Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Giannis Boards Up for All-Star Break

It’s the final day of NBA action before the All-Star break, so that means one more opportunity to clean up in the player prop market for the next few days.

Today we look at a pair of point guard props who may have some added responsibilities tonight and then we identify a prop to bet in the matchup of the night as Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks host Joel Embiid and the 76ers.

Check out our NBA player prop picks for Thursday, February 17, as we bank on some of the NBA's best to do their thing.

NBA player props for February 17

• Lowry Over 2.5 made threes (+115)
• Brunson Over 17.5 points (+100)
• Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds (+110)

Picks made on 2/17/2022 at 12:15 p.m. ET. The odds widgets below represent the best odds currently available for each market at regulated sportsbooks.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Today’s best NBA player props   

Feeling the Heat

Despite the fact they are the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference and rank sixth in net rating, the Miami Heat seem to be a little overlooked as we head into the second half of the season. The Heat just saw their five-game winning streak snapped but will look to enter the All-Star break on a high note when they visit the Charlotte Hornets tonight.

While the buzz around the Hornets’ offense is for real, their defense looks like it’s stuck in honey, particularly on the perimeter. Charlotte allows the second-most 3-point attempts per game in the NBA while ranking 22nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. That’s not exactly a recipe for success when facing a Heat team that ranks third in shooting from long range.

Now, Jimmy Butler is questionable for this matchup and Tyler Herro is still out with a knee injury. That means a bigger piece of the shot pie for Kyle Lowry. The Heat point guard is finding his footing after missing nine games for personal reasons.

Lowry is shooting a crazy good 54.5% from beyond the arc over his last five games and has nailed three or more threes three times over that stretch. Lowry loves to pick up his teammates when he needs to, so you can expect him to try to take advantage of this matchup against the Hornets and jack up a few more shots in this one.

Pick: Kyle Lowry Over 2.5 made threes (+115)

Luka's Running Mate

Ever since Tim Hardaway Jr. went down with a foot injury, Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson has been proving he can be a strong running mate for Luka Doncic. He’ll look to keep rolling when the Mavericks visit the New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

Hardaway has missed the last 10 games for the Mavs and Brunson has really picked up his game in the meantime. Brunson has increased his scoring output from his season average of 16.1 points per game to 18.2 over that stretch. He is also shooting an impressive 51.1% from the floor, including a ridiculous 47.5% from 3-point range.

While it’s likely Brunson can’t keep up that shooting percentage forever, the matchup with the Pelicans sure doesn’t hurt. New Orleans ranks 20th in defensive rating this season and 27th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage while allowing the fifth-most points per game in the NBA.

With Doncic likely getting his usual bulk of the attention from the Pels’ defense, backing Brunson to go Over his point total of 17.5 — a number he has eclipsed seven times in that 10-game stretch and six times in his last seven games overall — looks like a solid bet here.

Pick: Jalen Brunson Over 17.5 points (+100)

MVP Board Meeting

Two of the betting favorites to win the NBA MVP award face off on Thursday night when Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. 

It's Embiid who sits on top of the NBA MVP odds table thanks to an incredible run since the middle of December that has seen him average 33 points per game on 51.9% shooting while grabbing 11.2 rebounds per game. 

But while Embiid is putting up big numbers, the Sixers as a team are starting to struggle in one area. On the boards. Philly now ranks 26th in the NBA when it comes to rebounding percentage and 21st in opponent rebounds per game. And I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Antetokounmpo is a pretty darn good rebounder.

The Greek Freak is averaging 11.3 rebounds per game this season and has pulled down double-digit boards seven times in his last 11 games. And in his lone game against the Sixers this season, Antetokounmpo grabbed 16 rebounds.

Getting plus-money on the Over 10.5 for Giannis’ boards makes this bet is the icing on the cake. Bet on him to have another big night on the boards for this awesome Eastern Conference clash.

Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 rebounds (+110)

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