NBA Thursday bets, odds, picks
Sports bettors are already familiar with staying nimble, adjusting to injuries and trade rumors.
Additionally, NBA oddsmakers are on high alert for any trades that finalize before Thursday’s deadline.
But handicapping also entails adjusting to the constantly evolving path of a player and team. A player’s performance is not always predictive.
That’s why I am focusing on Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Rockets vs. Timberwolves odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockets | -1.5 (-108) | -130 | o214 (-108) |
| Timberwolves | +1.5 (-112) | +110 | u214 (-112) |
In his second year, the forward is starting to really shine, even drawing comparisons to six-time All-Star and former NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
With two triple-doubles in his last seven games, Thompson is capitalizing on increased usage because of recent injuries to point guard Fred Van Vleet and big man Alperen Sengun.
Oddsmakers have adjusted their prop-bet options to recent production, but not enough, in my opinion.
His stat lines prior to the last two weeks do not matter to me. He’s emerged as a main offensive option, rather than solely prioritizing his elite defense.
That’s why I think Over 4.5 assists remains a solid play when the Rockets visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
I would prefer Houston be facing a bad defensive team and for the Rockets to have a high team total, but I still think Thompson will create plenty of scoring opportunities in Van Vleet’s absence.
Sengun returned from injury in Houston’s last game, and Thompson still managed eight assists.
While that came against the lowly Brooklyn Nets, it still speaks to his ability to prioritize play-making and how much he can shine in their regular offense.
There’s obviously a chance Minnesota’s elite defense stymies Houston. Jaden McDaniels could pose on-ball problems for Thompson, and Rudy Gobert may reduce Thompson’s assists by protecting the rim against other Rockets, but this wager is about Thompson’s usage and emergence, to which the market has not adjusted enough.
Betting on the NBA?
My official plays in this section are 22-10.
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Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who currently serves as the Chief Content Officer for Only Players, a sports betting media company. Doug has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
