There are 8 games on the NBA slate on Thursday, including a classic matchup in the City of Angels. We will get to witness the battle for Los Angeles as the Lakers take on the Clippers, in a game that could be more competitive than some would think. The Clippers have recovered from the slow start to the season by moving into the play-in position in the Western Conference, but they could find it much harder to get past their opponents here, as the Lakers have won 2 straight games heading into this one.
You can find our NBA previews for all of the action here. But first, be sure to check out my favorite player props for Thursday’s slate.
Alperen Sengun (HOU) over 8.5 rebounds (-130)
With Steven Adams being out for the Houston Rockets, Alperen Sengun should assume a very large role. He has turned that into strong rebounding performances of late, managing double-digits in 3 of his last 4 games. Now he will be taking on the Philadelphia 76ers who should be the perfect opponent. Over the last 10 games they are 25th in rebounding percentage and in the bottom half of the league in true shooting percentage. With the Rockets 7th in defensive rating, they should be able to force plenty of stops, allowing Sengun to clean up defensive rebounds. Going up against Joel Embiid who is hardly the most mobile center these days should benefit him too.
Jonathan Kuminga (GS) over 11.5 points (-114)
After the season-ending injury to Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga was introduced back into the lineup. He did not disappoint, scoring 20 points in 21 minutes of action. The Warriors need a wing scorer, and as much as Steve Kerr might not like it. This is a role that Kuminga can fill, so do not be surprised to see them rely on him more here. They will be taking on a Dallas Mavericks team that is 6th in the league in pace, with a faster tempo game suiting the forwards playstyle. Over the last 10 games no team has allowed more paint points in the NBA than the Mavericks and with Kuminga loving to attack inside, this should be another game that he thrives in.
Jonas Valanciunas (DEN) over 12.5 points (-108)
Jonas Valanciunas is listed as questionable to play in this game, but if he does take to the floor, he should have an immediate impact. The Nuggets have been lacking a low post scoring but with the Lithuanian back, those issues are immediately fixed. The opponent is favorable too. The Washington Wizards do not have anyone on the roster that could match him for bulk down low. When he faced them last season, he managed 12 points in just 13 minutes but here he should return to a much bigger role. That physical advantage is bound to get him to the free throw line, especially with the Wizards being 27th in opponent free throw attempts per game. The center has made 77% of his attempts from the charity stripe this season, so he should be able to use that to pad his stat line in this one.
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