Tuesday night's NBA slate gives off a "quality over quantity" feel, with just five games scheduled but plenty of good matchups and a plethora of star power. Today we will unveil our favorite NBA player props from TAB, highlighting the best bets so we can help you get the most bang for your buck.
Even on a quiet night, the NBA packs a punch. Tonight's slate tips off with reigning Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets against Tyrese Haliburton's high-flying Nuggets (11:00 a.m. AEDT). After that, we'll get an NYC showdown between the Knicks and Nets in Brooklyn (11:30 a.m.).
At 12:00 p.m., we'll get Zion and the Pelicans hosting the Jazz and MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder hosting the Blazers. Finally, Kawhi Leonard the Clippers welcome LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers in a battle of red-hot Los Angeles squads (2 p.m.). That's a barrage of NBA hoops, for which we can't wait to get some bets down.
We've been crushing our best bets, top props, and Prop-A-Shot series all season, going a collective 52-36 with our recommendations. That's a winning percentage of .590, a number we're looking to steadily elevate as the season progresses.
There's never been a better time to wager on props. Scoring is way up in the NBA, stars are breaking out everywhere we look, and the parity this season has been fantastic. It often feels like the playoff race has been surging since November.
So, let's dive into the Tuesday night slate and pinpoint our best bets on TAB, our go-to spot for all the latest odds, lines, and props. Good luck, have fun, and enjoy what should be another great night of NBA hoops!
Best NBA Prop Bets Today: Top props for every game
Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets at Pacers — OVER 27.5 points ($1.80)
We usually don't spring for the OVER on big scoring props, especially for two-time MVPs. However, Michael Porter Jr. has been battling an illness and Aaron Gordon is also listed as questionable with a shoulder strain. Jokíc has dropped 76 points over Denver's past two games, and he has averaged 28.6 points per game against the Pacers over the past few seasons, so we like him to drop 30 if either MPJ or Gordon are out or limited tonight.
It also must be fresh in Joker's head, at least a little, that reigning MVP Joel Embiid scored 70 last night against the Spurs (and Karl-Anthony Towns, less glamorously, dropped 62 vs. Charlotte in a losing effort). If Jokíc wants to put up a big night of his own during a quiet five-game slate, he certainly has a good opportunity to do so against the Pacers.
Indiana has allowed the most points in the paint (61.0 per game) and the most scoring from two-pointers (69.4) in the Association this season. The Pacers' past two opponents, the Suns and Blazers, each put up 64-plus points in the paint against them. If Joker can get Indy center Myles Turner in foul trouble (not exactly a tall task, considering Turner averages the ninth-most personals in the NBA), the reigning Finals MVP should cruise to this OVER.
Other Nuggets-Pacers props we like: Jokíc triple-double ($2.15); Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Nuggets — OVER 1.5 steals ($1.72)
Pascal Siakam, F, Pacers vs. Nuggets — OVER 21.5 points ($1.87)
With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the Pacers' next three games due to his left hamstring injury, we like Siakam to step up and take a ton of shots against the high-powered Nuggets this evening. He has maxed out at 14 shots in each of his first two games with Indy — both of which came on the road — so with 5-6 more shots he should sail past 21 points in an emotional first home game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
We also think Myles Turner has a good chance of eclipsing his projection of 15.5 points (-110), since he has been shooting lights-out lately and the Nuggets haven't exactly owned opposing bigs lately (the Wizards scored 56 points in the paint against Denver on Sunday).
MORE NBA: Pascal Siakam and the Pacers are a perfect match
Jalen Brunson, PG, Knicks at Nets — OVER 2.5 three-pointers ($1.68)
Brunson seems like the top candidate to represent the Knicks in next month's All-Star Game, something that probably should have happened last year. The stud point guard had a damn good case to make it over teammate Julius Randle last season, but he has put together an even better campaign this time around.
Take a look at Brunson's final 2022-23 numbers and his stats at the halfway point of this season:
| Season | PTS | TRB | AST | STL | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% |
| 2022-23 | 24 | 3.5 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 8.6 | 17.6 | 49.1 | 2 | 4.7 | 41.6 |
| 2023-24 | 26.5 | 3.9 | 6.5 | 1 | 9.3 | 19.6 | 47.5 | 2.9 | 6.7 | 42.7 |
He's taking more shots and making more shots, and he's been lights-out from beyond the arc all season. He has hit 11 treys in the Knicks' past three games and a whopping 27 triples in nine January games. Don't expect Brooklyn to slow Brunson down, either. The Nets have allowed opponents to make 13.8 three-pointers per game (fifth-most) on 38.2 percent shooting (eighth-highest). Fire up the Brunson Burner.
