February 17 NBA Player Props – Picks and Over/Unders for Thursday Games

• The NBA’s final slate before the All-Star Break tips-off on Thursday (Feb. 17th)
• There are five games scheduled and player props are available to bet for many of the league’s biggest stars
• See below to find out where we think the betting value lies

NBA All-Star Weekend is set to begin on Friday, but before the festivities can get underway there’s one final slate on the calendar. Five games are scheduled for Thursday night, and while player props are not yet available for every contest, there is plenty of star power to bet on from the games with odds posted.

Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid headline the slate, but we’re going to be searching elsewhere for our betting action.

NBA Player Props – Thursday, February 17

Odds as of Feb. 16th at DraftKings

We’ll start our player props card in New Orleans, where the Pelicans host Dallas in a game that could wind up underwhelming for at least one New Orleans shooter.

With Milwaukee as sizable favorites in the Bucks vs 76ers odds, Joel Embiid will likely need to surpass his points and rebounding totals to give Philly a chance at a win.

Pick #1: Brandon Ingram Under 20.5 Points

The Pelicans are 2.5-point underdogs versus the Mavericks, and bettors are probably expecting a big night from Brandon Ingram based on how he’s fared in previous matchups with Dallas. Ingram put up 24 and 29 points in two games earlier this season versus the Mavs, but he’s seen a big decrease in opportunity since the arrival of CJ McCollum.

Every night… teams leaving CJ McCollum open just to keep Ingram from scoring pic.twitter.com/p10xfdLbJ1

— Ingram Alerts (@IngramAlerts) February 15, 2022

In four games since McCollum joined New Orleans, Ingram has averaged only 14 shots per outing. In the previous four contests, he was averaging 19 shots a night. Not surprisingly, his production has taken a hit. Ingram has reached 20 points in only one of the four games since McCollum’s arrival, and is no longer considered the Pelicans number one option.

Brandon Ingram is playing absolutely awesome basketball these days. It's a joy to watch. pic.twitter.com/VL47so5Jjc

— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) February 15, 2022

His usage rate was 30% in 40 games without McCollum, but just 26% in four games with him. Also working against him on Thursday is a stingy Mavericks defense. Dallas ranks fifth in defensive rating, while only Cleveland yields fewer points per game.

Pick #2: Tyrese Maxey Under 16.5 Points

Next up, let’s fade Tyrese Maxey as the Sixers face the Bucks as 7-point underdogs. Maxey has been ice cold shooting the ball recently, posting 16 or fewer points in four of his last five outings. He’s been held below 32% from the field in two of his past four starts, and faces a difficult matchup on Thursday in Milwaukee.

Maxey will be hounded by Jrue Holiday all night, one the league’s premier guard defenders. Holiday has been an All-NBA defender twice in the last four seasons, while the Bucks yield the eighth lowest field goal percentage to opposing shooters.

just unreal defense by Jrue Holiday in the biggest moment of his pro bball career pic.twitter.com/qJe4bYPIBX

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 20, 2021

Maxey did play well earlier in the year versus the Bucks but it was in a game Embiid missed. The 21-year-old got off a season-high 24 shots in that contest, which is roughly double the amount of field goal attempts he averages per game.

In three career contests against the Bucks, he’s failed to reach 16 points twice.