Despite most teams having only three games remaining on their schedule, the Western Conference playoff seeding is still wide open. The Los Angeles Lakers have a 2.5-game lead over the five teams following them, making every contest an important one for postseason positioning.
That’s why Thursday’s primetime battle between the eighth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves (46-33) and the sixth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies (47-32) carries such significance. Either team could climb above its current position with a winning streak to close the season, making this a pivotal game to avoid a play-in situation.
Which team will prevail in this high-stakes matchup? We’ll cover that and provide bettors with our three best player prop bets below.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|
| Anthony Edwards | Over 3.5 Threes | |
| Anthony Edwards | Under 3.5 Threes | |
Minnesota Timberwolves SG Anthony Edwards OVER 3.5 3-Point Field Goals
Without Karl-Anthony Towns by his side, Edwards has shone this season. The 6-foot-4 guard is averaging 27.4 points per game, a total that ranks fourth in the NBA this season. He’s also recording 5.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists for Minnesota.
Edwards can score in bunches thanks to his long-range shooting. He’s making nearly 40 percent of three-point shots this season and hitting on average four triples each outing.
After recording four or more triples in five straight outings, Tuesday’s loss to Milwaukee snapped Edwards’ streak. Expect the shooting guard to get back on track Thursday, covering this player prop bet against Memphis.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|
| Ja Morant | Over 24.5 Points | |
| Ja Morant | Under 26.5 Points | |
Memphis Grizzlies PG Ja Morant OVER 25.5 Points
Despite his off-court issues, there’s no denying Ja Morant is among the best players in the NBA. In 48 games this season, Morant has averaged 23.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.3 assists to lead the Grizzlies.
In nine of his past 10 outings, Morant has surpassed 25 points. He’s easily been the most consistent scorer for Memphis during that stretch, and he’ll continue his efficient scoring against Minnesota. Expect him to record at least 26 points in his team’s contest on Thursday.
| Player | Prop | Price |
|---|
| Julius Randle | Over 25.5 Points/Rebounds | |
| Julius Randle | Under 26.5 Points/Rebounds | |
Minnesota Timberwolves PF Julius Randle UNDER 24.5 Pts + Reb
The Timberwolves made a surprising trade, acquiring Julius Randle and other assets from the New York Knicks in exchange for Towns. Randle has taken a step back in his first season with Minnesota, averaging 18.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists with the Timberwolves.
Randle’s production has declined in April. The veteran has three straight games without eclipsing either 15 points or eight rebounds, making him a strong under option for this player prop combo bet. He also barely covered the 24.5 combined mark in his first game against Memphis, but he scored only five points while failing to cover the mark in their second meeting.
Best Bet: Memphis Grizzlies (+1.5)
Memphis has had Minnesota’s number this season, winning the two previous matchups in close fashion. The Grizzlies prevailed by two points in both outings thus far, revealing how tight this matchup should be on Thursday.
Oddsmakers have favored the visiting Timberwolves for tonight’s contest, albeit by a single point. There’s little evidence to suggest Minnesota will win the third and final regular-season matchup, especially on the road. Bettors should take Memphis to cover this razor-thin point spread.
