On this NBA Wednesday, there are eight games, and it’s one of my favorite kind of slates.
Of the 16 teams playing tonight, just two are on the second night of a back-to-back. Now, that doesn’t guarantee anything, but when it comes to prop betting, it’s helpful to have players rested.
Now, let’s dig into this slate and try to have another profitable night.
Betting on Giannis Antetokounmpo is a good place to start.
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NBA Player Props & Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 32.5 Points (-122)
| Milwaukee Bucks at Atlanta Hawks | Bucks -2.5 |
| Time | TV | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Best Line | FanDuel |
Over Giannis’ last 10 games, he’s averaging 34.4 points per game. That’s even more impressive when you consider he has only scored 31 points combined in his last two games.
Antetokounmpo has five 40-point games in his last 10 outings. However, he has not scored 33 points in his last three games.
Tonight, he has a great chance to bounce back against the Atlanta Hawks.
If a team is going to stop Antetokounmpo, they’re going to have to prevent him from going downhill and getting into the paint. Atlanta ranks 25th in points allowed in the paint.
The Hawks will also be without Clint Capela for the eight straight game due to a calf injury. That’s another hit to the Hawks’ size and rim protection.
Since Capela has been out, the Hawks are allowing 123.5 points per game. For the season, the Hawks are allowing 116.4 points per game, which ranks 22nd in the league.
They’re also 21st in free-throw attempts allowed. Antetokounmpo’s struggles at the free-throw line have been well documented, but he does attempt 13.2 per game. Even an 8-for-13 night from the stripe will put Antetokoumpo almost a fourth of the way towards hitting this over.
Additionally, this game will be nationally televised on ESPN, and we know stars tend to get up for those. The Bucks were on ESPN last Wednesday, as well, and while Antetokounmpo did not score 33 points, he did have 30 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.
I expect him to add three more points to his line tonight.
Jayson Tatum Over 4.5 Assists (-120)
| New Orleans Pelicans at Boston Celtics | Celtics -9.5 |
| Time | TV | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| Best Line | DraftKings |
Antetokounmpo could be joined in the Eastern Conference All-Star starting lineup by Jayson Tatum.
Like Antetokounmpo, Tatum is averaging over 30 points per game. However, he also continues to develop as a playmaker.
Tatum is averaging 4.2 assists per game this season and 4.6 over his last 10 games. In his last 10 games, he’s recorded five assists five times and finished with four in two others.
Celtics point guard Marcus Smart has missed the last two games with a left knee contusion.
On Monday, Tatum dished out seven assists against the Bulls in his absence. Even if Smart is ruled in, I feel comfortable with this line. Tatum had 10 assists last Thursday against the Mavericks.
Tonight, Tatum gets the New Orleans Pelicans, who are 15th in assists allowed, per props.cash.
The Celtics offense runs through Tatum, even more so without Smart. According to NBA stats, he’s averaging 7.6 potential assists per game over his last 10 games.
With a potent offense surrounding him in Boston, Tatum should be able to turn five of those into assists.
Tyrese Haliburton Over 9.5 Assists (-115)
| Indiana Pacers at New York Knicks | Knicks -4.5 |
| Time | TV | 7:30 p.m. ET | NBA League Pass |
| Best Line | FanDuel |
Another player making a strong case to be an All-Star this season is Tyrese Haliburton. The third-year point guard is averaging 20.3 points and 10.3 assists per game, which leads the league.
Haliburton has recorded 10 assists in four of his last five games. In that span, he’s averaging 11 assists on 22 potential assists.
Tonight, Haliburton gets the New York Knicks, who present a tough matchup on paper. Per props.cash, the Knicks allow the 11th-fewest assists. They also allow the fourth-fewest assists to point guards.
However, tough matchups have not stopped Haliburton, who has gone over against the Sixers, Clippers and Cavaliers. He had 10 assists on 19 potential assists against the Knicks last month.
That game had 215 points, including 106 from the Pacers. Tonight’s total is at 227.5, and games have tended to be high-scoring when the Knicks are at home this season.
A few more Indiana baskets could help Haliburton go over this line.