NBA props for Friday 3/22: Count on this guy for threes
I hope the first day of the Tournament did not treat you too harshly, not like Wednesday did in our NBA props picks. Yesterday, Day 1 of March Madness mostly lived up to its billing. I wonder who the next coach at Kentucky is going to be? (I don't even have a good suggestion, but maybe the Tournament will produce someone — how much would they pay for Brad Stevens?)
If you are looking for some second-, third- or fourth-screen action, tonight we have eight NBA games on the card. If I stay up late, I might keep tabs on the 76ers at the Lakers. Though it might be missing some star power.
NBA Props for Friday, March 22
Keldon Johnson Over 5.5 Rebounds (+110)
Grizzlies vs. Spurs, 8 p.m. ET
The Spurs are purely in development mode right now, the wins and losses have not mattered for some time. That usually pushes me away from games, but this is a chance for a positive payoff for just average production. He has been over this total in four of the last five games with a high of 11 boards. In the one game he missed he finished with five.
Jonathan Kuminga Over 5.5 Rebounds (+110)
Pacers vs. Warriors, 10 p.m. ET
The Warriors are playing Indiana tonight and that always means extra possessions. This is a little above his seasonal average but the pace will help with that. When he is starting his average is 5.2 rpg so this is not too much of a stretch. His defensive responsibilities should not be too much tonight so he can attack the glass more.
Caris LeVert Over 7.5 Assists (+114)
Cavaliers vs. Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET
This one caught me off guard. That fact is that with Donovan Mitchell out, LeVert is in the starting lineup and he is setting up his teammates more than I realized. As a starter, he is averaging 9.8 apg, besting this total in four of the last five with the outlier being a 7-assist game. I might not think of him as a distributor but Cleveland certainly does. Time to hop on board.
Georges Niang Over 2.5 Three Pointers (+124)
Cavs vs. Wolves, 8 p.m. ET
Niang has made close to 40% of his threes over his career. When he is on the floor he is there for really just one reason, and right now Cleveland is leaning on him a little more due to injuries — 27 mpg in March so far. He is making an average of more than two shots from behind the arc this month and has bested this total in seven of his last nine games.
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