As we creep our way back to positive units for the 2024-25 Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Luka Doncic OVER 8.5 Assists vs. Bucks (-102 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30 p.m. ET
In Doncic's first full game for the Lakers sans LeBron James against the Brooklyn Nets on March 10, the five-time All-Star recorded his second triple-double in purple and gold by ing a line of 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in over 41 minutes. His playmaking intangibles were on full display with his shot failing him that evening (9-of-26 from the field), and with the Bucks owning the fourth-best defense since the All-Star break (109.5 points allowed per 100 possessions), a similar situation could unfold on the road Thursday.
Doncic has recorded 12 or more assists in three of his last four games, and now James (groin) isn't around to run the offense in intervals by his side. So much is going to be asked of him in nearly all facets of the game until his 40-year-old teammate returns, and with the exception of perhaps Austin Reaves (10 assists in loss to Nets), no one left standing is capable of getting the remaining Lakers quality looks with the roster lacking playmakers.
Milwaukee's blueprint for success should be to test Doncic's recovering calf and force him to make ill-advised decisions away from the basket. Expect fewer points and more dimes as a result from the 26-year-old as another potential triple-double looms.
Cam Thomas OVER 27.5 Points + Assists vs. Bulls (-118 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls, 8 p.m. ET
Cam Thomas has only made five appearances for the Brooklyn Nets since Jan. 4, but his usage has slowly expanded from game to game with his 27-point performance in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 11 being his strongest of the bunch. He's attempted no fewer than 17 shots over those five outings, averaging 21.2 points but only converting 42.6 percent from the field.
The Chicago Bulls own the 25th-ranked defense in basketball by allowing opponents to score 115.7 points per 100 possessions. That, paired with their third-best overall pace of 103.54, means we're in store for a ton of points at the United Center and very little resistance, as Brooklyn's defense (115.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, 23rd) is only marginally better.
Thomas has exceeded a combination of 27.5 points and assists in three of those five aforementioned games, but has gone well over that mark the last two times he's faced off with Chicago (36 and 32, respectively). He's slotted back into his No. 1 scoring option role on the Nets rather seamlessly and moved the likes of Cam Johnson and D'Angelo Russell down a peg in the process.
Cole Anthony OVER 1.5 Made 3-Pointers vs. Pelicans (+116 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Orlando Magic vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET
Trusting anyone on the Orlando Magic to produce on the offensive end outside of the one-two punch of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner these days comes with a great deal of risk, but battling the 30th-ranked defense of the New Orleans Pelicans can provide solace during these uncertain times. New Orleans sits 29th in both opponent's 3-pointers made (14.7) and attempted (40.3), as well, and it's that number which could help Magic guard Cole Anthony succeed from behind the arc on Thursday.
Anthony has knocked down the second-most triples for Orlando over the last five games with eight at a steady 40-percent clip. He's made two or more in two of his last last three outings, but did only shoot 1-of-6 during the Magic's recent 13-point loss to the Houston Rockets on March 10.
Nonetheless, the fact that Anthony only needs to make two against a feeble Pelicans defense at plus money makes this a worthwhile investment. Something has to wake up Orlando's scoring attack, and if playing New Orleans doesn't accomplish that, then nothing will.
Keegan Murray OVER 12.5 Points vs. Warriors (+100 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. ET
Keegan Murray can often be the forgotten cog on the Sacramento Kings, showing regression as a scorer (15.2 points last season to just 12.3 in 2024-25) now that DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are in the picture. That's not to suggest he's not capable of huge outputs, yet Murray has only scored 20 or more points on four occasions when compared to the 18 times he did so a year ago.
Reaching 13 points versus the Golden State Warriors would seem rather pedestrian for most scoring wings, but for someone like Murray, it would serve as the third time he's done so in his last five games should he pull it off. He's coming off a nine-point box score in Sacramento's blowout 29-point loss to the New York Knicks on March 10, but in his defense, no one on the Kings looked particularly great that day.
Murray has scored exactly 13 points twice already this season in this matchup, and that's all he'll need to reach an OVER here.
NBA Best Player Prop Trends Today
- Jimmy Butler has gone UNDER 19.5 points in 11 of his last 12 games at home (12.6 points/game average) - (-115 at BetMGM)
- The Sacramento Kings are 5-0 (100.0%) ATS in their last 5 games on the road - Kings +6.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
- Buddy Hield has gone UNDER 2.5 three pointers in 15 of his last 19 games at home (1.5 three pointers/game average) (-145 at bet365)
- Brook Lopez has gone OVER 1.5 blocks in 11 of his last 13 games at home (2.4 blocks/game average) - (-114 at FanDuel)
- Gabe Vincent has gone UNDER 0.5 steals in 8 of his last 10 games on the road (0.2 steals/game average) - (+145 at bet365)
Brook Lopez OVER 1.5 Blocks vs LAL (-114 at Sportsbook)
Brook Lopez is a shot-blocking machine, and tonight’s matchup against the Lakers makes his OVER 1.5 blocks prop one of the best bets on the board. He’s crushed this line in 11 of his last 13 home games, averaging 2.4 blocks per contest. The Lakers love attacking the paint, which plays directly into Lopez’s strengths as one of the league’s premier rim protectors.
Recent trends also favor him, as Boston’s Al Horford hit his blocks OVER against the Lakers on March 9, and Brooklyn’s Ziaire Williams and Noah Clowney followed suit on March 10.
At -114 odds on FanDuel, this prop offers incredible value for a player who has been consistently dominant in this category. With Lopez's home-court performance and the Lakers' track record against big men, there’s every reason to believe he’ll clear this line with ease. This is one of those spots where everything aligns perfectly for Lopez to cash the OVER.
- Ethan Diamandas
