Best NBA Player Props Today: Davis Sets Portland Ablaze

Prop bet #1: Road to Zion not paved

For most NBA players, putting up 21.6 points on 51.5% shooting would be a revelation, but those are just pedestrian numbers for Williamson.

Such is the life when, health permitting, you’ve been nothing short of devastating. Prior to injuries that shut him down a season ago, the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft was averaging 26 points on a blistering 60.8% from the field.

The good news is, it appears he’s more frustrated than anyone else. After New Orleans dropped its fifth straight game, a visibly distraught Williamson said he was doing his best to buy into the program and trust the process.

While the Pelicans did manage to top the Mavericks next game out and end that skid, Zion stayed subpar, finishing with 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting in 27 minutes of work as NOLA put up its highest point total of the year, winning 131-110.

That’s the fourth time in six games he’s scored 20 points or less, and the fifth time overall in the nine games he’s suited up this season. To put that into context, he went for 20 or less in just eight of 61 games a year ago.

That’s why these Zion Williamson odds a little surprising. The depleted Pelicans will be taking on a Denver team that holds opponents to 44.6% shooting from the field — the fourth-lowest rate in basketball — while limiting opponents to 106.3 points per game, a Top-5 mark.

Williamson will have to contend with another springy forward in Aaron Gordon, the size of Nikola Jokic, and length of Michael Porter Jr when he attacks the rim. 

His results haven’t been great this year, and at least on this night, it should be more of the same.

Zion Williamson prop: Under 24.5 points (-120 at DraftKings)

Prop bet #2: Brow bouncing back

The Anthony Davis experience can be both exhilarating and frustrating. Sometimes, the contrast can happen from one game to the next.

Take his all-world performance on Tuesday, where he went for 19 points, 11 boards, five assists, and six blocks in just 27 minutes of the Lakers' 134-107 romp over the Grizz.

The following night, AD mustered nine points on 3-for-9 shooting, nine rebounds, four blocks, and five turnovers in a blowout loss to the Kings.

Not only that, but Domantas Sabonis fed him his lunch, dominating the matchup of big men with 29 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.

Davis, who’s been battling a hip injury, matched his season-low for scoring when he went for nine against Miami. Now, he’s tasked with bouncing back in a big way.

The first time he got called out was opening night when he went scoreless in the second half against the Nuggets. He responded with back-to-back 30-point outings, and scored 26 or more in five straight.

After the Miami game, he did only score 18 points against the Suns, but he brought an all-around effort, with 11 rebounds and four assists in a 122-119 win.

His next opponent after that game? Friday’s opponent, Portland. Davis went to work, torching the Trail Blazers for 30 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks in a 116-110 win, a game where LeBron James was sidelined.

Even with LeBron in the lineup, I like the Anthony Davis odds of bouncing back in a big way against Portland.

Anthony Davis prop: Over 24.5 points (-111 at FanDuel)

Prop bet #3: Wack Siakam

We finish with a star somewhat lost in roster shuffle, the Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam.

He’s coming off a rough one, tallying just 11 points in a 128-112 loss to the Bucks, matching his season-low output when he notched 11 against Philly in the third game of the season.

Siakam has gotten off to a brutal shooting start from distance, hitting a lowly 24% from beyond the arc. Since going 6-for-15 in the first three games of the season, he’s gone on to hit six three-pointers in the next eight games.

Here’s the kicker: He has gone 0-fer in six of those games, a combined 0-for-23. One of those was in a game against the Celtics, who the Raps host Friday night. Siakam finished 6-for-17 from the field for 17 points. He missed all four of his 3-point takes.

Boston doesn’t make it easy on the opposition, defending the arc at a Top-10 rate, holding teams to 34.2%.

I would have loved to get Pascal Siakam odds at a 0.5 total. I mean, he’s gone four straight games without a 3-point hit, he has to break that seal at some point. 

But two? I’ll take the Under and collect, thanks.

Pascal Siakam prop: Under 1.5 3-pointers (-175 at DraftKings)