In the mood for some NBA action? Tuesday’s loaded 11-game, 22-team slate has you covered. This evening offers up a bit of everything for hoops fans and bettors alike. To kick things off, the defending champion Thunder battle the Raptors in Toronto. Elsewhere, the Knicks and Cavaliers face off for a crucial Eastern Conference showdown. Later, the Celtics head to the desert for a date with the Suns.
Which players will come through this evening? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Tuesday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Mikal Bridges 14+ points (-106)
The Knicks had a solid weekend, reeling off two straight wins. However, Mikal Bridges has been a bit quiet on offense recently. Over the guard’s last three appearances, he’s failed to record more than 11 points. With that being said, it’s been a solid season for the 29-year-old. Through 58 games, he’s averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 50% from the field. The issue for bettors is that Bridges’ production can be streaky, to say the least.
Tonight’s pivotal contest could bring the best out in New York’s two-way wing. Cleveland’s biggest strength on defense is its front court, with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen protecting the paint. On the perimeter, Donovan Mitchell and James Harden aren’t the most intimidating defensive duo. This is a spot Bridges has thrived in before. The veteran has tallied at least 14 points in four of his last six meetings with the Cavaliers. A similar output wouldn’t come as a surprise this evening.
Collin Murray-Boyles 6+ rebounds (-125)
Center has been an ongoing issue for the Raptors this season. Jakob Poeltl’s health has been inconsistent at best. The Austrian has taken the court for 24 of a potential 57 contests so far. That’s the case once again tonight, with the 30-year-old ruled out due to a recurring back injury. In Poeltl’s absence, more minutes will be in store for Collin Murray-Boyles. The first-round pick has impressed as a rookie, already looking the part of a defensive difference-maker. Over 45 appearances, he’s recorded 8.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
Poeltl’s injury is bad timing going into a showdown with Oklahoma City. If the defending champs have any notable weakness, it’s on the glass. Opponents are averaging 55.0 rebounds per game vs. the Thunder, sixth-most in the NBA. Murray-Boyles has grabbed at least six boards in 14 of his 27 outings without Poeltl on the floor. In addition, the Raptors have just one other viable center option in Sandro Mamukelashvili. Even then, the sharpshooter isn’t much of a defender inside the paint. Expect plenty of minutes for CMB in this one.
Pat Spencer over 9.5 assists + rebounds (+108)
Life without Steph Curry (knee) hasn’t been easy for the Warriors. On offense, head coach Steve Kerr has been forced to get creative with his rotations. That means some lesser-known names in the backcourt, including Pat Spencer. The third-year pro has impressed with his tenacity and playmaking abilities off the bench. Over his last seven games, all as a starter, Spencer is putting up 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Even more important, the guard is averaging just under 28 minutes per game during that time.
Assuming Spencer sees a similar workload, he should deliver this evening. Golden State, even in its current form, comes into Tuesday with a chance to pick up a win. The Pelicans have been atrocious this season, especially on defense. New Orleans has given up the fourth-most assists (28.0) and fourth-most rebounds (55.8) per game in basketball. In comparison, Spencer has accounted for a per36 minutes mark of 5.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists this season. There’s no reason to think he can’t hit double-digits tonight.
