Three prop picks are in play for Wednesday’s nine-game NBA slate.
The pregame narrative: Veterans Paul George and DeMar DeRozan are tonight’s top targets. I also have a recommendation on Ivica Zubac.
Check out the best NBA prop bets for Feb. 26.
NBA prop bets
Best bet: George over 16.5 points (-125)
Star centre Joel Embiid is out, likely for some time. Check out how George has fared against this line with and without Embiid in the lineup (per StatMuse):
- With Embiid: 4-14 (14.2 PPG)
- Without Embiid: 10-10 (18.1 PPG)
George’s first year with the Philadelphia 76ers has been a disaster. His scoring output hasn’t been this low since his sophomore season (2011-12).
A recent tendon injury to his finger has limited George and forced him to play with a splint. He was injured earlier in the season, too.
That doesn’t let him off the hook completely, but it does help explain his lack of production.
George said the all-star break provided some much-needed rest and he’s responded with 15-plus points in three straight games.
It’s hard to celebrate that for a player of George’s calibre, but it’s baby steps considering how badly his month started.
The nine-time all-star averaged 10.2 points through his first five games of February.
George is moving in the right direction and I like that to continue tonight with Embiid out.
Key stat: George has topped 25 points in both meetings against the New York Knicks, who have done a poor job defending wing players.
Best NBA picks
DeRozan over 20.5 points (-108): Sticking with scoring props, I’m taking the over on a reasonable DeRozan line.
The risk here is blowout potential against the depleted Utah Jazz, who are last in the Western Conference. But there’s plenty to like about this matchup.
- Utah ranks No. 28 in the NBA in opponent points per game.
- The Jazz get shredded by wings, allowing the fourth-most points to small forwards and second most to shooting guards (per Betting Pros).
- DeRozan is averaging 24.8 points in nine games since De’Aaron Fox was traded to the San Antonio Spurs.
The veteran, known more for his midrange game and ability from the line, has been propping up his point totals with his outside shot.
DeRozan has canned multiple triples in half of his games this month.
Zubac over 15.5 points (-134): If Kawhi Leonard is humming alongside guards James Harden and Norman Powell, it’s going to make Zubac’s nightly scoring projection difficult.
It’s easier to see the upside with one of them out. That’s the case tonight in a plus matchup against the Chicago Bulls.
Powell has missed three straight games and is out Wednesday. Zubac has averaged 18.3 points over those contests, hitting the 20-point mark twice.
He’s 8-3 against this number without Powell this season. Expect the Los Angeles Clippers’ big man to produce.
- The Bulls rank last in the NBA in points allowed in the paint.
- Zubac is fourth in paint touches per game and second in field goal attempts in the paint, per NBA.com.
- Chicago allows the second-most points to centres.
Picks made at 2:04 p.m. ET on 02/26/2025.
Chris joined NorthStar Gaming from Covers.com where he was a publishing editor and wrote betting content. Before that, he was the sports editor at VICE Canada, worked for theScore and covered the Blue Jays for MLB.com. In addition to filling out the lineup card each day for the editorial team, Chris writes frequently himself, primarily on the NBA and MLB.