Bryan Armetta shares his three favorite player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s six-game NBA slate.
A six-game, 12-team slate sets the stage for Friday’s NBA action. That means several enticing matchups for hoops fans to tune in to. To get us started, the Cavaliers visit the 76ers in a battle between Eastern Conference contenders. Elsewhere, Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto when the Clippers visit the Raptors. Later, the Timberwolves face the Rockets in a potential postseason preview.
Which players should you back (or fade) tonight? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Friday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Joel Embiid under 8.5 rebounds (-130)
Despite countless injuries, Joel Embiid remains one of the NBA’s premier centers. Still, those health issues have sapped away some production from the seven-time All-Star. This season, he’s averaging 23.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. Those aren’t bad numbers, but it’s not what we’re used to seeing from the former MVP. Regardless, the big man remains a key piece for one of the Eastern Conference’s most talented clubs.
Even at seven feet tall, Embiid is no longer a sure thing on the glass. In 14 of his 21 appearances this season, the veteran has failed to snag at least eight rebounds. On paper, the Cavaliers struggle to box out. After all, they’ve allowed the seventh-most boards per game (55.1) to opponents this year. However, those numbers are skewed by a lengthy midseason absence for Evan Mobley. The power forward is now healthy, making Cleveland’s frontcourt much more formidable. When these teams met on Wednesday, Embiid snagged just four rebounds. A similar result tonight wouldn’t come as a shock.
Pascal Siakam 2+ three-pointers made (-125)
At this point, the last-place Pacers don’t have much to play for. Still, don’t let a terrible Indiana season distract you from Pascal Siakam’s stellar play. The 31-year-old has done his part, providing a much-needed scoring boost for the Eastern Conference champs. Over 40 games, he’s recorded 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 48% from the field. Considering the lack of internal competition on this roster, Siakam has one of the NBA’s safest floors.
Since joining the Pacers in 2024, Siakam has made significant progress as a shooter. This season, the Cameroonian is knocking down 37% of his three-point attempts. He’s done so on a career-high 4.6 attempts per game from beyond the arc. Friday’s opponents, the Pelicans, have been especially vulnerable from long distance. New Orleans is giving up 14.8 three-pointers made per game, second-most in basketball. In comparison, Siakam has drained at least two treys in 20 of his 40 contests. The do-it-all power forward is in an ideal spot on Friday.
The Nets might be irrelevant, but there’s more than meets the eye with this rebuilding squad. Head coach Jordi Fernandez, if nothing else, has his guys playing hard. Cam Thomas’ recent return gives a talent-starved Brooklyn club more flexibility. Opinions on the score-first guard are fairly divided. Still, even Thomas’ biggest detractors can’t deny he gets buckets. Through 16 games this season, the fifth-year pro is averaging 18.8 points on just over 25 minutes per game.
That last statistic should give bettors some cause for concern. After all, erratic playing time makes any player difficult to trust. With that being said, Thomas can make his presence felt in a hurry. That’s especially true going into a matchup with Chicago. The Bulls, already a lousy defensive unit, operate at the NBA’s fourth-quickest pace (101.8). That lends itself to more possessions for their opponents. Thomas’ output in recent weeks has led to this somewhat modest total on Friday. That makes this the perfect time to buy low.