The 2026-27 NBA season is heating up with a busy Friday night featuring 12 games. Key matchups include Knicks vs. Celtics and Hawks vs. Hornets, both starting at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Rockets vs. Spurs at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The SportsLine Projection Model backs the San Antonio Spurs to recover from their opening loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, predicting they will cover as 5.5-point favorites. This recommendation is part of the NBA best bets for the evening, alongside player prop bets for the other matchups.

NBA Best Bets for Friday (Odds Subject to Change):

• Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: Under 4.5 assists (-160)
• Jalen Johnson, Hawks: Over 37.5 Total Points + Assists + Rebounds (-112)
• Spurs -5.5 (-110)

Combining these picks into a parlay offers a potential payout of +487 (risk $100 to win $487).

Analysis of Key Player Props:

• Karl-Anthony Towns has historically struggled against the Celtics, achieving more than four assists only once in ten games. Bob Konarski, a SportsLine expert, notes that Towns might focus more on scoring early in the season, especially after a limited performance in the home opener.
• Jalen Johnson aims for a rebound after a subpar first game against the Orlando Magic. Despite shooting 7-for-19, he managed to contribute significantly across points, rebounds, and assists. Doug, the Prop Bet Guy, emphasizes Johnson's favorable matchup against the Hornets, who lack a strong frontcourt to counter his skills.

The Spurs, the defending Western Conference champions, are expected to bounce back despite their opening night struggles. With Victor Wembanyama anticipated to improve from his disappointing debut, the model forecasts a stronger performance in line with his previous season averages of 25 points per game. The Spurs previously dominated the Rockets, winning three out of four encounters last season with each victory by at least 11 points.