The Dallas Mavericks were dealt a tough blow on Christmas Day when Luka Doncic was injured but there are a few players who could step up in his absence.
My NBA picks are putting a plus-money bet on one of those players with my three favorite NBA player props for Friday, December 27.
Best NBA player props today
Bane Over 4.5 assists (-115 at bet365) 
Sengun Under 18.5 points (-115 at bet365) 
Grimes 15+ points (+235 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-27 at 12:05 p.m. ET.
NBA player props for December 27
Prop bet #1: Desmond Bane Over 4.5 assists
Desmond Bane had only two assists last night but that was in just 23 minutes of playing time in a blowout win against the Raptors. However, Bane had dropped 7+ dimes in his previous five games and has averaged 5.8 assists over the last month.
The Memphis Grizzlies guard should rack up assists tonight against a New Orleans Pelicans squad that plays at a fast pace and doesn't defend. The Pels are 25th in the league in points per game allowed (117.5) and 28th in assists allowed per game (28.5).
Prop bet #2: Alperen Sengun Under 18.5 points
When the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves previously clashed in late November, Alperen Sengun led Houston to an overtime win with a 22-point triple-double. However, there are a few reasons to think Sengun will have a tough time replicating that success as a scorer.
It took Sengun 42 minutes and 23 field-goal attempts to get those 22 points and he's played a total of 52 minutes with 22 field-goal attempts over his last two games. A healthy Steven Adams is now cutting into his minutes at center and emerging forward Cam Whitmore (16 FGA in each of the last two games) has been taking some of his shots.
Sengun has been held below 17.5 points in six of his last eight games. He won't find it easy to score against a slow-paced Timberwolves team that defends at a high level and has allowed a paltry 36.0 ppg in the paint over their last three contests.
Prop bet #3: Quentin Grimes 15+ points
Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic will be sidelined for at least a month with a calf injury that he suffered on Christmas Day. Doncic is third in the league with 21.2 field-goal attempts per game and there will be plenty of shots to go around in his absence.
One player who will benefit is Quentin Grimes who scored 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting on Wednesday with six of those shots coming in the second half after Doncic was injured.
Grimes has averaged 14.6 ppg across his nine starts this season. He's also dropped 20+ points in three of the last four games Doncic has missed due to injury. Expect Grimes to have a big game tonight against a Phoenix Suns team that is 28th in the NBA in defensive rating (117.7) over the last 15 games.
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