It's the start of a new month in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, and February provided positive units with some solid player prop picks from start to finish, several at plus money. There's exactly a month and a half of games still remaining for all teams, so let's kick off March on a happy note and commence the countdown to the playoffs.
Here are three expert player prop picks for your consideration, all of which are combination props for points and rebounds across the six-game slate on March 1.
DeMar DeRozan OVER 24.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Rockets (-104)
Preview: Sacramento Kings vs. Houston Rockets, 8 p.m. ET
The cure to what has ailed the Sacramento Kings is apparently competing against feeble competition, as the team has gone 5-2 over their last seven games with four victories over squads with losing records. DeMar DeRozan is tied for the lead in scoring at 24 points during this stretch, adding five rebounds and 5.4 assists while converting 51.4 percent from the field.
He gets an enticing matchup with the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at the Toyota Center, as it was back on Jan. 16 that DeRozan finished with 33 points and five boards on 12-of-23 shooting which would equate to an easy OVER at 24.5 established by oddsmakers for this game. The six-time All-Star has notched an OVER for this number in three-straight appearances for Sacramento and five of his last six, as well.
Now Houston is vastly superior to some of the teams the Kings have defeated as of late, but those outings have built momentum for DeRozan, and tossing rebounds into the equation since he's scored fewer than 20 points in his last two games improves the likelihood of this connecting.
Desmond Bane OVER 26.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Spurs (-114)
Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Victor Wembanyama-less San Antonio Spurs have been destroyed on the glass in the five games since the 7-foot-4 Frenchman was ruled out with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, allowing an absurd 55 rebounds to the opposition (30th) while only procuring 41.6 themselves (26th).
The Memphis Grizzlies rank eighth in rebounding during that exact stretch at 46.4 per contest, with Desmond Bane contributing 6.4 and sitting third on roster despite not being known for being great in that department. He just missed out on matching his career high (13) when he finished with 12 in 35 minutes against the New York Knicks on Feb. 28.
That marked the second game in a row that Bane went OVER 26.5 points and rebounds after failing to do the prior two matchups. From Jan. 30 through Feb. 20, however, the 26-year-old sniper went six-straight games with an OVER at this number, and he's also gone OVER in three of the last four games against San Antonio.
Kelly Oubre Jr. OVER 22.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Warriors (-102)
Preview: Golden State Warriors vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 8:30 p.m. ET
The Philadelphia 76ers can finally move forward knowing Joel Embiid will be out for the remainder of the campaign to focus on rehabilitation of his knee, and that direction should lead to as many losses as possible with keeping their 2025 draft pick a top priority. The players will undoubtedly attempt to improve the win-loss record, though, and someone like Kelly Oubre Jr. will seek to make an impact in an expanded role which could steadily increase if the team elects to go full tank in the days and weeks ahead.
Oubre Jr. averaged 16.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in February, which were stronger numbers than that of his $212-million teammate Paul George. He went OVER 22.5 combined points and rebounds just over half the time in six of a possible 11 appearances, but two of those OVERs have come in the last two games.
Lest we forget that Oubre Jr. has a player option of just $8.3 million for next season, so these remaining games are an audition to prove his worth and boost his next deal. He just finished with 27 points and five rebounds in a narrow loss to the Knicks on Feb. 26, and it's that type of production which will attract a slew of attention.
