Pistons vs. Raptors prop bets: Expect VanVleet and Ivey to pile up assists
The Toronto Raptors are massive home favourites against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.
The pregame narrative: Fred VanVleet and Jaden Ivey have been moving the rock lately and we’re backing both players to clear their assist totals tonight. Meanwhile, OG Anunoby is struggling on the glass and that has us fading his rebound total.
NBA odds as of 10:39 a.m. on 03/24/2023.
Pistons vs. Raptors prop bets
Best Bet: VanVleet over 8.5 assists (-113)
VanVleet has looked every bit a floor general since the all-star break and is averaging 9.2 assists to go along with 19.8 points per game.
That assists mark is significantly higher than the 6.6 he averaged in the 50 games prior to the break.
He’s recorded 11-plus helpers in each of his past two games and has cleared this mark in seven of his last 11. We’re encouraged by the way Toronto’s point guard is moving the rock but are even more bullish on this play because of his opponent.
The Pistons aren’t a good basketball team, in fact, they’re a horrible one.
Detroit tends to keep things close against Toronto but that doesn’t change the fact that it allows the second-most assists per game to point guards (9.35), according to FantasyPros.
VanVleet only played one game against the Pistons this season and fell just under this mark with eight helpers. We’re confident he can rack up at least one more tonight.
Key stat: VanVleet is averaging 9.2 AGP in March, the eighth most in the NBA.
Quick picks
Ivey over 5.5 assists (+110): Ivey’s had an up-and-down rookie campaign but it looks like he’s finally beginning to settle in. He’s recorded at least five assists in each of his past six games, clearing this line in four of those contests.
Toronto struggles mightily with giving up assists to shooting guards. The Raptors give up the most helpers to that position nightly.
Ivey cleared this mark in each of his three games against Toronto this season, averaging 8.3 assists in those contests.
Anunoby under 4.5 rebounds (-118): Anunoby had six rebounds against the Indiana Pacers on Monday but he fell under this mark in each of his nine games prior.
The small forward is averaging just 3.4 rebounds per game in March and picked up just three rebounds when Toronto last played Detroit in February.
It’s reasonable to assume Anunoby will have more space on the glass if Scottie Barnes remains sidelined but we’re still going to fade him here.
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