- Our best NBA props come from a short, two-game slate on the first night of the NBA restart
- We’ll break down two plays for you involving Zion Williamson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- You can get our full slate of daily NBA props for a limited time — details after the pick
Tonight’s restart slate is a rather small one, so we’ll narrow down the list and break down the best NBA props his blessed day we’ve all been waiting for.
Let’s dive in on two players who should be hot commodities in the prop betting market, kicking things off by asking — can Zion Williamson hit his rebounding over versus the Utah Jazz?
Best NBA Player Props for Thursday (7/30)
Pelicans Forward Zion Williamson
Under 6.5 Rebounds (@ FanDuel -134)
Williamson returns to the Pelicans after hiding out in quarantine after attending a family matter outside of Orlando. Ready for game time after one practice with the Pelicans, it’s fair to assume the rookie may be rusty.
He has had seven or fewer rebounds in all 10 games versus Western Conference opponents. In his 19 total games, he’s only recorded more than seven boards in five games. Williamson has never faced the Jazz, and they’re allowing the fourth-fewest rebounds per game (42.6).
- Williamson averaged 6.6 rebounds in his six road games versus Western Conference opponents
- In the seven games that he’s played fewer than 30 minutes, he’s averaged 6.7 rebounds
- In his nine games post-All-Star break, he’s averaged 6.0 per game
The Jazz rank ninth against PFs with 10.64 rebounds allowed per game. Williamson led the Pelicans in rebounds three of 19 games but only surpassed seven boards once in his last 10 games. The time off Williamson has had from the team could see fewer minutes in the opening game.
Over his final five games of the season, he was on an impressive stretch, including rebounding, but a four-month break and no bubble practice smells like a recipe for an under.
With Rudy Gobert going off in the Jazz’s last two exhibition games, the interior should be dominated by the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He ranks fourth in the league with 13.7 rebounds per game and averages 16.5 in two games versus the Pelicans, so rebounds could be hard to come by if you play for New Orleans. Back Williamson to go under his rebound total in his first game back against Gobert and the Jazz.
Lakers Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Under 9.5 Points (@ FanDuel -108)
In three games versus the Clippers, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 7.3 points in over 28 minutes per game. In the 2019-20 season, he’s averaged 9.5 points on 25.4 minutes and totaled 0, 9, and 13 points in three games versus the crosstown rival.
Caldwell-Pope shot 9/14 (64.2%) from the field in their last two meetings combining for 22 points but hitting the over 9.5 just once. As a starter, he’s averaging 11.1 points per game in 20 games earning 28.1 minutes per contest.
Even is he’s a starter, the arrivals of JR Smith and Dion Waiters takes away from Caldwell-Pope’s usage and potential production. As a backup, he averages 8.8 points per game in 24.2 minutes, and that’s more of what we’re likely to see.
- Caldwell-Pope’s 5.7 shot attempts per game versus the Clippers are his fifth-lowest vs any opponent
- He averages 9.5 points in 40 West Conference games, and 9.7 in 23 vs East
In the three exhibition scrimmages, Caldwell-Pope scored 0, 4, and 17 points throughout 17, 18, and 22 minutes. Smith and Waiters each played at least 13 minutes a game, and both recorded 20 minutes twice.
Caldwell-Pope has a 14.5% usage with LeBron James, 15.5% without him on the floor, and 13.7% with Davis. His numbers don’t stand out with or without the Lakers star duo, so Caldwell-Pope’s impact is likely an afterthought.
With guards and forwards, Quinn Cook, Alex Caruso, Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, Jared Dudley, and Markieff Morris all as role players; Caldwell-Pope has a lot of competition for minutes and usage on a nightly basis.
