3 NBA Player Prop Bets to Target on Friday 3/18/22

Player props are a fun way to bet the NBA without having to worry about the zaniness that last-minute injuries can cause in terms of a spread or a game total.

Here, we'll focus on utilizing our projections and a slew of other tools and simulations to help make some cash.

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

The prop-betting experience on FanDuel Sportsbook is getting even more fun. You can track your player props with real-time updates and place in-game props with ease.

Note: Betting lines and our player projections may change throughout the day after this article is published.

Julius Randle Under 24.5 Points (-116)

Our model isn't quite as optimistic of the staying power that Julius Randle's latest scoring binge holds.

Randle has scored at least 25 points in four of his last five games, but this stretch was preceded by failing to reach 25 points in five of six.

This season, Randle just averages 20.9 points per 36 minutes across a variety of Knicks lineups. His production has certainly come and gone.

Both New York and Washington are bottom-seven teams in pace this season, and a limited number of possessions won't help Randle's quest for 25, either.

Overall, numberFire's model does peg Randle at just 22.2 points as a median projection -- well below this mark to justify -116 odds.

LeBron James Under 8.5 Rebounds (-104)

Anecdotally, LeBron James is slowing down after having carried this awful Lakers roster to this point. You can see it in his defense.

That small bit of effort reduction is just another nudge to put James under his rebounding prop on Friday. James hasn't been close to this prop in most recent outings. He's failed to even reach eight boards in three of the last four games, and he'd need nine to justify the "over" here.

LeBron has been starting at center for the Lakers, but now Dwight Howard has returned. Although Howard's role isn't massive, he still snatched 6 rebounds in 16 minutes during his return effort on Wednesday. James averages just 5.14 rebounds per 36 minutes sharing the floor with Dwight.

numberFire's model has LeBron projected just for 7.7 rebounds at his median in a full workload. That's hardly a given considering the Lakers have lost four of their last five games -- all coming by double digits.

Malcolm Brogdon Over 5.5 Assists (+114)

This over stood out in what's sure to be a back-and-forth affair in Houston.

A 239.0-point total is on deck as the Pacers visit the Rockets, and these two defenses are bottom-five in terms of defensive rating this month. We should see some points.

As a result, Malcolm Brogdon should have ample chances to dish out helpers. Brogdon is averaging 6.70 rebounds per 36 minutes this month, yet his listed total sits at just 5.5 for tonight with just a 46.7% implied probability to get there via these odds.

Brogdon is projected for 6.4 assists via numberFire's model, and that's comfortably outpacing this plus-money mark.