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Get Keith Eyster's top NBA player props and expert picks for Thursday 4/9/26. Uncover today's best value bets, model projections, and live odds to beat the books.
Welcome back to yet another edition of RotoBaller's NBA Props and best bets! There are six games on the schedule this evening, highlighted by multiple games with playoff seeding implications.
The regular season is winding down, and several teams are limping to the finish line with lengthy injury reports. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Stephen Curry are some of the key players who are questionable to play this evening. There are also multiple stars like Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Josh Giddey, and Kristaps Porzingis who have already been ruled out.
In this article, I will provide my favorite NBA player props picks for Thursday, April 9th. Prop picks can range from individual stats, such as points, assists, rebounds, three-pointers made, and defensive statistics, to combination props (Points + Rebounds + Assists = PRA). All odds and sportsbooks used are listed, but it's always a good idea to shop around, as odds change throughout the day as bets are placed. Alright, enough already, let's get to the prop picks!
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Today’s Best NBA Picks for Player Props
Jalen Brunson OVER 25.5 Points (-111 BetMGM)
The Knicks are trying to hang on to the number three seed in the Eastern Conference, and Cleveland sits just one back in the loss column. They should be motivated to win against the Boston Celtics, who currently hold the number two seed. New York has a clean injury report, while Boston has four rotation players, including Brown, listed as questionable.
New York should lean heavily on their star point guard, Jalen Brunson, who is coming off a big game against Atlanta. Brunson plays close to 40 minutes in competitive games, and he has scored at least 26 points in three of his last five games. One of those games was a 32-point performance against the league's best defense in Oklahoma City, so the tough matchup against the Celtics is hardly a concern for Brunson.
Joel Embiid OVER 28.5 Points (+100 NOVIG)
Sixers big man Joel Embiid has been rolling since his return from injury. In five games since he returned, he has averaged 28.6 points, and he's played at least 34 minutes in each of his last four games.
Joel Embiid scored 34 points in the Sixers' loss to San Antonio on Tuesday, shooting 8-19 from the field and 16-19 on free throws.
All eight of Embiid's baskets, quite a few of which came against Victor Wembanyama: pic.twitter.com/2Z7efeIr6W
— Adam Aaronson's clips (@SixersAdamClips) April 7, 2026
Philadelphia still has plenty to play for in the final week of the regular season, as it could move up to the six seed and out of the play-in tournament.
It's a tough matchup for Embiid and the 76ers against Houston, but they will certainly be motivated. On the plus side, Houston's defense has slipped from fifth in efficiency in the first half to 11th in the second half.
