Coming off a St. Patrick's Day where the luck of the Irish failed to deliver in the NBA player props market (1-3), let's find redemption with four more expert picks for the slate of games on Tuesday night, including a points prop for James Harden (-108) when the Los Angeles Clippers host the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 18, 2025.
James Harden OVER 22.5 Points vs. Cavaliers (-108 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. ET
Perhaps it's the recent return of Norman Powell to the Clippers' starting lineup which has oddsmakers pessimistic for Harden, but for now, the scoring streak he's on can't be ignored by bettors. The 35-year-old veteran has gone seven-straight games dropping 24 or more points, and it all started with a 50-point outburst against the Detroit Pistons on March 5.
Harden is shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from 3-point range during this stretch, and now gets a look at a Cavaliers squad that has All-Star Evan Mobley listed as a game-time decision with an injured foot and one that's coming off a rare loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday which ended their 16-game winning streak.
Cleveland's defense is 2.2 points per 100 possessions worse on the road when compared to its season average, but its usually strong in containing opposing guards to fewer points on the season. Nonetheless, Harden's offense has been red hot and reaching an OVER on 22.5 should come naturally even against a roster as formidable as the Cavaliers.
Gary Trent Jr. OVER 11.5 Points vs. Warriors (-108 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m. ET
The Golden State Warriors finally suffered their first defeat of the Jimmy Butler era (with him active) on Monday night against a Denver Nuggets team which sat most of their key players. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is leaning towards resting superstar guard Stephen Curry on the second night of a back to back when the Milwaukee Bucks come to town, and he was the only player on the team with active odds as of early Tuesday morning.
The variety of props leans towards Milwaukee, and the one we'll be taking here is a scoring prop for Gary Trent Jr. who's averaging 13.7 points while converting 41.7 percent of his 3-point attempts over his last three appearances. He's drilled at least three triples in each of those outings, which would get him most of the way to toppling the 11.5 points oddsmakers are projecting here.
If Golden State throws in the towel and decides to rest even more talent beyond even just Curry, then the game could get away from the home side resulting in the Bucks giving more minutes to their second unit. Trent Jr. is only averaging 24.1 minutes during this string of games, and that's all he's needed to put points on the board anyway.
Dyson Daniels UNDER 14.5 Points vs. Hornets (+100 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m. ET
A top contender for both Most Improved Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors in his first year with the Atlanta Hawks, Dyson Daniels and his elite-tier "Great Barrier Thief" nickname makes more of an impact stopping opposing players rather than punishing teams on the scoreboard. That's not to imply that he can't accomplish the latter, as he's scored 20 or more points nine times this season, but that hasn't rang true in his last three appearances, which is why we're taking an UNDER on his scoring prop against the Charlotte Hornets.
It was only a week ago that Daniels finished with 10 points on 5-of-14 shooting with no made 3-pointers or free throws in the Hawks' 10-point home victory over Charlotte. He's averaging just 10 points on 34.8 percent shooting in the two games since, making it three games in a row that the 22-year-old has gone UNDER 14.5 points.
Tuesday marks the fourth and final meeting between these teams this season, with Daniels going UNDER 14.5 points twice already with the one exception coming on a 8-of-10 shooting night, which is rare.
Keon Johnson OVER 11.5 Points vs. Celtics (-122 at Sportsbook)
Preview: Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET
Cam Thomas' return to the Brooklyn Nets' lineup was short-lived as he's been diagnosed with a strained calf which will keep him sidelined for the team's remaining games. The biggest benefactor statistically of this injury is his teammate Keon Johnson, who is tied for the lead in total shot attempts with 35 over the last two games since Thomas was ruled out.
Johnson scored 21 and 22 points in those two games, respectively, which is nearly double of what's projected for him versus the reigning champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden. His 21-point night conveniently came against Boston on March 15, which was the second-most points contributed by any Nets player that day in what was a tightly-contested matchup.
The Celtics won't be caught slipping once again against one of the Associations' worst teams, but Brooklyn needs offense from somewhere, and beyond Cam Johnson, the younger Johnson is the safest bet.
