Following a successful 2-1 record on Tuesday, here are four NBA expert player prop picks for tonight's nine-game schedule, including a combination prop for superstar forward Jayson Tatum (-108) in the potential Finals preview between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Boston Celtics on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Jayson Tatum OVER 37.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Thunder (-108 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tatum has consistently brought some of his best stuff to recent marquee matchups for his Celtics. The most-watched regular season game in seven years between Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers on March 8 saw the six-time All-Star score 40 points and grab 12 rebounds. This came a little over a week after he registered a 46-16-9 line versus the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 28, which was days after he had 25-10-9 against the New York Knicks on Feb. 23.
Wednesday marks the second and final time we'll see the Celtics and Thunder square off ahead of what almost feels like an inevitable Finals confrontation. Tatum had 26 points and 10 rebounds back on Jan. 5 at the Paycom Center in a 13-point loss for Boston, but the matchup now shifts to TD Garden with added optimism the 27-year-old forward can exceed 37.5 points and rebounds which he failed to do over two months ago.
Thunder forward Jalen Williams, who's currently one of eight remaining players with active odds in the Defensive Player of the Year race, will be absent due to a hip injury. Tatum has gone OVER this prop in three of his last four appearances, reaching no fewer than 42 points and boards, and is also averaging a double-double of 32.3 points and 11.7 rebounds across his last six home outings.
Christian Braun OVER 1.5 3-Pointers vs. Timberwolves (+162 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets, 10 p.m. ET
Oddmakers must know something that the public doesn't here, because Christian Braun needing to connect on just two 3-pointers at +162 is some of the best value you'll find for any game at any sportsbook. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a fine team defending the 3-point line as of late, sitting eighth in opponent's makes from behind the arc (12.4) and 11th in efficiency (34.8 percent) over their last 15 games, but even that's not enough to avoid even sprinkling on this number.
Braun has gone six-straight games with two or more triples, shooting exactly 50 percent from deep over that span by connecting on 16 of his 32 attempts. He's also 7-of-11 from 3-point range in his last two games at Ball Arena as Minnesota pays a visit on Wednesday.
His Denver Nuggets teammate Aaron Gordon is doubtful to play with a calf injury, and the last four instances in which he's sat, Braun has totalled 57 shots. Now the 23-year-old wing has drilled exactly one outside shot in each of the prior two meetings with the Timberwolves this season, but the absence of Gordon, the backdrop of the Mile High City, and the recent tear he's been on adds up to a worthwhile gamble.
Josh Hart OVER 1.5 3-Pointers vs. Trail Blazers (+194 at Sportsbook)
Preview: New York Knicks vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET
As is the case with Braun, wagering on Josh Hart to make just two 3-pointers against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday without a key teammate by his side at nearly two-to-one odds is one of those props you need to be taking a second and third look at.
During the New York Knicks' 29-point road blowout of the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Hart buried four 3-pointers on six attempts to finish with 18 points in 31 minutes of action. Those four triples were as many as he had made in his eight prior games combined.
Portland ranks in the bottom-third of the Association over its last five games in opponent's 3-pointers made (15.6, 27th), attempted (39.2, 20th), and percentage (39.8, 26th). Hart isn't necessarily known for his shooting, but his league-high minutes aren't at risk of diminishing, and all it takes is a few clean looks against the Trail Blazers' struggling perimeter defense for a fairly-straightforward bet to get banked.
Miles Bridges OVER 31.5 Points + Rebounds vs. Hawks (-114 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. ET
Miles Bridges is the best scorer in basketball that no one is talking about, likely due to the fact that he's on an incredibly irrelevant Charlotte Hornets roster which is counting down the days before solidifying their eighth losing season in nine years. Nonetheless, wins and losses don't impact the props market, and Bridges is on enough of a role to tail his scoring until the well runs dry.
Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (39.3) is averaging more points amongst all players over the last five games than Bridges, who's contributing 33 points on 50.5 percent shooting and 36.4 percent from 3-point range for Charlotte. His 8.6 rebounds during that stretch helps add validity to his combination prop, as Bridges has gone OVER 31.5 points and boards in five-straight contests and six of his last seven.
It was only the second game of the entire season, but Bridges did notch an OVER with 27 points and five rebounds versus the Hawks on Oct. 25, so he's done this once before against this specific opponent.
NBA Best Player Prop Trends Today
- Jrue Holiday has gone OVER 4.5 rebounds in 6 of his last 7 games at home (5.6 rebounds/game average) - (+125 at BetMGM)
- Chet Holmgren has gone OVER 1.5 blocks in 9 of his last 10 games (2.9 blocks/game average) - (-150 at BetMGM)
- The Oklahoma City Thunder are 0-5-1 (0.0%) ATS in their last 6 games vs. top 10 scoring defenses - Celtics -3.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
- Andrew Wiggins has gone OVER 24.5 points + rebounds in 5 of his last 6 games (25.7 points + rebounds/game average) - (+105 at BetMGM)
- Jaden McDaniels has gone OVER 19.5 points + rebounds in 10 of his last 11 games (26.5 points + rebounds/game average). - (-104 at FanDuel)
Jrue Holiday OVER 4.5 Rebounds vs OKC (+125 at betMGM)
I'll start my analysis by suggesting these are great odds. Based on past data — like Holiday hitting the OVER in 11 of his last 20 — this OVER 4.5 boards prop should be set at around -110 or -125. Here, we can get it at +125 at BetMGM, so shoutout to a good line.
