Zach Thompson details his best player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s game between the Magic and the Rockets.
The NBA has eight games spread throughout Sunday, and one of the most interesting matchups tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET in Houston, where the Rockets host the Magic at the Toyota Center. The Rockets have improved to 8-3 after winning eight of their last nine games, while the Magic have won four of their last five to improve to 7-6.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Rockets are heavy 7.5-point home favorites, with the game total set at O/U 224.5 points.
In addition to the main game line, DraftKings Sportsbook has a host of player prop bets for Sunday night’s matchup. In this post, I’ll take a look at a few of my favorite player props on the board. Let’s dive in.
Rockets vs. Magic Best Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Anthony Black over 18.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-104)
Paolo Banchero (groin) will miss a second straight game, while Jalen Suggs (groin) is also out for Sunday. The absence of those two stars will leave plenty of work for the rest of the rotation to pick up, and the odds for Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane are both elevated as a result. While both of those players are strong options, I’m going a little deeper and grabbing Anthony Black, who has flashed a lot of upside but also been inconsistent this year.
When Suggs has been out, Black posted 14, 23 and 25 PRA (points, rebounds and assists). He stepped into a bigger role when Banchero left on Wednesday against the Knicks, finishing with 17 points, three rebounds, and three assists (23 PRA). However, on Friday against the Nets, he was in a limited role and only played 17 minutes, finishing with only two points and two assists.
His playing time hasn’t been consistent, but with both Banchero and Suggs out, he should get enough usage to get to 19 PRA. On the season, he’s producing 15.3 PRA in 26 minutes a game, but he should have a path to 30 minutes of playing time against Houston.
Reed Sheppard over 11.5 points (-119)
The Rockets have kept their oversized starting lineup without a real point guard, but Sheppard has been getting lots of playing time coming off the bench. He has played at least 24 minutes in four straight games, averaging 26.5 minutes per game. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft didn’t get a lot of chances as a rookie last year, but he has stepped into a very important role lately in Houston’s second unit.
He has scored at least 12 points in five straight games and seven of his last nine, and he should be able to go over this point line again on Sunday night, whether the game gets lopsided or stays tight.
Jabari Smith Jr. over 1.5 Assists (+107)
Smith has had a strong start to his fourth season in the NBA after missing a large part of last year with an injury. Smith has started all 10 games for Houston, averaging a career-high 32.0 minutes and 14.9 points. Smith has also been picking up better assist numbers lately, and I love getting this low assist line at plus money Sunday night.
The No. 3 overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft has averaged 1.8 assists per game this season, but he has at least two assists in four of his last five games after picking up three assists in matchups against the Wizards and Trail Blazers earlier this week.
He won’t have to deal with Banchero, and the Magic could play a little smaller overall, making this a favorable matchup for him and a chance for him to pick up at least a couple of assists.
