The Denver Nuggets will host the Milwaukee Bucks as part of this light six-game slate of NBA games tonight. Jamal Murray has been especially called on lately during the five-game absence of Nikola Jokic and will look to carry this momentum into tonight. He will continue to be tasked with a significant offensive role as the Nuggets face the Bucks.
As is the case across the rest of the NBA, injuries are a factor in this matchup. Milwaukee received unfortunate injury news that Damian Lillard is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a blood clot issue while Giannis Antetokounmpo has been ruled out for tonight with a foot injury. Nikola Jokic has been upgraded to questionable for this matchup, but his status will be one to monitor. Aaron Gordon is also listed as questionable on the injury report.
Across the 67 games that he has played this season, Jamal Murray is averaging 21.7 points, 6.0 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting an impressive 40.1% from beyond the three-point arc while launching 6.0 perimeter shots per game.
While the uncertain status of Jokic is important to acknowledge, the Nuggets are currently 10-point favorites and -470 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Bucks hold +360 odds on the Moneyline with the game total set at 223.5
With the stage set, here are my favorite Jamal Murray prop bets ahead of the Wednesday night matchup.
Best Jamal Murray Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Murray’s props are listed at over/under 21.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 made three-pointers and 31.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Jamal Murray Over 4.5 Rebounds (+130)
Nikola Jokic being upgraded to questionable has softened my stance on this a bit, but I still love the value of Murray recording over 4.5 rebounds at +130 odds.
On the season, Murray is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game, which marks his lowest output since the 2017-18 season. Even still, he has recorded over 4.5 rebounds in 22 games this season. Milwaukee has had some struggles rebounding the ball this season, ranking 19th in total rebounds and 26th in opponent rebounds per game. This will be further magnified with the absence of Antetokounmpo and the 12.0 rebounds per game he provides.
Without their top two stars, expect the Bucks to have some struggles tonight. Count on their offense to become more three-point reliant without Antetokounmpo on the floor and for more rebounding chances to be prevalent as a result. Murray has recorded over 4.5 rebounds in two of his past four games even with this being a down-rebounding season for him. Look for him to capitalize on the missed shots by the typical Bucks backups and don’t be afraid to play around on the alternate lines if Jokic is to miss.
Jamal Murray to Record 25+ Points (+155)
The standard scoring prop for Jamal Murray is set at 21.5 for this matchup. While I obviously like this number as well, getting +155 odds for him to record 25+ points is even more appealing to me.
Murray is averaging 21.7 points per game on the season and has tallied 25+ points in 20 games this season. Antetokounmpo’s absence will be notable offensively, but his absence will be even more evident on the defensive end. The former MVP is responsible for anchoring the defense and roaming as a rim protector with his 2.0 blocks per game. Even with him on the floor for the bulk of the season, Milwaukee ranks 12th in opponent points allowed and gives up the seventh-most three-point attempts per game. This bodes well for the 40.1% rate Murray connects with from the perimeter.
If Jokic misses his sixth straight game, Murray will be responsible for leading the offensive charge. Even if the Nuggets’ star does return, he will be effective in creating looks for Murray with the offense set to function as designed. Murray is averaging 25.4 points per game during Jokic’s recent absence. He has recorded 25+ points in three of these five games and was held to 24 points in one of the matchups he fell short.
Expect there to be no clear defensive answer for the Nuggets without Antetokounmpo on the floor and for Murray to lead the scoring charge. He is still one of the best shotmakers in basketball and is capable of getting hot with the best in the league. Look for him to build off the attack-minded basketball he has played over the past few games and record 25+ points against a shorthanded opponent.
