Each week, Props.com will select five intriguing player and/or team NBA prop bets from a busy night of league action, and subsequently do what we do best: Provide in-depth analysis that you can choose to use (or not use!) for wagering purposes.
Here are some interesting props from Wednesday’s slate of 10 NBA games.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings and updated as of 12 noon. ET on Oct. 27.
Orlando Magic: PG Cole Anthony
The Prop: 16.5 total points scored (vs. Charlotte)
The Odds: Over +100/Under -120
Anthony’s 37-point explosion on the final day of the 2020-21 campaign might have been a subtle indicator of a sophomore-year breakout.
Anthony has cracked double digits in all four of Orlando’s games so far, including a 29-point effort at the Knicks last week when he buried 9 of 16 shots (including five three-pointers) in an overtime win. Then again, his other three double-digit scoring efforts were modest to say the least: 12 points at Miami, 10 points in a home rematch against New York, and 10 points at San Antonio.
Tonight, though, Anthony should have plenty of opportunities to reach (and eclipse) 17 points, as he’s facing a Hornets team that is allowing 117.3 points per game (fourth-worst in the league). Also, the North Carolina product averaged 18.3 points in three contests against Charlotte last year.
*Looking for more NBA Props on Wednesday? Check out our Top 5 NBA Picks to place on Underdog Fantasy or your favorite legal sportsbook.
Miami Heat: SF Jimmy Butler
The Prop: Over/Under 20.5 points (at Brooklyn)
The Odds: Yes -125 / No +105
Where’s the iconic Return Of The Jedi clip of Admiral Ackbar yelling, “It’s a trap!” when you need it? (Oh, here it is.)
Butler’s averaging 25.3 points through three games, well above Wednesday’s over/under projection. But that average is artificially boosted by Butler’s 36-point explosion against the Magic on Monday.
For the season, Butler has cumulatively connected on 28 of 53 shots, a superb rate of 52.8 percent. However, he has attempted only three triples (making one) and 22 combined free throws (making 19), suggesting the majority of his points Wednesday will be coming from inside the arc.
Here’s another reason this prop is tough to handicap: Butler missed all three outings against the Nets last season, and the Heat responded with wildly different scoring efforts of 124, 85, and 109 points.
Editor’s Note: New to NBA player props? Check out our complete NBA Prop Betting Guide to get up to speed!
Toronto Raptors: PF Precious Achiuwa
The Prop: Over/Under 8.5 rebounds (vs. Indiana)
The Odds: Yes -125 / No +105
The University of Memphis product is averaging 11.3 rebounds through Toronto’s first four games — a sizable upgrade from his rookie season last year when he pulled down just 3.4 boards per in a little more than 12 minutes per game.
Since grabbing seven rebounds in the season opener against Washington, Achiuwa has easily cleared this prop number, finishing with 15, 12, and 11 boards against Boston, Dallas, and Chicago, respectively.
Tonight, Achiuwa’s chances of dominating the glass seem as strong as he is. That’s because an opposing forward has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in each of Indiana’s four games. That foursome of Mason Plumlee, Kyle Kuzma, Bam Adebayo, and Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 11.9 boards versus the Pacers.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Prop: 118.5 team points (vs. Minnesota)
The Odds: Over -115/Under -115
So far, so good for the defending NBA champions, who are off to a 3-1 start. Each of those victories was by double digits, with Milwaukee tallying 127, 121, and 119 points.
Dating to last season, the Bucks are averaging 116.3 points in their last 10 regular-season home games, eclipsing 118.5 points eight times during this stretch (while going 9-1). They also have tallied at least 125 points in five of their last six meetings against Minnesota.
On the flip side, the young — but increasingly talented — Timberwolves have held their first three opponents (Houston, and New Orleans twice) to 106, 89, and 107 points.
Portland Trail Blazers: SG C.J. McCollum
The Prop: 3.5 made three-pointers (vs. Memphis)
The Odds: Over +100/Under -120
McCollum has been torching the twine this season, shooting a blistering 52.5 percent from the field while averaging 27.3 points per contest. And how’s this for consistency: McCollum has attempted 11 three-pointers in all three games, making six, six, and four shots from beyond the arc, respectively.
The above numbers mirror McCollum’s torrid start to last season, when he averaged 28.0 points, 10.8 three-point attempts, and 4.7 made three-pointers in the first seven games of a truncated season.
Then there’s this: In three games against the Grizzlies in 2020-21, McCollum went 12-for-26 on three-point attempts, drilling exactly four triples in each game. Again — consistency!