NBA Thursday player props: Fade Trail Blazers' forwards vs. Pacers

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What's the first thing normal people do the second they wake up? Do they stretch? Yawn? Open the blinds in their robe and greet the flock of birds that won't stop chirping?

I ask because I guarantee the last thing normal people do is throw the covers off with brute force and immediately check the Celtics-Jazz game to see how many threes Gordon Hayward hit. I am not normal.

With four games on tap for Thursday, we've picked as many player props to cover.

Carmelo Anthony under 16.5 points

Anthony has cooled down a bit in recent weeks while scoring fewer than 17 points in 11 of his last 15 outings. Additionally, he's been held to single figures in five of those contests. On Thursday, Anthony faces a Pacers defense allowing the fourth-fewest points per game in the league to power forwards.

Trevor Ariza under 1.5 made threes

I don’t mind fading Ariza alongside Melo. The Pacers are the league's best team at defending small forwards, allowing the fewest points and rebounds and the third-fewest assists per game to the position. Indiana also excels against small forwards on the perimeter while surrendering the seventh-fewest 3-pointers per game. This is a good number to pounce on for Ariza, who's attempted more than two triples just once in his last five games.

Domantas Sabonis over 37.5 points + rebounds + assists

While the Blazers' forwards will have their hands full on Thursday, the same can't be said for the Pacers' frontcourt. Portland allows the league's most points and the second-most rebounds to power forwards, setting up Sabonis for a big night. He's on a three-game double-double streak and should cruise to a fourth.

Steven Adams over 1.5 steals + blocks

We did it, folks. After coming up short on our first steals and blocks prop on Tuesday with Kyle Lowry's over, we cashed with Bam Adebayo last night against the Timberwolves. These are quite fun. I enjoy yelling at my television while wanting an opposing team to get the ball into the post, leading to opportunities for swats.

This is a solid play on Adams' steals and blocks against the Kings. The Thunder big man has been extremely active on the defensive end lately, recording 12 steals and nine blocks over Oklahoma City's last five games. He'll regress sooner than later, but don't pass up this number.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.