards would have to carry their offense. They've more than lived up to those expectations with Porter scoring 28 points per game and Green averaging 31.2 ppg over Houston's last five games.
The Raptors are a strong defensive team but will be missing their best defender in O.G. Anunoby for the fourth game in a row. That's good news for Green who has really stepped up since the All-Star break, averaging 21.9 ppg on 48/40/76 shooting splits.
The Over/Under on Green's points total tonight is set at a lofty 24.5 but the rookie has dropped at least 30 points in five-straight contests. He's also taken at least 23 field-goal attempts in four of those five games, so you know the volume will be there even if he isn't very efficient.
Pick: Jalen Green Over 24.5 points (-105 at William Hill)
Deni the Menace
The Knicks and Wizards have nothing to play for except pride when they clash tonight in the nation's capital, but with young players getting plenty of burn for both sides, it could end up being a pretty fun tilt.
New York will be without its two best rebounders in Julius Randle (9.9 rebounds per game) and Mitchell Robinson (8.6 rpg), while backup center Nerlens Noel (5.6 rpg) is also done for the season. That should mean a much easier time on the glass for the Wizards and forward Deni Avdija.
The ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Avdija has logged 70 minutes in the last two games, totaling 15 rebounds. The Wizards have shut down Kyle Kuzma for the rest of the season and will rest Kristaps Porzingis tonight. That should mean plenty of rebounding opportunities for Avdija who will likely slot into the starting lineup.
With the O/U on Avdija's rebounds total set at 6.5, a number he has surpassed in six of his last eight games, we're taking the Over.
Pick: Deni Avdija Over 6.5 rebounds (-130 at FanDuel)
Horton Hears a Who!
In case you missed the big news, the Lakers are going to be missing the playoffs. That makes it pretty likely that LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook (who are all listed questionable), are pretty unlikely to play in tonight's showdown with the Thunder.
Talen Horton-Tucker exploded for 40 points in their absence last night but don't forget to sell high when it comes to stock. The shooting guard's points, rebounds, and assists total for tonight is set at 34.5, which is extremely high when you consider that his assist and rebounding numbers are usually modest.
He hasn't logged more than five rebounds in any of his last 18 games and hasn't dropped more than three dimes in his last 14 contests, which includes three other games where he played at least 30 minutes.
In addition to last night, Horton-Tucker has logged at least 30 minutes in 12 other games since the start of December. He has an average PRA of 20.1 in those contests and his highest PRA total was 29.
Even with Horton-Tucker likely to get plenty of playing time tonight against a poor Thunder squad, we think he'll have a tough time eclipsing this lofty number.
Pick: Talen Horton-Tucker PRA Under 34.5 (-115 at Bet365)
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