Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, NBA Cup Day is here.
All 30 teams will participate in this midseason tournament, and group-stage action begins tonight with colorful courts and slightly different stakes. There is some positive precedent with this new tournament, as the New York Knicks won the NBA Cup and the NBA Finals last season. This year marks the fourth season of the NBA Cup, and every group-stage matchup will still count toward the regular-season standings.
There are plenty of ways to get involved on DraftKings Sportsbook. Here are my top three player prop bets for Friday’s 10-game NBA slate.
Best NBA Prop Bets Today
LeBron James to Record a Double-Double (+249)
LeBron James is not listed on the injury report ahead of tonight’s matchup, which opens a back-to-back for Philadelphia. This will mark his fifth game in a Sixers uniform and his second against the Knicks. Through his first four games, James is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. He has recorded two double-doubles in those four appearances, including a 17-point, 10-rebound performance against the Cavaliers and a 13-point, 10-assist outing in the previous matchup against the Pacers.
The first matchup between James’ Sixers and the Knicks came in the season opener. The four-time MVP finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in that game. James’ ability as both a playmaker and rebounder gives him different routes to record a double-double, and he has already demonstrated both this season.
Philadelphia will lean on James in both categories tonight. He is one of the team’s primary playmakers, with at least five assists in every game, and his chemistry with his new teammates has continued to develop. The backup center position is also a potential weakness for the Sixers, who have found success with small-ball lineups that give James an expanded role at the big-man spot. This is a rivalry matchup, so there should be plenty of energy in Philadelphia with the team building momentum early in the season. Expect James to put on a show and record a double-double for the third time in his first five games with the franchise.
Jaden McDaniels Over 16.5 Points (-125)
The Minnesota Timberwolves received some unfortunate injury news, as Anthony Edwards underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and could miss up to two months. This is a major disappointment following a strong start to the season and will significantly affect the team’s outlook moving forward. While LaMelo Ball will be one of the players Minnesota looks toward to help fill the void, the Timberwolves have been careful with his minutes. Ball currently ranks sixth on the team in minutes per game, averaging 25.4 minutes per contest.
Jaden McDaniels ranks near the top of the team in playing time and has a more proven track record of stepping up without Edwards. Across his final 10 games last season without the franchise centerpiece, McDaniels averaged 18.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. He opened the first game without Edwards this season with 19 points on 8-for-18 shooting and also finished last year’s playoffs averaging 16.3 points per game, showing some impressive offensive flashes.
The continued development of McDaniels has quietly been one of the better stories in the NBA. He is shooting 54.8% from the field this season and has attempted at least 10 field goals in four of his five games. Minnesota will be facing off with the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, who leave plenty to be desired on both sides of the floor. Expect McDaniels to be eager to take on a more prominent offensive role without Edwards on the floor in this favorable matchup as he records over 16.5 points for the second straight game.
Nikola Jokic Over 48.5 Points, Rebounds, & Assists (-108)
It has been an uneven start to the season for Nikola Jokic by his lofty standards. The three-time MVP is averaging 22.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 21.7% from beyond the three-point arc. He will look to take another step toward getting on track tonight as the Nuggets prepare to face the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix is off to a 1-2 start to the season, ranking 26th in opponent points per game, 30th in defensive rating, 26th in opponent field goal percentage, and 28th in total rebounds allowed.
Even with some underwhelming output compared to his sky-high standards, Jokic has recorded as many as 60 combined points, rebounds, and assists in a game this season, which came against the Pelicans. Denver still plays through Jokic as the clear centerpiece, and there is too large a sample size of his production through the years to have any serious concern this early in this season.
Facing a struggling Suns defense gives Jokic a strong opportunity to put together a big performance. Phoenix will be without starting center Mark Williams, while Oso Ighodaro is also considered questionable. Jokic is capable of dominating a game in whichever statistical category presents the best opportunity. Early success as a scorer could also open up additional playmaking opportunities. The Suns’ frontcourt has struggled to start the season, so Jokic should be in a favorable position to take advantage. Back him to finish with over 48.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists in this get-right matchup.
