Nine games between 18 teams account for Wednesday’s slate of NBA action. That means ample opportunity for bettors to find a handful of enticing player props. Among the games worth watching, a crucial Southeast division showdown between the Hawks and Magic has intrigue. Elsewhere, the rival Heat and Celtics meet in a potential playoff preview. Contenders such as the Knicks, Rockets, Nuggets and Spurs are also taking the court.
Which players should you be targeting tonight? Here are my three favorite NBA prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Wednesday’s contests.
Top NBA prop bet picks
GG Jackson 2+ three-pointers made (-107)
If there’s any reason to still be watching the rebuilding Grizzlies, it’s GG Jackson. Given the lack of NBA talent taking the court these days in Memphis, the South Carolina alum has been granted a much larger role. Since the All-Star break, he’s averaging 17.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists to go with 50% shooting from the field. If there’s a downside, the forward has been somewhat uninspiring from long distance. Jackson is only shooting 30.4% from three-point range during that stretch of games. Still, as a focal point on offense, he’s usually given the green light from beyond the arc.
Expect another busy day on offense for Jackson against the Knicks, on the second leg of a back-to-back. New York’s defense has been plagued by inconsistent effort guarding the perimeter. The team is allowing 13.8 three-pointers made to opponents this season, tied for ninth-most in the NBA. Other than Cedric Coward and Cam Spencer, the Grizzlies are lacking healthy shooters. Jackson has drained at least two treys in three of his last five appearances, averaging 4.8 attempts from distance during that time. If that trend continues, he should find success spacing the floor in this one.
Jayson Tatum 23+ points (-119)
It was never going to be a seamless transition for Jayson Tatum, who surpassed all expectations with a speedy injury recovery. The five-time All-NBA selection still shows flashes of his old self, but his performance varies from night to night. Through 11 games this season, the wing has posted 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists on middling 40/32/83 shooting splits. It’s likely only a matter of time until we see those numbers improve. In fact, Tatum has tallied a combined 58 points over his last two contests. Could this be the start of a vintage hot streak?
Part of what limits Tatum’s counting stats is Boston’s deliberately-paced offense. The Celtics are operating at the NBA’s slowest tempo (94.7). With that being said, Wednesday’s matchup could speed things up a bit. Miami wields basketball’s fastest-paced offense (103.6), often forcing teams into shootouts. Unsurprisingly, the Heat have allowed the ninth-most points (117.8) and ninth-most three-pointers made (13.8) to opponents. Following two days of rest, all signs are pointing to another productive outing from Tatum this evening.
Tre Jones 4+ rebounds (-140)
Few teams were more active shoppers at the deadline than the Bulls. Among the many names leaving the Windy City, Nikola Vucevic stands out. Chicago’s former starting center was a walking double-double, and his absence has left a major void down low. However, the team still possesses a few recognizable NBA talents. Tre Jones is fairly underrated at this point; he’s notched 13.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 55% from the field this season. That level of all-around production is impressive, especially for a 6’1″ guard.
Jones will get a chance to stuff the stat sheet once more against what might be the NBA’s worst defense. The Pacers, much like Chicago, struggle mightily when it comes to boxing out. They’ve given up 56.0 rebounds per game, second-most in the NBA. In comparison, Jones has snagged at least four rebounds in five of his last six outings. -140 isn’t exactly screaming value, so consider 5+ boards at +133. Regardless, this slept-on guard is worth targeting against a vulnerable foe.
