With an 11-game Wednesday evening slate, it’s a busy night for basketball. There are several notable matchups, including the Celtics and Pacers facing off in an Eastern Conference Finals rematch and the Spurs and Thunder squaring off in a potential budding rivalry later on.
We are still in the extremely early portions of the season and the hierarchy of the league is still being established. While you can check out each matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook, here are my favorite player props on the October 30th slate.
Tobias Harris Over 1.5 Made Three-Pointers (+154)
It will be an interesting homecoming for Tobias Harris. The 32-year-old spent the last six seasons with the 76ers and will be returning to Philadelphia for the first time. Harris was underwhelming relative to expectations after signing the near-max contract back in the summer of 2019 and had a turbulent relationship with the fans throughout.
While Harris has said all the right things publicly, expect there to be some additional fire in this matchup. He should especially be looking to get on the right track after a slow start to his Pistons tenure. Through the first four games, he is averaging just 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in his 34.8 minutes per game. He is also shooting just 34.1% from the field and 17.6% from beyond the three-point arc.
Even still, Harris has attempted at least three 3-pointers in every game and tallied over 1.5 made three-pointers once. Harris has been a 36.7% three-point shooter throughout his career and is due for some positive shooting regression. Expect him to have a focused effort in this game and be ready to launch from the perimeter. Jump on the +154 odds for Harris to record over 1.5 three-pointers as the boos rain down from the crowd.
Victor Wembanyama Over 39.5 Points, Rebounds & Assists (-115)
The San Antonio Spurs are facing off with the Oklahoma City Thunder as the biggest underdogs in today’s slate. While Chet Holmgren has cleared things up publicly, there were some additional fireworks between Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama when the two faced off last season. Wembanyama also finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in their most recent matchup. Both players have extremely unique skill sets and are capable of creating on the perimeter despite their 7-foot frames.
Through the opening three games of the season, Wembanyama is averaging 20.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He is also coming off an impressive 20-rebound performance in the Spurs’ last game. Both these teams are coming off at least one day of rest with no new notable injury changes.
As Wembanyama prepares to face off against the Western Conference favorites, these are the types of matchups he is expected to shine in. Expectations have already grown incredibly high for the reigning Rookie of the Year and for good reason. Expect this to be a statement performance for the Spurs superstar and for him to have his fingerprints all over this game. The combined 39.5 total of points, rebounds and assists is well within his range and he has cleared in two of the three games thus far. Expect this to continue in this matchup and for Wembanyama to have his best game of the season.
James Harden Over 34.5 Points & Assists (-120)
The Los Angeles Clippers are off to a 2-1 start to the season and will prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers. James Harden has been a driving force for the team’s success and is still showing some life in his legs at 35 years old.
Through the opening three games, Harden is averaging 25.0 points, 11.7 assists and 8.3 rebounds per game. He has eclipsed 34.5 combined points and assists in two of the three games, recording 34 combined points and assists in the lone game he has missed. As the Clippers prepare to face the Trail Blazers, expect Harden to continue to be at the epicenter of everything they do offensively.
In addition, the Clippers have been off since Sunday, so Harden will enter this game rested. Expect there to be some increased sharpness in his movement and for Harden to continue showcasing why he is worth his desired extension. Count on the 10-time All-Star to eclipse this number once again and remain on the pathway of one of the more productive players in the league this season.
Paolo Banchero More Than 26.5 Points (-120)
The superstar leap is here for Paolo Banchero. Entering his third year, Banchero has showcased an improved three-point ability while maintaining his physically imposing style of play. Through the first four games, Banchero is averaging 28.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. He is coming off one of the most impressive performances of his career as Banchero tallied 50 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists in the Magic’s victory over the Pacers.
The biggest stride forward has been with Banchero’s perimeter shooting. He is connecting on 39.1% of his three-point attempts while launching a career-high 5.8 attempts per game. There was plenty of buzz this offseason regarding a shooting leap for Banchero and the early signs are incredibly promising.
Heading into this game, Orlando is set to face off with the Chicago Bulls. Banchero’s 6-foot-10 frame will cause issues for Chicago. The All-Star looks like a man on a mission so far this season and should shine as the best player on the floor in this matchup. Expect him to continue building off his strong start to the season and for Banchero to eclipse 26.5 points for the third time this season.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
