Several teams will play their first back-to-back games of the season after a packed schedule on Tuesday night including the Boston Celtics who were embarrassed last night by the Atlanta Hawks. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavs have yet to lose a game after a 12-0 start.
We’re targeting the best NBA prop bets for Wednesday featuring Darius Garland, Bennedict Mathurin, Cam Thomas, Josh Giddey, Norman Powell and Jalen Williams.
Indiana Pacers (5-5) at Orlando Magic (6-6)
- Tip-off: 7:10pm ET
- Point Spread: Pacers -2
- Total: 225.5 o/u
- Pick: Magic +2
The Pacers and Magic played each other twice already this season and split their series with the home team prevailing.
The Magic won three games in a row after leading scorer Paolo Banchero went down with a torn oblique. Without Banchero, Franz Wager stepped up and led the Magic in scoring in six straight games including 32 points in a victory against the Hornets last night.
Bennedict Mathurin Prop Bet
Over 18.5 points. We’re riding a hot hand in Mathurin as one of our best NBA prop bets today.
Bennedict Mathurin has been hot for the Pacers over his last six games while averaging 24.5 ppg and shooting 52% from 3-point land. He recently torched the Knicks for a season-high 38 points.
Cleveland Cavs (12-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-8)
- Tip-off: 7:40pm ET
- Point Spread: Cavs -9.5
- Total: 217.5 o/u
- Pick: Cavs -9.5
The Cavs keep winning despite a couple of close calls last week. They’re still one of the top betting teams with a 9-3 ATS record.
The Cavs are the highest scoring team in the NBA averaging 122.4 ppg. They scored under 113 points only twice and never scored fewer than 105. To put that in comparison, the 76ers are tied for the third-lowest scoring team in the league with 107 ppg.
The 76ers won only two games this season, and both were overtime victories. Joel Embiid played his first game this season in last night’s loss to the Knicks. An ailing Embiid hinted he would not play back-to-back games this season, so expect him to sit this one out.
Interesting stat: No one from the Cavs led the team in scoring in consecutive games this season with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley swapping off top scorer duties every night. Mitchell led the Cavs with 36 points against the Bulls on Monday.
The Cavs are the best 3-point shooting in the league with a 41.3% success rate. The 76ers allow opponents to shoot 37.8% from downtown, which is the third worst in the NBA.
Darius Garland Prop Bet
Over 18.5 points. Garland averages nearly 22.0 ppg this month. We expect him to take advantage of a terrible perimeter defense. Garland attempted 7.1 treys per game and knocked down nearly 46% of them.
Boston Celtics (9-3) at Brooklyn Nets (5-6)
- Tip-off: 7:40pm ET
- Point Spread: Celtics -9
- Total: 217.5 o/u
- Pick: Nets +9
Everyone thought the Nets were going to tank this season, but they have been sneaky good with a roster of cast offs. That’s one of the reasons why they’re the best betting team in the NBA at 9-2 ATS. If you don’t keep Cam Thomas (24.5 ppg) in check, he’ll light you up.
The Celtics and Cavs are the best two teams in the east, yet the Nets lost close games to both squads last weekend including an overtime loss in Boston.
The Celtics were upset by the Hawks last night who didn’t have Trae Young and still won as a +16.5 underdog. This is a “get right” spot for the Celtics, but the Nets already forced them into overtime once this season. The Nets are not intimidated easily and cannot wait to battle the defending champs in Brooklyn.
Cam Thomas Prop Bet
Over 23.5 points. Thomas has four games over 30-plus points including 31 against the Celtics last weekend.
Chicago Bulls (4-7) at New York Knicks (5-5)
- Tip-off: 7:40pm ET
- Point Spread: Knicks -8.5
- Total: 228
- Pick: Bulls +8.5
The Knicks played a road game in Philadelphia last night, but didn’t have to travel far to return home. The Knicks host the Chicago Bulls who lost five out of their last six games.
The up-tempo Bulls play at the fastest pace (105.05) in the NBA. Billy Donovan’s crew looks to push the ball and everyone has the green light to shoot 3-pointers. The Bulls attempt 41.5 per game, which is ranked #3.
Jalen Brunson rolled his ankle early in the third quarter, but finished the game. We like Bulls point guard Josh Giddey to have a strong performance against a hobbled Brunson in this back-to-back spot. In his first season with the Bulls, Giddey averaged 13.9 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game.
Josh Giddey Prop Bet
Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists. Giddey had eight instances in 11 games when he exceeded 25 combined points, rebounds, and assists.
New Orleans Pelicans (3-8) at Oklahoma City Thunder (9-2)
- Tip-off: 7:40pm ET
- Point Spread: Thunder -14.5
- Total: 221.5 o/u
- Pick: Over 221.5
The Thunder suffered a huge blow when Chet Holmgren fractured his hip over the weekend. Backup center Isaiah Hartenstein is still out with a fractured hand, so they’re thin at center. Head coach Mark Daigneault adjusted with a small-ball lineup against the Clippers. He started forward Jalen Williams (19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds) at center along with four guards.
The Pelicans are also decimated with injuries. Their locker room looks more like an ER with so many players out. Zion Williamson and Jose Alvarado are the latest casualties.
Jalen Williams Prop Bet
Over 26.5 points + rebounds. Williams tallied 28 points and eight rebounds in his first start without Holmgren. We expect Williams to thrive against a depleted frontline.
L.A. Clippers (6-5) at Houston Rockets (7-4)
- Tip-off: 8:10pm ET
- Point Spread: Rockets -4.5
- Total: 214.5 o/u
- Pick: Under 214.5
The under is 7-4 for both the Rockets and Clippers this season. Both teams are in the Top 6 in defense with the Rockets (106.5 ppg) ranked #3 and the Clippers (108.8 ppg) ranked #6.
Norman Powell Prop Bet
Over 21.5 points. Powell is playing phenomenal which is why we love this matchup for him as one of our best NBA prop bets today.
Norman Powell is having an insane start to this season. What’s crazier? That Powell is the leading scorer of the Clippers or that he’s averaging 5-plus points a game more than James Harden?
Powell averaged a career high of 26.0 ppg this season and knocked down 50.5% of his 3-pointers (on 8.3 attempts per game). The 10-year veteran from UCLA was a valuable role player with the Toronto Raptors during their championship run. Now that he’s a starter, he’s become the primary option for the Clippers.
Harden only averages 20.8 ppg this season, but he’s dishing 9.0 assists per game and finding a wide-open Powell on the perimeter.
