NBA Player Props: Marcus Smart, Brandon Ingram Among Best Picks

There are two games on the NBA schedule tonight with playoff implications.

First, Boston Celtics will battle the Milwaukee Bucks as they look to close the gap on the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The nightcap features the New Orleans Pelicans visiting the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets.

Let's dive right into how to bet a pair of NBA player props today.

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NBA Player Props & Picks

Celtics vs.

Bucks

Marcus Smart, Over 5.5 Assists (+107)

The battle for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference tips off tonight in Milwaukee. Currently, the Bucks hold a 2.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics. and this game should have a playoff-type of atmosphere. I am zoning in Celtics point guard Marcus Smart to have a successful night dishing out the basketball.

According to NBA Advanced Stats, over the last five games, the Milwaukee Bucks are allowing the seventh-most assists to their opponents. Furthermore, over the past two weeks, the Bucks are allowing the point guard position to average 7.4 assists per game.

On the season, Smart is averaging 6.3 assists per game and he has gone over this number in 35 of his 58 games this season. The matchups is also favorable — Smart has plenty of success against the Bucks raking up the assists. In fact, Smart has recorded six or more assists against the Bucks in five straight games.

In an earlier matchup this season, Smart recorded eight assists against the Bucks’ I expect the success to continue tonight for Smart against the Bucks. You can find this prop at 4.5 currently, but I did play this at 5.5 for better odds.

Pelicans vs.

Nuggets

Brandon Ingram, Over 6.5 Assists (+100)

The New Orleans Pelicans will visit the Denver Nuggets in the Mile High City in a Western Conference matchup. The Pelicans are in a battle for play-in positioning with six other teams in the West. They have been playing well of late and have won five out of their past six games. One player who has had plenty of success has been Brandon Ingram.

Over the last five games, Ingram is averaging 29.8 points and 8.2 assists. I am expecting another big night from Ingram dishing out the basketball in recent games. Ingram has dished out seven or more assists in five of the past six games for the Pelicans.

Furthermore, Ingram has dished out nine or more assists in three straight matchups against the Nuggets dating back to last season. He has gone over this number in 15 of the 39 games he's played this season.

Despite the Nuggets allowing the fewest amount of assists to their opponents over the last five games, the recent success of Ingram can’t be ignored. I expect another night of Ingram getting his teammates involved and getting over this projection of 6.5.