Friday Best Bets: One NBA Side, Two NBA Props

Thursday’s Best Bets weren’t good. Actually, that’s sugarcoating it. We went 0-3 on our best bets, so yeah … tough night.

Days like that are bound to happen. Every sports bettor has had their fair share of oh-fers over the years, and anyone who leads you to believe otherwise probably has a bottle of snake oil to sell you.

Here at Props.com, our best bets are more about having fun watching sports and cashing a few wagers here and there. We happen to have a modestly positive 61-56-1 record at the moment, which is just icing on the cake.

How about we get back to the winning ways and throw a little more frosting on that metaphorical cake. Here is Friday’s trio of Best Bets!

Best Bets Track Record

Thursday: 0-3
Year-To-Date: 61-56-1

Bostonian vs. The Book: 15-20-1
BetPrep Prop of the Day: 17-21
NBA Props: 21-9
NHL Props: 6-6
MLB Props: 1-0
MLB Sides: 1-0

NBA Side: Phoenix Suns at New Orleans Pelicans

The bet: Suns -2 (at New Orleans)
The odds: -110
Where to bet: Caesars Sportsbook
From: Matt Perrault via The Bostonian Vs. The Book podcast

Matt Perrault of The Bostonian Vs. The Book Podcast looks to get back on track on Friday, and he’s rolling with the Western Conference’s top seed to make that happen. Even though Phoenix is without Devin Booker, Perrault is still siding with the Suns -2 on the road for Game 3 of this series.

“I think the Suns are going to kill the Pelicans,” Perrault said. “They woke [the Suns] up. You have their full attention.”

The Pelicans were able to steal Game 2 in Phoenix, upsetting the Suns 125-114 as 9.5-point underdogs. Perrault believes the Suns will seek revenge in tonight’s road game, and Chris Paul will pick up the slack vacated by Devin Booker’s absence.

Perrault is more than happy taking the Suns -2, which he views as a steal based on where he expected the line to stand.

“This is a massive overreaction. The number should be [Phoenix] favored by 5.”

If you agree that the Suns aren’t favored by enough, then you can tail this pick of Phoenix -2 at Caesars Sportsbook.

NBA Prop: C DeAndre Ayton (Phoenix Suns)

The bet: Over 1.5 assists (at New Orleans)
The odds: -115
Where to bet: BetMGM Sportsbook
From: Spencer Limbach via NBA Props Friday

Ayton isn’t known for his passing prowess, but he could fall into a couple of dimes in Game 3 at New Orleans. In fact, the Phoenix big man has surpassed 1.5 assists in four of his last five games. That includes Games 1 and Game 2 of this series, in which he notched two and four assists respectively.

Devin Booker will not play for the Suns in Game 3. That’s significant as it pertains to this prop, and here’s why:

• Ayton in 49 games with Booker: 1.3 assists/game
• Ayton in nine games without Booker: 2.0 assists/game

It’s a small sample, but those nine games represent a decent uptick in the assists department. It makes logical sense too, as Ayton will have the ball in his hands more with Booker sidelined. All in all, this is a decent edge to consider Ayton Over 1.5 assists.

You can find this prop at BetMGM Sportsbook, at -115 juice to the Over.

NBA Prop: PG Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)

The bet: Over 2.5 made 3-pointers (vs. Miami)
The odds: -145
Where to bet: DraftKings Sportsbook
From: BetPrep Prop of the Day via BetPrep.com

The BetPrep Prop of the Day is now 6-2 over the past eight, after missing on Ja Morant’s rebounding prop Thursday. The folks at BetPrep look to get back on track by taking Hawks guard Trae Young Over 2.5 made 3-pointers against the Miami Heat in Game 3.

The rationale for this Best Bet:

• Young has made three-plus treys in 12 of his last 16 games overall.
• The Hawks guard has buried three-plus treys in seven of his last eight home games.
• In the regular season, Young made three or more 3-pointers in three of four games against Miami.

Young was ice cold in the first two games of this series, shooting just 3-for-17 from deep. Coming back home to Atlanta makes for an interesting bounce-back spot.

DraftKings Sportsbook has Young Over 2.5 made 3-pointers at -145.