NBA Best Bets and Player Props for Thursday, April 4

It's Thursday night, which means NBA on TNT. Tonight's doubleheader tips off with the Kings at the Knicks, followed by the Nuggets at the Clippers.

Beyond what should be a quality TNT doubleheader, we have a pair of games with playoff implications as the 76ers are at the Heat and the Warriors are at the Rockets.

Here are the current odds for all 5 Thursday night games:

7:30 PM: 76ers at Heat (-3.5) - Total: 209.5

7:30 PM: Kings at Knicks (-3.5) - Total: 214.5

7:30 PM: Hawks at Mavericks (-12.5) - Total: 227.5

8:00 PM: Warriors (-4.5) at Rockets - Total: 228.5

10:00 PM: Nuggets (-3.5) at Clippers - Total: 221.5

Best Bet: Nuggets (-3.5)

We are laying 3.5 points on the road with the Nuggets tonight. When assessing this game, it's important to note that the Nuggets will be without Jamaal Murray and the Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard.

The Nuggets are 13-9 in games without Murray this season, while the Clippers are 3-4 in games without Leonard. Denver beat a healthy Clippers team (113-104) without Murray and Jokic in November, but lost their most recent matchup (111-102).

The Leonard injury could not have come at a worse time for the Clippers. They are 5-5 in their last 10, and are just 2-8 against the spread over that stretch.

We think Jokic shows up in a primetime spot and the Nuggets cover the 3.5-point spread on the road.

NBA Thursday Player Props

Look for a Rockets rookie to dominate the boards in a key matchup against the Warriors, while Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic should show their quality playmaking skills this Thursday night.

C Nikola Jokic (DEN): Over 21.5 RA

Jokic has easily surpassed his RA mark in two games against the Clippers this season, with 25 RA in both games against Los Angeles. Today, expect some of the same production as LA can’t contend with Nikola on the block nor at the high post.

After a close victory at home against the Spurs, look for the Nuggets to try to get in control of this game early in LA via Jokic’s playmaking. He’s secured 13 or more boards in 9 of his last 10 against the Clippers.

G Luka Doncic (DAL): Over 0.5 TD

With Atlanta and Dallas both top six in PPG this season, we expect this game to have a high over/under total and scoring from the wing positions to rack up during this game in Dallas.

Coming off a triple-double in a loss to the Warriors, look for Doncic to tear up the Atlanta defense that has allowed the 4th most PPG in the league this season.

Luka dropped 73, yes 73 points against the Hawks earlier this season, so while his scoring will be a point of emphasis to defend, look for the playmaking opportunities to skyrocket.

F Jimmy Butler (MIA): Over 31.5 PRA

As the season winds down, we are looking at Jimmy Butler’s PRA prop total as the one to target against playoff opponents. Butler has hit this PRA mark in two of three games against Philly this season.

With Miami attempting to avoid a Play-In game, expect Butler’s leadership and assassin-like April and May play to come alive tonight against Philly.

G Amen Thompson (HOU): Over 8.5 REB

Thompson has been a crucial part of the Rockets in-season turnaround. The rookie has come alive as the best athlete in Houston, averaging 8.5 RPG post All-Star break while serving as a top defender for Ime Udoka’s squad.

Over the Warriors’ last three games, they have allowed 12 offensive boards per game to opponents. With Thompson averaging 3.5 offensive boards per contest in the past two months, this is a matchup we like as Thompson displays some serious double-double threat in the game of the evening.