Finally. The first day of the NBA's 2024-25 regular season has arrived, and with it comes two enthralling matchups: the New York Knicks versus the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves versus the Los Angeles Lakers.
The first game (Knicks vs. Celtics) features what could very possibly be an early preview of the Eastern Conference Finals, while the second bout shows the new-look Timberwolves on the road against LeBron James and the Lakers.
Does it get any better than this?
For this two-game, opening night slate, two NBA player props stuck out as potential value plays, including Al Horford to hit at least two 3-pointers and Josh Hart to record one or more steals.
Keep reading below to find out more!
Al Horford Over 1.5 Made Threes (-136)
Knicks vs. Celtics | 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
With Kristaps Porzingis sidelined until December, Horford will see a fairly substantial amount of minutes, despite the fact that he is 38 years old.
While his minutes dropped last season because he was playing behind Porzingis, Horford still put up a respectable 8.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on a hyper-efficient 51/42/87 split; he has quietly become one of the best shooting centers in the NBA.
Boston's frontcourt is quite thin without Porzingis, with Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman listed as the backups, so expect a healthy amount of tick for Horford in this one, especially considering that the C's will be up against talented stretch five Karl Anthony-Towns.
Luckily, Horford has shot it well from deep against the Knicks in the recent past, knocking down at least two 3-pointers in six of his past eight outings against them.
And here's another interesting statistic: Horford has hit at least two 3s in 13 of his past 16 regular season games, when logging 30 or more minutes, which we expect him to get very close to without Porzingis available.
Further, New York allowed the second-most made 3-pointers to opposing centers last season and that likely won't change with KAT on the floor instead of Isaiah Hartenstein or Mitchell Robinson. The latter two players are objectively better defenders, too.
Ultimately, expect all of the Knicks' defensive attention to be on Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, potentially opening the door for an early cash if Horford knocks down his first few catch-and-shoot attempts on the perimeter.
Josh Hart Over 0.5 Steals (-127)
Knicks vs. Celtics | 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Known as one of the game's best rebounding guards, Hart is also an absolute pesk on the defensive end of the floor due to his lightning quick feet and hands, and tenacity.
In a rivalry game against the Celtics on opening night, it is more than fair to believe that he will be locked in on that end of the floor.
Excluding an 11-minute outing against the Bulls in April (he was ejected), Hart has logged at least one steal in 16 of his past 18 regular season games.
Of course, it should be noted that Boston led the NBA in fewest turnovers per game last season, but this Knicks defense has length all over the floor, with wings like Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges applying constant perimeter pressure on Tatum and Brown. It should be deflections galore.
My model projects Hart to finish with 1.29 steals tonight, giving this bet plenty of value. Boston will make some mistakes, especially this early in the season against such an elite defense.
