It is a loaded night of NBA action with all 30 teams set to play and games tipping off every 15 minutes.
Near the top of the list for most intriguing matchups is the Philadelphia 76ers taking on the Phoenix Suns, with Paul George making his Philly debut. The nine-time All-Star has been sidelined through the first five games due to a bone bruise in his left knee sustained in preseason. George will provide some much-needed offensive help to a Sixers team that is off to a 1-4 start and ranks 26th in scoring.
This will be a difficult matchup as the Phoenix Suns have played a more team-oriented style this season compared to last year. They are off to a 5-1 start with additions like Tyus Jones and Ryan Dunn looking to be early difference-makers on their already star-studded roster.
The Suns enter this game as 7-point favorites over the Sixers on DraftKings Sportsbook. Philadelphia is listed as +225 underdogs on the moneyline with the game total set at 222.5 points.
As he prepares to make his 2024-25 season debut, here are the best Paul George prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook:
Paul George Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook has set Paul George’s prop lines for points (17.5), rebounds (4.5), assists (3.5), and made three-pointers (2.5). Here are the top betting options to consider:
Over 17.5 Points (-115): The point line for Paul George is set at 17.5 points, with the over and under at equal -115 odds. The biggest concern with George reaching this number is his minutes potentially being limited as he returns from injury. Even still, there is a desperate need for scoring in the Sixers offense that George will fill.
Tyrese Maxey currently leads the entire NBA in shots, hoisting 26.0 field goal attempts per game. Luka Doncic ranks second in this category with 24.3 per game. Looking beyond Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr. is the only player on the Sixers roster attempting more than 10 shots per game, and both Maxey and Oubre are shooting 40.3% from the field or worse.
Enter Paul George, who was brought in to be an offensive creator. George has averaged over 17.5 points per game in every season of his career since 2014-15 and scored 18+ points in 56 of the 74 games he played last year. The Sixers offense has been starved for scoring and George should have plenty of opportunity, even if his minutes are limited. Over 17.5 points is my favorite Paul George bet on the slate.
Over 4.5 Rebounds (+110): Paul George’s rebounding prop is set at 4.5, with the under favored at -142 odds and the over set at +110. This is a prop in which the possible minutes limitation give me more pause. Throughout his career, George has averaged 6.3 rebounds per game and tallied 5.2 per contest last season, which was his lowest average since 2014-15.
Rebounding is also a clear need on this Sixers team which continues to be without Joel Embiid. Currently, the team ranks 26th in total rebounds and they are allowing an offensive rebound on a concerning 28.9% of possessions. The opportunity for rebounds will be there for George, but his minutes will dictate his level of impact. While I still lean toward the over and like the +110 odds, it is fair to be concerned the Sixers will be cautious with how much he is on the floor.
Over 3.5 Assists (+120) The assists line for Paul George is set at 3.5, with the under favored at -154 odds, while the over is set at +120. Expect Philadelphia’s offense to look drastically different with George on the team and for Maxey’s sky-high usage rate of 31.8% to begin to shrink. George has averaged 3.7 assists per game throughout his career and 3.5 assists per game last season. In the five games without George, the Sixers have ranked dead last in the NBA in assists per game at 18.2.
Over 2.5 Made Three-Pointers (+110): The three-point line for Paul George is set at 2.5, with the under favored at -142 odds and the over set at +110. This is an area where George is expected to shine and he is coming off a career-best 41.3% three-point shooting season on 7.9 attempts per game. Throughout his career, George has shot 38.5% from beyond the arc on 6.8 attempts per game. While his ability to space the floor will especially be relied on when Joel Embiid returns, expect George to be ready to make an immediate impact with his perimeter shooting. So far this season, the Sixers rank 20th in the league in three-point attempts with 35.2 per game, and are 29th in three-point percentage at 31.3% as a team.
Futures Outlook: The futures market has already begun moving in the wrong direction for the Sixers. Now five games into the season, Philadelphia has dropped to +1100 odds the win the NBA Finals, fourth-best in the NBA, and +600 odds to win the Eastern Conference, trailing the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. They still hold -1100 odds of making the playoffs and are +600 to miss them entirely.
Hopefully, Paul George’s return will begin to spark a turnaround for the Sixers as they inch back to looking like the title contenders they theoretically are on paper.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and 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.
