NBA Thursday player props: Breakout looming for Trae Young
There are seven games littered across the NBA board, and we have a handful of player props we're ready to fire on.
Here are the best bets for tonight's slate.
Trae Young over 24 points and 2.5 made threes
Young is a ticking time bomb waiting to go off at any moment. The third-year Hawks star's been held to 21 or fewer in three straight despite averaging 25.4 points per game this season and has combined to go 6-of-31 (19.3%) from deep across the last four.
Thursday could be when it all comes together for Young - the Spurs surrender the third-most threes per contest (3.36) and third-highest shooting percentage (47.22%) to point guards.
Bruce Brown under 5.5 rebounds
Brown will get an extended run for the short-handed Nets, who won't have Kevin Durant or James Harden available. Brown - a former Pistons second-round draft pick - is posting 21.4 minutes per game this season but has seen an average of 27 across his last three. A few of his totals appear a bit inflated, including his rebounding.
Brown's registered more than five boards just three times over his last 11 games. The Hornets are the best in the league at allowing rebounds to shooting guards, giving up just 5.17 per matchup.
Andrew Wiggins over 2.5 assists
The Warriors are logging a league-best 0.672 assists per made field goal this season. The Heat, their opponent Thursday, allow the fourth-most assists per made field goal in the NBA. The obvious look here would be Stephen Curry or Draymond Green over the total, but Wiggins is the best bet.
Not only has Wiggins cashed this total in three straight, but Miami also lets up 4.57 dimes per contest to small forwards - the fifth-highest clip in basketball.
Ivica Zubac under 8.5
Zubac's brought down nine or more rebounds in four straight, but Thursday's total's low for a reason: The Nuggets allow the fewest in the league per game to centers.
Denver's also generally done a great job on the glass this season, surrendering the third-fewest overall rebounds and ninth-fewest offensive rebounds per matchup.
Isaac Okoro under 1.5 assists
The Cavaliers' offense has been pure fade material, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The NBA's least-efficient unit has been held to 98 points or fewer in three straight, while its 23.1 assists per game rank No. 23.
We'll go that route and single out Okoro, who's been limited to two or fewer assists in 12 of his last 13 starts. The Sixers will make life even more difficult, as they give up the second-fewest assists to small forwards (3.17).
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.