There is no shortage of action in the NBA tonight, as there are 10 games scheduled for Wednesday. Standing out above the field of contests are the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Lakers.
The star-studded matchups offer some of the tightest spreads of the night and a look into potential playoff matchups later down the line.
Both games will air nationally with Bucks vs. Cavs on ESPN and Mavs vs. Lakers on ABC, so, if you’re looking for action, these games will be easy to view and track your wagers.
To help you put together a winning bet slip, we’ve put together a few of the best NBA player props for NBA Wednesday primetime games.
Best NBA prop bets today: Top player props for Wednesday, Jan. 17
Here's a look at our best NBA player prop picks for Wednesday night.
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Giannis Antetokounmpo OVER points
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 34 points the last three times he has faced the Cavs. Although Cleveland has a solid defense, the Bucks’ big man thrives due to Cleveland having to use their center, Jarrett Allen, to defend him out on the wing.
Allen is a great defender who is among the best at defending the rim, but having to step out to the wing to defend Antetokounmpo has proven to be a challenge for him due to foot speed. The Cavs don’t have anyone on the roster who can accept the challenge other than Allen, so he’ll likely be Antetokounmpo’s primary defender yet again.
In January, Antetokounmpo is averaging 32 points on 61% from the field, to go along with 12.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists. That’s bad news for the Cavs’ defense which struggles significantly to match up with the Bucks’ star.
Here's a full list of Antetokounmpo's props for tonight:
Donovan Mitchell OVER assists
The Bucs’ defense has been a sore spot for them this season, especially on the perimeter. They allow teams to shoot 47% from the field and allow opponents to score a whopping 53.8 points per game in the paint (sixth worst). Much of that is due to the ease of dribble penetration guards and wing players can generate against the Bucks’ backcourt. If anyone will benefit from that, it’s Mitchell, who is on a tear during the Cavs’ current five-game winning streak.
Mitchell has scored 45 and 34 points in his past two games, and is shooting 45.5 % from the field and 37.9% from three-point range in January. With his backcourt mate Darius Garland sidelined with a jaw injury, Mitchell will likely see much more attention from the Bucks as they look to slow down the Cavs’ offense. The extra attention dedicated to him should create quality looks for his teammates, who are doing a good job taking advantage currently.
In the last matchup between the two, Mitchell registered nine assists, and we like his odds of him doing so yet again.
Here's a full list of his props heading into the game against the Bucks:
LeBron James OVER rebounds
The Mavs and Lakers are seventh and eighth in the league in pace of play, respectively. The additional possessions go a long way in James covering this line. He has collected at least eight rebounds in four consecutive matchups between the two (twice this year). Additionally, Dallas struggles to secure boards after a defensive possession, owning a defensive rebounding rate of just 72.7% (fourth worst).
The Lakers aren’t a great offensive rebounding team, but there will be some opportunities for James and company to haul in a few due to how much the Mavs struggle on the glass.
James just needs one more rebound than his average to cover this line, and considering the Mavs bring in the sixth fewest total rebounds per game, you must like James’ odds of having an above average game in this category.
Here's a list of available LeBron James props against the Mavs:
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