The NBA schedule hits the home stretch with about two weeks remaining before the playoffs.
That means primetime for NBA prop betting is coming to a close, as the NBA odds board will narrow to just those qualifying teams and books can really fine-tune those postseason markets, leaving little wiggle room for those shopping for value in the player props.
Until then, we make the most of a seven-game slate Sunday, giving our free NBA player prop picks for March 27.
NBA player props for March 27
Picks made on 3/27/2022 at 9:30 a.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
Smart choice
A non-conference clash between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Boston Celtics could end up being the most entertaining game on Sunday’s schedule, with a total ticking up close to 230 points. That means plenty of points to go around, many of which will be generated by Celtics guard Marcus Smart.
Smart has been very active in the offense the past four games, averaging 9.3 assists in that span, including a 13-assist effort in the win over Utah last Wednesday, and is dishing out eight assists per game in March – compared to a 5.4 in the first five months of the season.
Boston has enjoyed an extended break since that victory over the Jazz on March 23, giving time for Celtics superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to rest their respective knee ailments. Both players are probable for Sunday’s showdown with a Wolves team ranked dead last in assists per field goal allowed (0.653).
The game should also be played at a quicker pace than those four previous Boston outings, as Minnesota tops the league in tempo. That means more chances for Smart and the Celtics to connect for quicker buckets.
Pick: Marcus Smart Over 6.5 assists (-122)
Sunnyside up
Basketball bettors get a potential NBA Finals preview when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Phoenix Suns tonight.
Phoenix enters this matchup with NBA MVP frontrunner and interior terror Joel Embiid a little shorthanded in the frontcourt, with ailments sidelining forward Cameron Johnson (quads) and backup center JaVale McGee (illness). That means a smaller rotation for the Suns and more minutes for 6-foot-6 forward Jae Crowder.
Crowder’s contributions from beyond the arc will be big in stretching the Sixers' defense, finding himself on the receiving end of many spot-up opportunities as Embiid turns away players in the paint.
His 3-point shooting has waned a bit in March, but that has a lot to do with Phoenix’s road-heavy sked, putting the team on the highway for eight of the last 11 games. Crowder is shooting just 34.4% from deep and averaging 2.3 triples a contest in that span but shot a collective 41.7% from distance for 2.5 makes from outside over those three home games.
On the season, Crowder is much sharper inside the Footprint Center, connecting on 36.7% of 3-point attempts (versus just 32.9% away from home) and averaging two makes on 5.5 attempts. His player prop on 3-point buckets tonight is 1.5 – a mark he’s topped in five of his last six games overall, including four triples in the win at Denver on Thursday.
Pick: Jaw Crowder Over 1.5 made threes (-145)
Brooklyn Bridges
The Charlotte Hornets are making a late postseason push, having won six of their last nine heading into Sunday’s stop in Brooklyn. Versatile small forward Miles Bridges has been a big part of the Bugs’ success, stuffing the stat sheet during this stretch.
Bridges isn’t just getting the job done with scoring – he’s become the ultimate glue guy with peaking assist totals and solid work on the boards. Over the past seven games, Bridges has hauled down an average of 6.4 rebounds (a tick below his season average) but has dished out six assists a contest.
In his last matchup with the Nets, Bridges took on a bigger scoring role and finished with 30 points but had just three boards and three assists in a 132-121 home loss on March 8. He’ll draw extra attention from Brooklyn’s defense in this return matchup today, making him more of a facilitator.
His teammates LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier have the hot hand during this winning run, contributing 21 points or more per game in this stretch, so those passes won’t go to waste. As for rebounding, Brooklyn is still without veteran big LaMarcus Aldridge and running a small lineup, with Andre Drummond as the biggest body under the boards.
Considering the Hornets' tempo and Kyrie Irving’s injection of pace into the Nets lineup, there will be plenty of possessions and shots to help build Bridges' stat line.
Pick: Miles Bridges Over 10.5 rebounds + assists (-128)
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