While college basketball may be the main attraction on Friday, the NBA presents an exciting schedule for those interested in professional hoops. The Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies will clash in a Western Conference matchup with significant playoff seeding implications as part of a full 10-game program. The Clippers, favored by 7 points, will host the Grizzlies as they aim to improve their standing and escape the NBA Play-In Tournament, targeting a top-six seed in the West. Conversely, the Grizzlies, currently holding the No. 5 seed, are focused on solidifying their position within the top six. Ja Morant is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, missing his fourth consecutive game, during which the Grizzlies have a 1-2 record.
The SportsLine model, renowned for its successful NBA predictions over the past six seasons, has simulated each NBA game 10,000 times to generate player projections. Below are three of the model’s highest-rated NBA prop bet recommendations for Friday.
Fred VanVleet: Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-105 at DraftKings)
Fred VanVleet, the 31-year-old guard, has exceeded this combined stat line in two of his last three games. This includes a recent performance against the Orlando Magic, who possess the NBA’s top-ranked scoring defense, where he tallied 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists on Wednesday. The Houston Rockets are set to face the Miami Heat, who are not as defensively formidable as in previous seasons. The Heat are currently on a nine-game losing streak and have conceded at least 116 points in their last three contests. The SportsLine model projects VanVleet to accumulate 24.8 PRA, with 15 points expected in scoring, suggesting he will comfortably surpass this over/under. DraftKings Sportsbook is offering this line at -110.
Norman Powell: Over 16.5 Points (-121 at Caesars)
Norman Powell will be playing his third game after a two-week absence due to a hamstring injury. Having played two games since his return, Friday could be the night he sees a substantial increase in playing time and offensive involvement. In his first two games back, the 31-year-old has totaled only 18 points while playing around 20.5 minutes per game. However, Powell is averaging a career-best 23.2 points per game this season. If his minutes approach his season average of 32.5 per game, betting on him to score over 16.5 points offers significant value, as he has exceeded this mark in 40 out of 48 games this season.
Kristaps Porzingis: Over 8.5 Rebounds + Assists (+105 at BetMGM)
Kristaps Porzingis has been on a scoring surge in his last two games, scoring at least 24 points in each. However, with Jayson Tatum expected to return from injury for Friday’s game, Porzingis is likely to revert to his more typical role within the Boston offense. The 29-year-old is averaging 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game this season. Jaylen Brown remains out with a knee injury, potentially leading to increased minutes and scoring opportunities for Porzingis. He is coming off a game with 13 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. The SportsLine model projects Porzingis to achieve a combined 9.8 rebounds and assists on Friday, making the plus-money odds at BetMGM an attractive bet.
