Seven games tip off on Tuesday across the NBA, with a few marquee matchups for hoops fans to dig into. Among the contests to watch, the Cavs will look to avenge their first loss in over a month when they take on the Pacers for the second time in three days. Elsewhere, the streaking Kings will attempt to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. With so many stars taking the floor, narrowing down a few players to back is easier said than done. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t bets worth placing. Here are three props catching my eye tonight.
Keegan Murray over 11.5 points (-115)
There’s new life in Sacramento, as the team has now won seven straight under interim head coach Doug Christie. While the Kings have gotten plenty of production out of their stars, several role players have stepped up as well. That includes Keegan Murray; the former lottery pick has struggled for most of the season, averaging 11.9 points on a subpar 41.9% field goal percentage (31.7 3PT%). However, the power forward has shown some signs of life, recording 15.7 points on 50% shooting over his last three appearances.
The Iowa alum has always been a bit streaky, but that just means you should ride the hot hand. Considering how cold he’s been for most of the season, the time is now. The Bucks have a solid defense, but most of their success comes from defending inside the paint. A stretch-four presents different issues for Milwaukee, something that Sacramento will hope to exploit. With Domantas Sabonis drawing in defenders down low, there should be wide-open shots for Murray from beyond the arc.
Dejounte Murray over 16.5 points (-115)
Now that Zion Williamson is back in action, New Orleans has become difficult to figure out for betting purposes. By essentially adding a 20+ points per game forward, a top-heavy Pelicans squad will have less need for their guards to control the offense. Still, so many of the team’s best players have underperformed; a reduction in touches could be counteracted by improved efficiency. Among the stars that need to step up, Dejounte Murray stands out. Through 23 games, the eighth-year pro has put up 16.7 points on 39% shooting from the field (29.0 3PT%).
If there’s any group that screams ‘get-right game,’ it’s the Bulls. This season, Chicago has given up 120.8 points to opponents, second-most in the NBA. That’s perfect for Murray, who’s posted 23.0 points over his last four games. Two of those appearances, against Minnesota and Boston, came with Williamson in the lineup. Keeping that in mind, there’s no reason not to back the former All-Star against a much worse defense.
Nikola Vucevic over 10.5 rebounds (-105)
We’ll stay in the Windy City, where two bottom-six defenses could make this contest a shootout. The 18-21 Bulls enter Tuesday in a familiar spot: bad, but good enough to flirt with a .500 record. Among the stars carrying Chicago to mediocrity, Nikola Vucevic continues to produce impressive numbers. Through 38 games this season, the big man has averaged 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting 55.7% from the field (42.9 3PT%).
An inability to grab boards is one of the Pelicans’ biggest flaws; they’ve allowed the fourth-most rebounds (54.6) to opponents this season. A savvy veteran like Vucevic is sure to take advantage of this weakness, as the 34-year-old comes into tonight’s game having snagged 11 or more rebounds in seven of his last ten outings. Look for Chicago’s All-Star center to notch another double-double against an ill-equipped New Orleans front court.
