Best NBA player props for Saturday's slate: Siakam shares the rock

Their are 10 NBA games tonight and there is plenty of value to be found across the slate. I have picked 4 selections so let’s not waste time and dive right into them. Just remember to check out our full game previews for Saturday’s slate.

Pascal Siakam over 4.5 assists (-120)

The Toronto Raptors have made the decision to play without a traditional backup point guard. With Goran Dragic remaining away from the team and Malachi Flynn and Dalano Banton not surpassing 10 minutes of playing time in any game in 2022, the playmaking responsibilities have been spread out. Siakam is one of those players who has picked up some of that burden, having recorded 5 or more assists in 8 of his last 9 games. In those games he was also able to record 6 assists against this same Milwaukee Bucks team.

The Bucks are 20th in the NBA in opponent assists per game and could struggle to limit that part of Siakam’s game. The Raptors forward has been a handful in the paint, and he should be too quick for Bobby Portis to handle. As he draws help defenders, it should open up playmaking opportunities for the forward. The Bucks allow the 2nd-most 3-pointers per game in the NBA and with the way Fred VanVleet has been shooting, it should give Siakam a clear target to aim for.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks

Jonas Valanciunas over 18.5 points (-110)

The Brooklyn Nets simply do not have the size on the interior to deal with a center like Jonas Valanciunas. Both Day’Ron Sharp and Blake Griffin give up several inches in height to the Pelicans’ big man and could struggle to keep him off the offensive glass as a result. Griffin in particular struggles rebounding having just 1 game of 10 or more rebounds this season. Nicolas Claxton could be back for this game but he gives up too much of a weight advantage to make much of an impact.

The Nets could not stop Valanciunas in the first meeting between the teams, with the center recording 20 points. He took 8 free-throw attempts in that game and should have similar success getting to the stripe tonight as the Nets bigs resort to fouling. The Nets give up the 8th-most free-throw attempts in the league and with Valanciunas shooting over an 82% mark on the season, he should be able to make the most of this tonight.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for New Orleans Pelicans vs Brooklyn Nets

Darius Garland over 8.5 assists (-114)

Oklahoma City is an undersized team which should leave the Cavaliers’ bigs with plenty of mismatches on the inside. The man feeding them the ball should be Darius Garland. Rajon Rondo is still listed as day-to-day, which could leave Garland as the team’s main playmaker once more. Garland has been able to record 9 or more assists in 3 of his 6 games this month, coming just 1 shy on another occasion. With the Thunder 21st in the NBA in opponent assists per game, Garland is likely to be able to rack up a fair few of those.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for Cleveland Cavaliers vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Omer Yurtseven over 9.5 rebounds (-120)

Omer Yurtseven is going through a phenomenal rebounding streak. He has been able to record 10 or more rebounds in 13 straight games and is averaging 14 over his last 10 appearances. Whilst tonight’s matchup with Joel Embiid will not be easy, he should still be able to extend this. The Philadelphia 76ers are bottom of the league in rebounds per game so opportunities should be there for the rookie.

I expect Yurtseven to be active in collecting offensive rebounds tonight as it could be his best chance of keeping Embiid occupied on that end of the floor. The 76ers are 19th in the NBA in opponent offensive rebounds per game and I would expect the center to be able to grab at least 4 tonight. Whilst Embiid does stretch the floor and could force him out of the paint on the defensive end, I can still see him grabbing 6 or 7 on that end too.

Be sure to check out our full game preview for Philadelphia 76ers vs Miami Heat