For the first time since June, meaningful NBA games are back on the menu tonight as the 2025-26 season tips off. A doubleheader rings in the new campaign as Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets look to spoil reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s banner night. After that game concludes, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers host Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors in the late window. For info on how to catch Opening Night, click here, but in the meantime we’re checking out some of the top player prop bets to consider for tonight’s slate.
Here are three of the top NBA player prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Tuesday, October 21.
Best NBA prop bet picks
Kevin Durant over 23.5 points (-109)
Earlier today, we wrote up the top Kevin Durant player prop for the superstar’s regular-season debut as a Rocket. That pick was 25+ points at plus odds, but we’re playing this just slightly more conservatively with over 23.5 points at -109 instead. The 37-year-old forward remains one of the NBA’s most elite scorers even at his age and has already etched a place among the best bucket-getters in league history. He averaged 26.6 PPG last season on a shooting split of 52.7%/43.0%/83.9%, so it’s clear the 15-time All-Star’s game continues to age like a fine wine. With the Phoenix Suns last season, Durant went over this 23.5-point line in 39 of 62 contests, an absurd hit rate that can very well continue tonight.
The Thunder boast a strong defense, but the Rockets traded for Durant with the intention of making him the alpha scorer in this halfcourt offense. Against the reigning champs, the superstar should pace the team in shot attempts as the go-to option — especially with extra usage available with Fred VanVleet (Achilles) sidelined indefinitely.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 38.5 PTS + AST (-120)
It’s tough to look at tonight’s matchup and not take a prop bet that involves Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The reigning MVP led the NBA in scoring last season with 32.7 PPG but also averaged a career-best 6.4 assists to go along with the points. The ball is in his hands on every single possession down the floor and that certainly won’t change heading into the new year. Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in usage rate last season at 34.8% behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo and will remain the Thunder’s lead option alongside a near-identical core of players from the title team around him.
The superstar guard could very easily lead this game in scoring tonight since he faces a jumbo starting five from the Rockets that deploys Amen Thompson at point guard but few other standout perimeter defenders, while also including both Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams in the frontcourt. Gilgeous-Alexander should feast, but even if he doesn’t, the assists should still come. After going over this combo line in 51 of 99 games last year (including the playoffs), there’s still solid value here at a reliable hit rate.
Luka Doncic to record a triple-double (+555)
After playing it pretty safe with the other two prop bets in this column, we’re looking toward the late slate for a long-shot prop pick. The Lakers will operate without LeBron James tonight as he deals with sciatica. In the meantime, the stage is set for Luka Doncic to post some monster stat lines. The Slovenian star made his way to Los Angeles in a jaw-dropping trade last season and eventually hit his stride with the team after a couple of weeks to close the year on a high note. Now, he sees the benefit of a full training camp with the franchise to truly integrate himself into head coach JJ Redick’s offensive system.
To be fair though, Doncic himself is the system (as James Harden would likely say). He averaged 28.2 PPG along with 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists as a Laker last season. Doncic notched 22 double-doubles in that campaign with five triple-doubles in his 50 total appearances… with James out for the foreseeable future, the younger star will shoulder the entire load for this team in every facet of the game. There’s risk here, but that’s why it’s a long shot — Doncic could start things off with a bang.
