Five games between ten teams tip off on Tuesday across the NBA. Among the matchups to watch, the Knicks will look to notch a win over the crosstown rival Nets. Later, the banged-up 76ers will travel to Denver to take on Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
With a select group of games to choose from, narrowing down a few names to back is easier said than done. Still, that doesn’t mean there aren’t bets worth placing. Here are three player props catching my eye tonight.
Jalen Brunson 3+ three-pointers made (+160)
In just his third season with the Knicks, Jalen Brunson might be the Eastern Conference’s best guard. The All-NBA selection has been phenomenal so far, averaging 26.2 points and a career-best 7.4 assists through 43 games. Even with those counting stats, JB has been efficient, shooting 48.8% from the field (39.3 3PT%).
Tuesday’s opponent, the Nets, play solid defense, giving up the 15th-fewest points per game (112.8). However, Brooklyn struggles from beyond the arc, surrendering the highest percentage of three-pointers made (38.0%). That’s perfect for Brunson, who has nailed three or more three-pointers in four of his last five outings. The All-Star should dominate against a porous perimeter defense, making this one of the best player props available tonight.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. over 3.5 rebounds (-115)
The Heat finally got Jimmy Butler back last week, but it’s still difficult to figure this team out. Despite the return of its disgruntled star, Tyler Herro is entrenched as Miami’s leading scorer. After that, it’s anyone’s guess. Second-year pro Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been forced to the bench over the past two games. Still, the UCLA product has produced 9.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in under 24 minutes per game.
Jaquez Jr. has proven he’s capable of delivering a decent stat line in a short amount of time. That should come in handy tonight against a subpar Portland defense. This season, the Trail Blazers are allowing the eighth-most points (117.3) and the fifth-most rebounds (53.6) to opponents. JJJ has gone over this total in five of his last seven outings. With that in mind, it’s fair to expect another quality performance on the glass for the 23-year-old.
Alex Sarr over 10.5 points (-120)
There isn’t much for Wizards fans to get excited over, but Alex Sarr’s progression is worth monitoring. The rookie has been a quality rim protector from day one, but his offense is beginning to catch up. Since December 1st, the big man has put up 12.7 points on 42.3% shooting from the field (38.5 3PT%). Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but it’s still a clear upgrade for the young seven-footer.
While the Lakers do have an elite defender in Anthony Davis on the roster, their interior defense has struggled. This season, Los Angeles is giving up 52.0 points in the paint to opponents, third-worst in the NBA. Despite a six-point outing on Sunday, Sarr has gone over this line in 16 of his last 19 appearances. The Frenchman should have every opportunity to hit double-digits, making this total one of Tuesday’s most promising player props.
