NBA Player Props: 3 Picks for Heat-Hawks, Mavs-Grizzlies

The NBA Play-In Tournament wraps up Friday night on two fronts, with teams battling for the right to play … the top seed in each conference: the OKC Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Alas, let’s worry about raining on that parade another day. We’ve got Miami in Atlanta to take on the Hawks, and the Mavericks in Memphis to battle the Grizzlies.

We’ve sorted through the player props and offer up these NBA prop picks for your betting consideration.

NBA Player Props: Best Bets for Friday, April 18

Ja Morant Under 26.5 points (-120 at Bet365)

Morant was on his way to what looked like a big night, but then he landed on a defender’s foot and clutched his ankle. He did return in the fourth quarter against the Warriors and looked good, but he’s about to run into a Dallas frontline that will not make it easy on him.

The Mavericks ended the Kings on their home court by choking the life out of them in the first half. They finished with eight blocks, but plenty of forays into the paint were thwarted with their two big lineups.

Driving to the paint is Morant’s bread and butter, but the effect of that ankle and Dallas’ newfound defensive identity is going to make it tough on him.

I still think he’ll top 20+ points, but I anticipate him trying to find a better shot for teammates once he makes his way to the rim.

Anthony Davis Over 2.5 blocks vs Grizzlies (+135 at Bet365)

Anthony Davis, of course, was the centerpiece of that Mavericks’ defensive effort,  finishing with three blocks, though Daniel Gafford had two huge highlight swats when DeMar DeRozan thought he was in the clear driving past AD.

Davis topped his 1.5 block line last game, so the books upped it by a full block against the Grizzlies, and I’m loving the value.

This will be his first matchup with the Grizzlies since becoming a Maverick, but Memphis knows what kind of havoc this guy wreaks.

In the last 10 games, Davis has had three or more blocks six times, missing the Over three other times by a single swat.

Memphis goes two bigs with Jaren Jackson and Zach Edey, so AD should be able to sag off JJJ on the perimeter for more help-side action, and presumably more blocks.

Davion Mitchell Over 6.5 assists vs Hawks (+120 at DraftKings)

After watching the Heat dismantle the Bulls, I looked at Davion Mitchell’s stat line and saw the nine dimes – tied for his second most with his new team.

This isn’t a fluke, either, as the defensive dynamo has carved out a solid reserve role as a member of the Heat.

Mitchell has averaged 5.3 assists in 30 games since getting traded from the Toronto Raptors, but he’s really found his groove of late.

In his last dozen games, Mitchell has topped his 6.5 assist line nine times. He has faced Atlanta three times in his new digs, but has yet to hit that mark, stopping at six assists twice.

I’m willing to take a flyer on these plus-money odds that he finally breaks through in a must-win game.