Each week, Props.com selects five intriguing player and/or team NBA betting props from a busy night of action. Then we do what we do best: Provide in-depth analysis that you can choose to use (or not use!) for wagering purposes.
Here are our five favorite props from Wednesday’s slate of 13 games.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings and updated as of 3 p.m. ET Nov. 10.
Brooklyn Nets: SF Kevin Durant
The Prop: 28.5 points (at Orlando)
The Odds: Over -120/Under -105
This one has the makings of a “trap” (cue our beloved Admiral Ackbar), since Durant has averaged 32.5 points in his last four games while shooting 54.4 percent from the field.
Durant also has averaged 31.8 points on the road, going well above Wednesday’s projected total on all five occasions. And for the trifecta: Durant has averaged 36.9 points in his last three encounters with the Magic dating to December 2017.
One reason oddsmakers may have set this number (seemingly) low: This is the Nets’ third game in four nights, and Durant played 35 and 36 minutes in the previous two. Perhaps Brooklyn’s superstar gets some extended rest on the bench tonight?
Milwaukee Bucks At New York Knicks
The Prop: 220.5 combined points (alternate total)
The Odds: Over +110/Under -150
This alternate tally — which is 3.5 points higher than DraftKings’ actual total — might be a tough climb, given that Milwaukee (107.7 points per game, 17th overall) and New York (111.7 points per contest, third overall) have only surpassed 221 total points in a combined nine of 22 games this season. That includes New York’s 113-98 victory at the Bucks on Friday.
Also, Bucks road games have averaged 218.3 combined points in six contests, three of which eclipsed this alternate number. Meanwhile, three of the Knicks’ last four games at Madison Square Garden have fallen short of this number.
Milwaukee is playing the second night of a back-to-back after Tuesday’s 118-109 win at Philadelphia, while it’s the third game in four nights for New York, so fatigue could be a factor.
Detroit Pistons: SG Cade Cunningham
The Prop: 25.5 combined points/rebounds/assists (at Houston)
The Odds: Over -110/Under -110
Cunningham, who was this year’s No. 1 overall pick, had a rough start with the rebuilding Pistons. He missed Detroit’s first four games because of injury, and then when he got on the court, he put up a grand total of eight points in his first two professional outings while making just 3 of 22 shots.
Things have picked up lately, though, with Cunningham averaging 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in his last two games while logging more than 30 minutes on both occasions.
Wednesday’s showcase marks Cunningham’s national TV debut, and it happens to come in a matchup against fellow rookie and No. 2 overall pick Jalen Green, who talked endless trash this summer, claiming he should have been Detroit’s choice at No. 1.
Cunningham is facing the perfect opponent to go Over this prop number, as the Rockets rank 25th overall in scoring defense (allowing 111.2 points per game), 24th in opponents’ field-goal shooting (45.7 percent), and 22nd in opponents’ assists (24.6 dimes per contest).
New Orleans Pelicans
The Prop: Pelicans -2.5 in the first half (vs. Oklahoma City)
The Odds: Pelicans -115/Thunder -105
The Pelicans may be languishing at 1-10, the NBA’s worst overall record, but the club has been a solid first-half moneymaker for bettors, going 7-4 ATS .
Conversely, the Thunder’s 3-6 ATS mark after 24 minutes is one of the worst in the league (and it mirrors the team’s overall record).
Granted, New Orleans has only held three halftime leads all season, but those three were by margins of 11, 11 and 6 points. And while the Thunder have picked up victories in their last two outings, they trailed at the break both times — and trailed big (55-45 vs. San Antonio; 52-38 at Lakers).
Los Angeles Lakers: PG Russell Westbrook
The Prop: 10.5 assists (vs. Miami)
The Odds: Over -110/Under -110
Westbrook already has two triple-doubles with the Lakers, including Monday’s effort of 17 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds against the Hornets. But while the former league MVP is averaging a solid 8.5 dimes per game, he’s registered double-digit assists just three times with Los Angeles.
Two more reasons to lean toward the Under here: Westbrook has gone over 10 assists just once in his last five games against the Heat (average of 7.6 per contest), and Miami ranks seventh in fewest assists allowed (21.3 per game).
On the other hand, LeBron James is out multiple weeks with an injury, meaning Westbrook has to share the ball with one fewer superstar — which in theory should elevate his assist opportunities.
