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Welcome to our PrizePicks NBA DFS prop picks for Thursday, May 18th, 2023. The 2022-2023 NBA season is rolling along, and our friends over at PrizePicks still have a TON of great props we can look to take advantage of.
PrizePicks is a great DFS props site where you can choose to select plays in terms of fantasy points or single stats. The goal is to build a 2-player, 3-player, 4-player, or 5-player entry and then select whether or not you want to play for the power play or the flex play. On the power play, you will need to be correct on each of your selections to win, and on the flex play, you will have a little more wiggle room for a chance to win some money back. At PrizePicks, you're not playing against other people, you're just playing against the projections, and the guys at PrizePicks have worked hard to give you really attractive opportunities to make some money.
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PrizePicks Over/Under DFS Props Contests
PrizePicks has two types of games. The first type of game is known as Fantasy Score, which consists of selecting various players and trying to determine if they will go over or under their projected fantasy points in a game.
The second game is known as Single Stat. For NBA, Single Stat consists of points, rebounds, assists, three-pointers made, and free throws made, in which you determine if the player in question will go over or under their projected total.
You can mix and match players from different types of games in your entry, or select all of your plays from the same type of game. Once you have selected your players and props, you can choose the aforementioned flex play or power play option.
NBA DFS Props - Over/Under Picks for Today
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Anthony Davis OVER 24.5 Points
I'll start the day off with Anthony Davis' points prop. Davis has exceeded this projection in two of his last five outings, averaging 25.6 points during that span.
The Los Angeles Lakers will look to even the series out against the Denver Nuggets, as they currently trail 0-1. The Lakers almost pulled off an epic comeback in game one, and most of that was thanks to Davis, who dropped 40 points on 60.9 percent shooting. Davis had no problem attacking Nikola Jokic, and to get the win tonight, Davis will have to remain aggressive offensively.
The books like Davis to go over 24.5 points with -140 odds, while most books have him listed at 25.5 points with pretty even odds on the over, giving us a one-point margin here. I expect a big game from Davis tonight as the Lakers look to tie things up.
LeBron James OVER 5 Free Throws Made
Next, I'll be looking at LeBron James' free throw prop. James has either exceeded or pushed this projection in four of his last five games, averaging 6.4 free throws during that stretch.
In the past two games, James has attempted 11 free throws, hitting 72.7 percent of them. That's 16 made free throws in the past two games. It is clear James has been playing extra aggressively in these crucial playoff games, and tonight in another crucial game, I expect James to remain aggressive to prevent the Lakers from going down 0-2.
The books have James listed at 5.5 free throws made, while PrizePicks has him at only 5, giving us a half-point margin. I see this as a safe push play with great potential to go over.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope OVER 22 Fantasy Score
I'll finish things off with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's fantasy score prop. Caldwell-Pope has been over this projection in three of his last three games, averaging 35.1 fantasy points during that span.
Caldwell-Pope has been on fire lately, coming off a 35.9 fantasy score performance in game one's win over the Lakers. Caldwell-Pope has seen 36-plus minutes in each of his last two games, so the workload should definitely be there. He has also taken a combined 28 field goal attempts in his last two games combined, and I expect him to keep shooting. KCP has great steal and block upside being the great defender that he is, recording three or more steals + blocks in all of his last three games.
Compared to other sites, I'm seeing a one-and-a-half-point margin here. Based on recent game logs, and the books favoring his over of 15.5 PRA with -125 odds, I'm liking the former Laker to ball out once again tonight.
Other Recommendations:
- Nikola Jokic OVER 13.5 Rebounds
Overall recommendation for this play: FLEX
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