The first Saturday of the NBA season has arrived, with eight games scheduled for the night.
Tipping off at 6 p.m. ET, the Miami Heat will face the Charlotte Hornets. Two games will tip off at 7:30 and 8 p.m., followed by four games starting between 8:30 and 9 p.m. The action will conclude with a 10 p.m. matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
There are plenty of ways to get involved on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are my top three player prop bets for Saturday’s slate.
Best NBA Prop Bets Today:
V.J. Edgecombe Over 9.5 Assists & Rebounds (-125)
The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a 2-0 start, with statement wins over the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. They now face a 0-2 Milwaukee Bucks team widely expected to finish among the league’s worst. LeBron James will miss his first game of the season to manage his lower back and sciatica, with Philadelphia playing the first half of a back-to-back. James has been a key figure in filling the stat sheet through the opening two games, averaging 9.5 rebounds and six assists per game.
The Sixers have plenty of scoring options, but V.J. Edgecombe should increase his production on the boards and as a playmaker with James sidelined. Through his first two games of his sophomore season, Edgecombe is averaging 10 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. The Baylor product recorded five combined rebounds and assists in the opener before finishing with 13 on Thursday.
Edgecombe averaged 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a rookie. In 38 of his 75 games, he posted 9.5 or more combined rebounds and assists. With the increased talent around him, the 21-year-old has seen his offensive role decrease somewhat at the start of the season. However, he has still logged 35 and 33 minutes in the opening two games and embraced doing the dirty work as a glue guy for this star-studded roster.
Philadelphia faces a Bucks team that has struggled defensively to open the season, tied for the most opponent points allowed through its first two games. With James sidelined, Edgecombe could take on additional rebounding and playmaking responsibilities. Back the second-year guard to eclipse 9.5 combined rebounds and assists for the second straight game in an expanded role.
Anthony Davis Over 11.5 Rebounds (+100)
Anthony Davis made a statement in his season debut with the Wizards, scoring 34 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He took a step back in the second matchup against the Toronto Raptors, finishing with nine points and nine rebounds on Friday night. Davis is not listed on the injury report and is expected to suit up for the second night of a back-to-back early in the season.
Saturday marks a more favorable matchup for the big man against a young Bulls team. Chicago is trending in the right direction as an organization, with an identity built around an up-tempo pace and plenty of ball-handlers on the floor. However, the Bulls are limited inside, with Jalen Smith as one of their primary options at center and plenty of small-ball lineups likely to feature throughout the game.
Chicago hasn’t faced a big man as physically imposing as Davis this season, and he could cause problems in this matchup. The 10-time All-Star has averaged 10.7 rebounds per game throughout his career and pulled down 11.1 boards per game last season. The Wizards are quietly more competitive than they have often been given credit for, and Davis has plenty of motivation to deliver in his first season with the organization, with a new contract in mind.
This is a great matchup to add to his rebounding output, and 11.5 is far too low a line against this Bulls team. Expect Davis to make his presence felt and compete for rebounds throughout the night.
Nikola Jokic Over 50.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists (-117)
The Denver Nuggets dropped their season opener to the Oklahoma City Thunder and will be eager to get back into the win column against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Last season, New Orleans ranked 24th in points allowed, 25th in assists allowed, and 25th in rebounds allowed. The Pelicans have also dropped their first two games this season to the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers. Denver presents another difficult challenge, and the Nuggets will be eager to capitalize on the opportunity to earn their first win.
As expected, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic headlines the Nuggets’ offense. However, he struggled by his lofty standards in the season opener, finishing with 13 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on 5-for-19 shooting and 1-for-7 from three-point range. Jokic’s elite production is too consistent to overreact to one poor performance. Last season, the Nuggets star averaged 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game, leading the NBA in rebounds and assists.
The Pelicans are playing on the second night of a back-to-back and are also dealing with limited interior depth. Yves Missi will miss Saturday’s game with a left knee injury, leaving Karlo Matkovic, Derik Queen, Zion Williamson, and DeAndre Jordan to handle defensive responsibilities inside. Ivica Zubac pulled down 15 rebounds against New Orleans earlier this season, and Jokic is one of the league’s most productive rebounders.
Expect Jokic to stay heavily involved as a scorer and playmaker while taking advantage of the favorable interior matchup. His ability to contribute across all three categories gives him multiple paths to clearing the 50.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists line. This matchup is appealing for Jokic and the Nuggets as they look to get back on track. Count on the eight-time All-NBA center to bounce back and surpass his combined stat line.
