NBA Thursday player props: Tough spots for Zion, Dejounte Murray
Player props went 2-3 on Wednesday, but we're still a solid 9-6 heading into Thursday's six-game slate.
Here's what bettors should be dialed in on tonight.
Zion Williamson under 0.5 made threes
There's no margin for error on Williamson's 3-point total, but will it matter? He hasn't buried a triple in eight straight games, going 0-of-6.
The Pelicans as a whole haven't been too trigger-happy lately, either - only the Wizards have shot threes less frequently than New Orleans over the last seven games (28.7% rate).
The Magic are bottom 10 in the league in 3-pointers allowed per game to three separate positions (PG, SG, SF). The one spot they've been OK at covering this season has been power forward - there, Orlando's giving up the third-fewest points on the fifth-lowest shooting percentage in basketball.
Don't expect Williamson to get one to fall tonight.
Dejounte Murray under 1.5 made threes
Another player I'm fading from the perimeter is Murray, whose point-total under cashed for us last night.
Murray sank three triples in the loss to the Heat on Wednesday, but the Spurs' offense may generally struggle to pile them up in the second half of a back-to-back. San Antonio chucks threes at the lowest rate in basketball (32.4%) and ranks No. 28 in makes per game (10.4).
The Pistons, meanwhile, only surrender 11.5 per contest (No. 4 in the NBA) and give up the fewest threes to point guards.
After failing to hold Mavs floor general Luka Doncic under 2.5 made triples Wednesday, we'll hope Detroit's defense comes through for us in this spot.
Patrick Williams over 1.5 assists
One area where the Bulls haven't faltered without Zach LaVine is creating buckets off assists. Chicago clocks in at No. 6 in the league in assists per made field goal (0.629) and has been even better over the last three (0.719) without its star guard.
Williams has posted multiple dimes in three straight and draws a Hornets defense that gives up 5.1 per game to small forwards, the second-highest clip in the NBA. Overall, Charlotte's surrendering the second-most assists per made field goal, behind only the Raptors.
Coby White under 4.5 rebounds
Same game, but we'll fade Williams' teammate on the glass.
This number feels a tad inflated for White, who's brought down four or fewer rebounds in 10 of his last 11 starts. The Bulls rank in the bottom half of the league in total rebounds per game and White's been limited to three or fewer in his five career meetings with the Hornets.
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.