3 NBA Player Prop Bets to Target on Friday 4/9/21

Player props can be useful in a variety of ways, from taking advantage of them straight up (to the tune of cold hard cash) to measuring a player's potential to produce in daily fantasy basketball. Here we'll focus on utilizing our projections and a slew of other tools to help make money betting player props.

For this article, we are using the odds provided at NBA Finals odds to pinpoint spots where value can be had tonight.

Please note that betting lines and our player projections may change throughout the day after this article is published.

Tobias Harris Over 1.5 Made Threes (+128)

Tobias Harris is going up against a New Orleans Pelicans defense that allows the fourth-highest three-point attempt rate (43.5%). The Pels give up a lot of three-point tries to every position, but power forward stands out as New Orleans surrenders 8.3 three-point attempts per game to the position. Overall New Orleans ranks 28th in defensive efficiency.

While Harris doesn't take a bunch of shots from beyond the arc, he's averaging 1.7 made threes per night since the start of last season. We have him right at this line, projecting Harris to hit 1.5 threes tonight, so with a +128 price on the over and -164 on the under, the value lies with taking the over.

Dillon Brooks Under 17.5 Points (-122)

The New York Knicks -- Dillon Brooks' opposition today -- have been excellent defensively this season, sitting fourth in defensive efficiency. They also play at the third-slowest pace, so this is a huge pace-down spot for the Memphis Grizzlies, who play at the sixth-fastest pace.

On top of that, the Knicks have been super tough on two-guards, permitting just 21.2 points per game to the position, the third-fewest.

All signs point to this being a difficult matchup for Brooks. As such, we project him for just 15.2 points. There is good value on the under on Brooks' points prop.

Marcus Smart Under 3.5 Rebounds (+108)

It's not easy to find positive things to say about the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. One area of strength lately, however, has been their rebounding.

For the season, the Wolves are giving up the third-most boards per night to opponents. That's tightened up of late, especially against shooting guards. Over their last 15 games, shooting guards are pulling down just 5.7 rebounds per game against Minnesota (seventh-fewest).

Marcus Smart, who plays Minnesota today, is averaging just 3.0 rebounds per contest, and he's grabbed four or more rebounds in only three of his past seven games.

Our algorithm has Smart totaling 3.3 rebounds tonight. With +108 on the under and -130 on the over, I prefer siding with the under.