It is the first Sunday of the year with both NFL and NBA — a glorious time for bettors. Our NBA player prop team has crushed it this season, and I’m here to continue that run. So what are today’s best NBA player prop picks? Let’s dive right in. If you’re hungry for more action, check out our NBA betting tools or our NBA betting promos!
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Best NBA Player Props Today: Giannis Antetokounmpo & More
Giannis Antetokounmpo Player Prop
After watching just one game of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard playing together, I can confirm it will be a problem for opposing defenses to defend both All-NBA players. The crazy part is that Antetokounmpo didn’t even play well on Thursday night in the season opener. In his defense, it was against one of the top defenses in the league in the Philadelphia 76ers. That led to Lillard having a field day in the pick-and-roll game. He scored 39 points, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter. Well, tonight against the Atlanta Hawks, it’s Giannis time.
I don’t see how the Hawks can efficiently defend Antetokounmpo tonight. They lack size other than Clint Capela, and he’ll have to defend Brook Lopez, who will space the floor out. The combination of Jalen Johnson and Saddiq Bey will likely defend Antetokounmpo — that may be the biggest mismatch of the day. They both lack the size and physicality to defend him. We’ll have our fingers crossed that the Hawks keep this game close. They come in as 7-point underdogs on the road, but the Bucks will be without Khris Middleton tonight, which not only bodes well for the Hawks but for our Antetokounmpo prop bet.
NBA Player Prop Pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 27.5 Points -105 at DraftKings
Michael Porter Jr. Player Prop
Rust — that’s why Michael Porter Jr. has struggled to shoot the ball in his first two games to start the season. Porter didn’t suit up in the preseason, and it’s shown. He’s shot 8-for-20 from the field and has gotten to the free-throw just once. For an elite shooter like Porter, reps are critical. If he gets the same volume he saw on Friday, which was seven field goal attempts, he should breeze through cashing this under.
Porter and the defending NBA champions will take on the young and fierce Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams come into today 2-0, with the Thunder looking to prove they can compete with the league’s best. They held the Cleveland Cavaliers to 105 points on Friday and the Chicago Bulls to 104 in their season opener. This team is no joke, with Chet Holmgren holding down the fort in the paint with his elite shot blocking and Luguentz Dort locking down the perimeter. Holmgren has his hands full against Nikola Jokic, but that’s why we’re not taking our action there. We’ll gladly fade Porter against a Thunder team that has allowed teams to shoot just 27.6% from 3 to start the season.
NBA Player Prop Pick: Michael Porter Jr. Under 15.5 Points -125 at DraftKings
