After weeks of high-level basketball and brightly painted courts, the NBA Cup ends tonight. Giannis Antetkounmpo and the Bucks are on a roll, winning eight of their last ten games, but they’ll face their toughest test yet against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Western Conference-leading Thunder. With so few players taking the floor, figuring out who to back is no easy task. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t winning bets on the board. Here are three player props worth placing on Tuesday.
To get in on all the action, look no further than DraftKings Sportsbook!
Giannis Antetokounmpo over 12.5 rebounds (+105)
To no one’s surprise, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the driving force behind Milwaukee’s NBA Cup semifinals win on Saturday. The two-time MVP nearly put together a triple-double, producing 32 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists against the Hawks. It was another stellar performance in a season filled with them; through 23 games, the Greek Freak is averaging 32.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 61.4% shooting from the field.
If the Bucks have any shot at taking down Oklahoma City, they’ll need their best player to take over. The easiest way for Antetokounmpo to do that might be on the glass, where the Thunder are giving up an NBA-worst 57.5 rebounds per game to their opponents. The power forward has gone over this total only eight times this season, but an undersized OKC squad doesn’t have the personnel to consistently box out a 6’11” monster in the paint. This matchup could have plenty of missed shots, so expect Milwaukee’s superstar to grab his fair share of boards.
Isaiah Hartenstein points + rebounds over 23.5 (-105)
While the Thunder have missed the presence of Chet Holmgren over the past month, Isaiah Hartenstein’s return has helped ease the pain. The offseason pickup has been terrific since making his season debut on November 20th, putting up 12.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 57.9% shooting. During that time, Oklahoma City has won nine of its last ten games.
Since there aren’t many big men on OKC’s roster, Hartenstein should stay on the floor for most of the night. This season, the former Knicks center has cleared this P+R total in seven of his ten appearances. Over his previous three outings with the Bucks, I-Hart produced 13.7 points and 10.3 rebounds on just over 31 minutes per game. With virtually no competition coming from his own bench, Hartenstein is one of the safest bets on Tuesday’s slate.
Damian Lillard under 3.5 three-pointers made (-135)
Giannis gets most of the attention, but hoops fans shouldn’t sleep on Damian Lillard. After a so-so first season in Milwaukee, the point guard has looked more like himself this year. Over 22 games, the eight-time All-Star is averaging 25.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists. Key to Dame’s improvement has been his shooting, where he’s posted an efficient 45.0% field goal percentage (37.1% 3PT).
However, tonight’s matchup is not ideal for any guard, even future Hall of Famers. The Thunder are giving up the fewest points in basketball (103.5 PPG), as well as the lowest three-point percentage (33.1%). A murderer’s row of scrappy perimeter defenders, including Alex Caruso, Luguentz Dort, and Cason Wallace, are capable of harassing the NBA’s best shooters. Lillard is too talented to fade entirely, but points from beyond the arc will be hard to come by in this one.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
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 barmy) 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.
