Share 
The NBA’s rollercoaster Week 2 schedule continues Thursday with a major downswing in games, as we go from 12 contests Wednesday to just three tonight. We have the rare occurrence of having both a battle of winless and battle of undefeated teams as part of the compact ledger.
Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over First 10 Days*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET
Up to $1,000 Back in Bonus Bets Over First 10 Days*
*Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l terms. 21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET
Let’s dive into three player props that catch our eye Thursday. Be sure to check out the NBA betting trends page for odds, data and insights on every game.
Best NBA Thursday Props
- Darius Acuff Over 27.5 Points + Assists
- Jarrett Allen Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds
- Ja Morant Over 21.5 Points + Assists
Darius Acuff (Kings vs. Pelicans) Over Points + Assists
Acuff has been thrust right into the fire from the onset of his career, and the rookie seventh overall pick has proven to be up to the challenge early on. Due to Ben Simmons’ unfortunate Achilles injury right before the start of the season, Acuff went from a projected second-unit member of the backcourt to the starting point guard. While Sacramento remains winless, the Arkansas product has roared back from a quiet Opening Night debut against the Clippers to supply 24.7 points, 5.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds across 35.3 minutes per contest over his subsequent three games.
Acuff is likely to see a fair share of Dejounte Murray defense in Thursday’s matchup, but that hasn’t proven prohibitive for opposing point guards thus far. New Orleans is allowing the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating to the position (32.0), along with 50% shooting, including 43.3% from behind the arc. Additionally, the Pels went into Tuesday allowing the second-most points (32.0) and second-most assists (11.7) per game to the position, and Acuff also boasts a team-high 32.2% usage rate and averages 26.6 points + assists per 36 minutes with Keegan Murray (out, ankle) off the floor.
Original Line Publish: 27.5
Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers vs. Hawks) Over Points + Rebounds
Allen is already churning out his usual production early this season, averaging 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest over his first four games. The veteran big man just pulled down a season-high 12 rebounds Wednesday night against the Wizards, the third straight game in which Allen had increased his production on the glass over that of the prior contest. Thursday marks the third game in four nights for both the Cavs and Hawks, but Allen is averaging a modest 27.7 minutes per game and shouldn’t be too fatigued this early in the season.
The opposing Hawks make for good targets on paper as well. Atlanta has been particularly vulnerable against centers early, as they went into Wednesday’s loss to the Heat already allowing the third-highest offensive efficiency rating (37.5), the second-highest shooting percentage (67.9) and the seventh-most points (23.8) per game to the position. Bam Adebayo then proceeded to trample Atlanta for 24 points and nine rebounds, and Bobby Portis added another 11 points and nine boards off the bench.
Finally, it’s worth noting the Hawks are allowing the seventh-most points in the paint per game (52.8), including 60.0 over the last three, while Allen is scoring 60.4% of his points in that part of the floor.
Original Line Publish: 21.5
Ja Morant (Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies) Over Points + Assists
Morant has been a solid fit early in his Trail Blazers tenure, meshing well alongside Damian Lillard in the backcourt while averaging 22.6 points + assists across 26.7 minutes per game. Perhaps as encouraging as anything regarding his overall body of work is his career-best 58.8% shooting, including 44.4% from three-point range.
Morant’s usage is unsurprisingly down from his Grizzlies days, as he’s now in a two-guard role and shares the floor with Damian Lillard and Deni Avdija. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be surprising in the least to see Morant be a bit more involved Thursday in an intriguing matchup against his old Memphis teammates. The Grizzlies also make for a decent matchup on paper, as Memphis has surrendered the ninth-most points (26.0) to shooting guards, as well as a 93.3% success rate from the line to the position.
Original Line Publish: 21.5
Photo Credit: REUTERS
