As we approach the end of the NBA regular season, star players are still trying to put up big performances for their teams—though not all of them are doing so successfully.
Tonight, I’ll examine three big names in their respective lineups and break down who will struggle and who should succeed in my NBA picks.
Let’s take a look at my best free NBA player props and NBA picks for Saturday, April 5.
Best NBA player props today
Anthony Davis Under 22.5 points (-115 at bet365) 
Anthony Edwards Over 35.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-120 at bet365) 
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 29.5 points (-110 at bet365)
NBA player props for April 5
Anthony Davis Under 22.5 points (-115 at bet365)
The Dallas Mavericks were hoping to get a healthier, more defensive-oriented team when they traded for Anthony Davis, but even that aspect hasn’t quite played out right for them.
Davis has only played six games for Dallas since the Luka Doncic trade, though he’s expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday night.
Davis has only scored 20+ points twice in his first six games with the Mavericks and will have a tough matchup tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Los Angeles Clippers held Dallas to just 91 points in the first game of their back-to-back on Friday.
The Clippers are a slightly smaller favorite than they were last night now that Davis is back in the lineup, but there’s no reason to think that Los Angeles won’t keep Dallas Under 100 points again, as it has in two of the three matchups between the teams this season.
The Clippers are second in the NBA in defensive rating and play at a controlled pace to boot.
All that adds up to a lack of scoring for the Mavericks, which means reduced numbers all around on the Dallas roster. That includes Davis, who I’m taking to hit the Under on his scoring prop tonight.
Anthony Edwards Over 35.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-120 at bet365)
The Minnesota Timberwolves are poised to crush the depleted Philadelphia 76ers tonight. That could mean a big night in the box score for a number of Minnesota players, including star Anthony Edwards.
Edwards has gone for 36+ combined points, rebounds, and assists in his first two games in April, both on the road.
Tonight, he gets the opportunity to make it three in a row against the Sixers, who were one of the worst defensive teams in the league, even when they had a healthy lineup.
Without Joel Embiid to slow down opponents, Philadelphia has seen its defensive results get even worse. The Sixers have allowed 124.4 ppg over their last 10 games.
Unsurprisingly, those have all been losses for them, as they’re simply not playing with an NBA-quality lineup right now.
Edwards is mostly known as a scorer, but also does a lot to facility the Timberwolves offense by averaging 4.6 assists per game, and is solid on the boards as well, averaging 5.8 rebounds. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to contribute in all three ways tonight and hit his combined prop total.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 29.5 points (-110 at bet365)
In a year where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a likely MVP season, and Nikola Jokic may average a triple-double, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has been slightly overlooked when it comes to discussions about the league’s elite players.
Giannis is averaging 30.4 points per game (not to mention 11.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists) and has scored 30 or more points in six straight games.
The Miami Heat will try to end that streak, and they have some tools that could help them. Miami has been a solid defensive squad all season long, posting a 112.1 defensive rating, and Bam Adebayo gives the Heat a strong presence at the rim that can help limit easy buckets for the opposition.
But Milwaukee has been on a scoring tear over the past week, averaging 127.7 ppg over their last three outings. And while Miami may be playing better as of late, they haven’t faced a scorer like Antetokounmpo in a while.
With the Bucks still fighting to earn the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, I expect another big performance from Giannis tonight.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
