Free NBA Picks & Predictions - Today's Best NBA Bets (2024)

Max Strus has posted two seven-point efforts against Orlando, shooting a collective 5 for 15 for the series, including just 2 for 10 from 3-point range. Strus finished the season averaging just over 12 points and his scoring totals hovered between 10.5 and 11.5 for most of the season. But after two quiet games to start the playoffs, his Over/Under for points in Game 3 is down to 8.5 O/U with the Over present plus-money at some sportsbooks. Player projections for Thursday are down from his season scoring rate but all models consulted call for double figures from the 6-foot-5 guard. Those forecast range from 10 points to a ceiling of 11.5, which is more than enough to push past his current Over/Under. My number comes out to 11 points from Strus tonight.

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Jason Logan - Pick Made 1 hrs, 46 min ago.

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In the first two games of the series, the Orlando Magic are 17 for 72 from three, shooting 23.6% as a team from deep. The Magic are not a good three-point shooting team, but they also aren't this bad. Water will eventually find its level, and shots will begin to fall for the Magic; it's just hard to envision them continuing to shoot this poorly from deep. They always talk about in the NBA playoffs how role players always play better at home. With Game 3 shifting to the Kia Center in front of a sold-out Magic crowd that will have that building shaking, we could see the role players step up and knock down shots for the Magic.I think the Magic should be closer to a 3.5-point favorite, and that's why I'm laying the two points with the Magic on Thursday.

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Jon Metler - Pick Made 21 min ago.

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Hart has scored 21 and 22 points in the opening two games against Philadelphia, but has dished out only five collective assists. Hart, who averages just over four assists, will draw added attention from the Sixers defense in Game 3. Hart’s passing has still produced a total of 14 potential assists in the first two tilts and his assist prop for Thursday is trending much lower than normal. Hart’s assist props were sitting at 5.5 O/U heading into the postseason. Player models all call for more than 4.5 dimes from Hart, with many forecasts at 5-plus. Given those prognostications, the Over 4.5 assists should be in the -115 to -130 range. But most mainstream books are dealing the Over at plus-money with a high of +124.

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Jason Logan - Pick Made 1 hrs, 9 min ago.

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Hachimura scoring contributions have been limited but he did pull down five rebounds in Game 2. The 6-foot-8 Gonzaga product became a force on the glass for L.A. at the end of the season, hauling in an average of seven boards over his final 13 games. Hachimura’s rebound prop for Game 3 is at 4.5 Over/Under, which has been a consistent number over the past month and a total Rui has topped in seven of his last 10 games overall. Player forecasts for Thursday call between four and 5.8 rebounds from Hachimura, with my projection at 5.3 boards. Based on that number, the Over 4.5 rebounds from Hachimura should be in the -150 range but you can find it at plus-money at many books on Thursday morning.

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Jason Logan - Pick Made 49 min ago.

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