Just six games are set to tip off on Wednesday night. Still, what this slate lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. To kick things off, the Thunder battle the Knicks in a potential NBA Finals preview. Elsewhere, the red-hot Hornets visit the title-contending Celtics.
Which players are best positioned to clear, or fall short, of their totals tonight? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Wednesday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
Baylor Scheierman under 4.5 rebounds (-115)
Among the many pleasant surprises this season in Boston, Baylor Scheierman deserves a shoutout. The second-year pro didn’t look like much during his rookie campaign, often bouncing between the pros and G-League. However, he’s gradually gained the confidence of head coach Joe Mazzulla, resulting in a significantly expanded role. Since February 1st, Scheierman is averaging 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists.
It helps that the Creighton alum is 6’6″, making him somewhat oversized on the wings. For a Celtics club that loves crashing the glass, that’s crucial. With that being said, Wednesday’s contest could prove difficult in that regard. The Hornets excel at boxing out, holding opponents to an NBA-low 47.7 rebounds per game. In addition, Boston and Charlotte rank within the association’s six slowest teams in pace of play. Scheierman has recorded less than five boards in four of his previous six outings. The odds are against him reversing that trend tonight.
Tyrese Maxey 4+ three-pointers made (-120)
An embarrassing blowout loss for the 76ers ended Tyrese Maxey’s night early on Tuesday. The guard was the only one that seemed to show up for the hometown team, posting 21 points over 25 minutes. Now, Philadelphia will take the court for the second leg of a back to back. That likely means playing without All-Star center Joel Embiid (oblique). To boot, wing VJ Edgecombe (back) is questionable to suit up. Still, Maxey is more than capable of taking over in this one. The sixth-year pro is averaging 29.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game this season.
It’s one thing to get some additional rest. It’s another to face the NBA’s worst defensive unit. That’s the scenario awaiting the Sixers this evening. Utah has allowed the most points (125.8) and most three-pointers made (15.5) per game to opponents. Maxey has tallied four or more treys in 30 of his 59 appearances so far. There’s some blowout potential here, but Philadelphia’s lack of rest could keep this one close. Expect Maxey to benefit with a flurry from beyond the arc.
Giannis Antetokounmpo under 35.5 points + rebounds (-114)
To the surprise of almost everyone, Giannis Antetokounmpo is back. Rather than continuing to milk his calf injury, the Greek Freak made his return from the injured list on Monday. Milwaukee’s face of the franchise delivered 19 points and 11 rebounds over 25 minutes vs. the Celtics. As things stand, there’s no reason to think he won’t take the floor on Wednesday. The real question is how much the semi-rebuilding Bucks will limit his playing time.
Coming off of a month-long absence, it would be malpractice to give Antetokounmpo his usual 35+ minute workload. Regardless, Giannis is still talented enough to clear this modest 36+ points + rebounds total. His opponent tonight, the Hawks, have been spotty in the front court. However, that hasn’t been the case over the past week. During its previous three matchups, Atlanta has held teams to the eighth-fewest points in the paint (44.7) and fifth-fewest rebounds (47.3). All these factors combined point towards the under as a savvy move on Wednesday.
