While we did have a single game of NBA action to work with in the player props market on Wednesday, let's proclaim Thursday's slate of nine games the unofficial start to the second half of the regular season, even though we're well beyond the halfway point in reality.
With far more options to choose from than simply a Charlotte Hornets versus Los Angeles Lakers matchup, here are four more diverse expert player prop picks to roll with on February 20, including a scoring prop for Karl-Anthony Towns (-108) against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden.
Karl-Anthony Towns To Score 30+ Points vs. Bulls (+140)
Preview: Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. ET
In the final five games leading into All-Star Weekend, no team across the Association had a worse defense than that of the Bulls, who allowed 3.1 more points per 100 possessions (127.3, 30th) than everyone else. They gave up at least 124 points to the opposition each time, and dropped the last four games by an average margin of 24.5 points with an offense which isn't much better (108.8 points per 100 possessions, 24th) than the defense.
Thursday marks the third time this season that the New York Knicks will have faced Chicago, and it's a matchup Towns has feasted on time and time again. The five-time All-Star is averaging a ridiculous 45 points on 59.3 percent shooting in the prior two games, adding 13 rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He scored at least 44 points on each occasion and never took fewer than 29 shots, as well.
The odds are at +850 for Towns to reach the 40-point mark versus the Bulls once again, but we're taking the conservative approach here and anticipating at least 30, which is still high value at plus money. Chicago ranks 29th in points allowed to opposing centers, and Towns did reach 40 points in each of his final two games before the break.
Caris LeVert OVER 12.5 Points vs. Magic (+100)
Preview: Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7:30 p.m. ET
The debut of Caris LeVert in an Atlanta Hawks uniform on Feb. 8 following his arrival from the Cleveland Cavaliers was a tad worrisome, as he only played 15 minutes off the bench and took just six shots, leading many to wonder what his role would be moving forward in his new surroundings. Thankfully, that now appears to have been the team just allowing LeVert to dip his toe in the water as he gets acclimated, as his past two outings have seemingly put any fears to rest.
The 30-year-old shooting guard has averaged 19 points over his last two games, ranking second on the Hawks roster, while knocking down a smooth 45.5 percent of his 3-point attempts. LeVert also finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting against the Orlando Magic on Feb. 10, and he'll see them again on Thursday with his scoring prop at just 12.5 points.
With Jalen Johnson (out for season) and De'Andre Hunter (dealt to Cleveland) no longer around, Atlanta needs a certified No. 2 scorer to step up behind Trae Young, and no one is better equipped to handle more of an offensive load than LeVert. His scoring props will only grow over time, so it's best to take advantage of a rather pedestrian line now before the number undoubtedly sees an uptick in the near future.
Evan Mobley OVER 17.5 Points vs. Nets (-106)
Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 p.m. ET
The Evan Mobley experience for Cleveland is an up and down rollercoaster of offensive production. Across his last 11 games, he's scored 22 or more points five times, at least 27 points three times, but seven or fewer points three times. Playing with a backcourt of fellow All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland means the incentive for Mobley to produce points isn't as high as it may be if he were in another situation entirely, and anyone following the Cavaliers knows his bread and butter comes on the defensive end, although his offense is diversifying with an added 3-point shot.
An 18-point showing against the Brooklyn Nets is doable, as he's scored at least 21 points twice already in this matchup this season, and even had 21 points in just 23 minutes back on Dec. 19. Mobley had a three-game run of 27 or more points prior to registering just 12 versus the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 12, although that result was a blowout in favor of the Cavaliers in which the 6-foot-11 big man took a step back as seven players on his side scored in double figures.
Santi Aldama OVER 11.5 Points vs. Pacers (+102)
Preview: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. ET
Much of Santi Aldama's ability to hit OVERs on his scoring props comes from his efficiency, evident by his three-straight OVERs on 11.5 points in his last three games in which he converted at least half of his shot attempts each time. That includes his last two appearances in which he drilled exactly 4-of-6 from 3-point range on each occasion. When the Memphis Grizzlies forward hit an UNDER in the two games prior, it's because he shot no better than 33.3 percent.
Memphis is 17-7 this season when Aldama contributes at least 12 points, which includes a 15-point victory over the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 1 in which he finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with three triples. The 24-year-old forward has also reached an OVER on this number in five of his last seven games, only needing to play 25 or more minutes twice.
