Just four games line the Thursday night slate in the Association, and five teams in playoff position will be in action. The Knicks are a favorite of fewer than three points on the road in Orlando, while the Brooklyn Nets are home underdogs to the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers.
New Orleans is half a game behind the Jazz for the 10th seed in the West and will host the Hornets as seven-point favorites. Finally, OKC travels to LA to battle the Clippers as three-point underdogs.
Interestingly, the Nets-Cavs and Thunder-Clippers matchups will mark the second time these teams have met at the same arena this week. Both are rematches of games played on Tuesday.
Every game matters at this time of the season, but the Western Conference is incredibly close in 2023. The Phoenix Suns are currently the fourth seed but sit just 3.5 games ahead of the Lakers and Pelicans, who are tied for 11th.
We’ll add to these matchups with playoff implications by submitting a batch of player props brought to you by PrizePicks. Our handicaps for Thursday’s best bets are just ahead.
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Markelle Fultz OVER 16.5 Points
The Magic catch the Knicks on the tail end of a back-to-back after New York played a Wednesday night road game in Miami. Setting aside the ‘Miami flu’ effect, Fultz has played well in two games against the Knicks this season.
The former #1 pick has averaged 21 points per 36 minutes in those matchups and is on pace to set a career-high in scoring average while playing his most games since 2019-20.
Fultz is taking 13.3 field goal attempts per game in his last ten appearances and shooting better than 52% from the floor. He’ll take advantage of a Knicks team that played a hard-fought contest the night before.
Cedi Osman UNDER 8.5 Points
Osman has averaged more than 25 minutes per game in two matchups with the Nets this season and scored in double figures both times. He just connected on four three-pointers in the Cavs’ win against Brooklyn on Tuesday but only attempted five total field goals in his 23 minutes on the court.
The North Macedonian international has scored 12+ points in three of his last four games, but we’re concerned with his inconsistent minutes.
In 13 games he’s been active in March, Osman has played more than 20 minutes just four times. We see his recent hot streak ending Thursday in Brooklyn.
Russell Westbrook UNDER 8.5 Assists
The future Hall of Fame point guard will meet his former team for the second time as a member of the Clippers just two days after facing OKC on Tuesday. Westbrook had two assists in LA’s loss.
Now, the Clippers will play without Paul George for the rest of the regular season, and he will likely miss some playoff games. We project Westbrook will increase his shooting volume to the detriment of his passing numbers.
He’s averaged 7.3 assists per game in 12 appearances for the Clippers this season. We're big fans of Russ, but we'll fade him tonight in the assists department.