Other Knicks-Nets bets we like: Knicks -3.5 (-$1.90); Nic Claxton, C, Nets — Double-double ($1.60); OVER 222.5 points total ($1.90)
Jonas Valančiūnas, C, Pelicans vs. Jazz — OVER 12.5 points ($1.90)
We almost bit on Zion Williamson's scoring OVER of 24.5, but we fell in love with the plus odds here for Valančiūnas. JV averages 13.9 points per game on the season, and he has bested this total in six of New Orleans' past eight games and 16 of the Pels' past 23.
NOLA has also enjoyed an extra day off — Willie Green's team last played on Friday — so the Lithuanian should unleash the Lightning on the undersized Jazz. Utah has been starting John Collins at center and bringing Walker Kessler off the bench, so Zion and Big V should be flexing their muscles this evening.
The Jazz have surrendered 55.3 points in the paint over their past three games, and most recently allowing the Rockets' Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. to combine for 61 points. Back Valančiūnas to crack at least the teens at home against an inferior Utah squad.
Other Pelicans-Jazz bets we like: Pelicans -6.5 ($1.90); Zion Williamson, F, Pelicans — OVER 24.5 points ($1.90)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG, Thunder vs. Blazers — OVER 31.5 points ($1.87)
As the rest of the MVP candidates in the Association seem to be catching fire of late, SGA continues to light it up but his scoring has tapered off a little (at least by his standards). The Western Conference Player of the Month in December, Gilgeous-Alexander went from averaging 32 points per game over 26 combined games in November and December to averaging 30.7 PPG in January. That's still awesome, but he has now dropped to fourth in per-game scoring behind Joel Embiid, Luka Dončić, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Embiid, the reigning MVP and scoring champ, just put 70 on the Spurs last night and has averaged 38.3 PPG over his past 15 games. Giannis is averaging 32.3 PPG on 61.5 percent shooting since December 1. Dončić has averaged 36.2 PPG over his past 19 games. If SGA wants to stay in the MVP conversation, he needs to annihilate weak opponents like the Blazers.
Portland surrendered 134 points to the Lakers on Sunday, and SGA dropped 31 against Chauncey Billups' squad the last time it visited OKC. The final score of that game: 139-77, a 62-point bruising. If Gilgeous-Alexander can score 31 in a 62-point runaway, he can drop 35-40 in a closer game. The Thunder are coming off a four-game road trip, so we're backing the sixth-year pro to enjoy some home cookin' against one of the worst teams in the NBA this evening.
Other Thunder-Blazers props we like: DeAndre Ayton UNDER 11.5 points ($1.90); Lu Dort OVER 11.5 points ($1.85); Jalen Williams OVER 1.5 steals ($1.90)
MORE: Has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander elevated from MVP sleeper to best bet?
Kawhi Leonard, F, Clippers vs. Lakers — OVER 25.5 points ($1.90)
Kawhi exploded in December, averaging 29.3 points per game en route to the Clippers enjoying an 11-2 month. Now he and the Clips look to extend their home winning streak to eight as they welcome a Lakers squad that has been pretty hot itself as of late. LeBron, AD, and D'lo have led the Lake Show to victory in three of its past four games, so this should be quite the battle at the Crypto tonight.
Leonard has averaged 26.5 PPG across two contests with the Lakers this season, and that's despite an uncharacteristically bad shooting performance against them two weeks ago. It's clear that James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook view Kawhi as the Clips' primary catalyst in big games, they're without leading big man Ivica Zubac due to a calf injury, and the Lakers don't have anybody to contain Kawhi if he gets hot.
Bron's too slow, Taurean Prince is so weak, and D'Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves are too small. Ham can try running Cam Reddish at him, but we all know how that will work out. Back the Claw to swipe 25-plus with ease tonight, hopefully helping us close out a strong night of NBA betting in style.
Other Clippers-Lakers bets we like: Lakers +9.5 ($1.90); Anthony Davis, F/C, Lakers — OVER 12.5 rebounds (-$1.80).
