The NBA season is just starting to heat up, and we have already seen some surprising scores and storylines. We have a busy slate on Tuesday, so let’s take a look at what tonight’s action has in store.
Here are the top NBA betting plays for Tuesday, December 29, provided by BettingPros experts Raju Byfield, Isaiah Sirois, and Vaughn Dalzell (Main game odds courtesy BettingPros Consensus; lock and prop odds sites may vary):
Check out our daily NBA consensus game odds here >>
Betting Locks of the Day
Byfield: Bucks -5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
With Jimmy Butler officially doubtful for tonight’s contest, we could be in for a blowout. Milwaukee will look to exorcise some demons against the ‘Butler-less’ Miami Heat and should keep their foot on the gas from start to finish. The five points needed to cover is still large enough to keep this to a one unit play, but the probabilities are strongly in the corner of the ‘Bucks to cover’.
Sirois: Bucks -5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
The Miami Heat probably won't have Jimmy Butler tonight. They went 1-1 against the Bucks without Butler last season, but Justise Winslow was instrumental in their win, and he's no longer with the team. In the Bucks' victory, both Winslow and Butler sat out, and the Bucks earned a dominant 14-point comeback win. Also, Milwaukee is currently averaging 132 points per game to Miami's 109. I expect them to get another convincing win tonight.
Dalzell: Celtics -1 (-116 at FD Sportsbook)
The Celtics had won nine of the last 13 regular-season meetings with the Pacers before Sunday, and last year I usually went with the team to win or cover the second of a back to back series, and it worked out. Thus far, in college basketball, that has worked out well too, so I will back the Celtics tonight on that same premise. Indiana won on a Domantas Sabonis layup with 8.4 seconds remaining and Boston could of very well won. I’ll back the C’s to get what should be another close victory.
Best Team Props of the Day
Byfield: 76ers First Half -0.5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
The Toronto Raptors suffered major roster losses for the second straight offseason and are now just a shell of the team that dominated the regular season over the last two years. The 76ers are a much better squad, with or without Joel Embiid in the lineup. With Joel expected to play tonight, the Sixers should be able to cover both first half and full game. Toronto should push for a first quarter cover, but things should start to fall apart when the second unit hits the floor.
Sirois: Celtics Fourth Quarter Under 27.5 Points (-135 at FD Sportsbook)
I picked this line for Boston's prior game against the Pacers, and I'll ride with it again here. The Celtics haven't done much late-game scoring this year; their fourth-quarter totals for their three games to date are 24, 18, 21. The C's were also bad in the fourth against the Pacers last year, as they finished with totals of 20 and 23. They're a good team to keep betting against until Kemba Walker gets back.
Dalzell: Cavaliers First Half Team Total Over 55.5 (-106 at FD Sportsbook)
The Cavaliers averaged 62.7 points per game in the first half through three games, the third-most in the league with the Knicks shortly behind at sixth (60.7). Both teams have a knack for scoring early, and Cleveland ranks third in the league with 122.3 points per game overall. The Knicks, however, average 108.3 points per game (23rd), with only their 130-110 win over the Bucks being a significant scoring output. I expect the Cavs to surpass their 55-point mark in the first half, especially if the Knicks are hitting shots. The first half over 109.5 is worth a look as both teams combine to average 123.4 points in the first half.
Best Player Props of the Day
Byfield: Darius Garland over 14.5 points (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
Darius Garland has been excellent to start the season and is averaging a robust 19 points and 8.3 assists. His scoring output was expected to increase but the assists and the clip he is shooting at (.548) suggests that he is indeed poised to make the sophomore breakout many had hoped for. As pointed out by Vaughn above, the Cavaliers have been one of the top scoring teams in the league thus far, and that does not figure to change against the New York Knicks and the .462 they have allowed opponents to shoot from the floor. Garland has gone over 14.5 in two of his three contests, scoring 14 in the other. The books are going to adjust to the new Garland sooner rather than later, so take this opportunity to make a profit with the burgeoning young star.
Sirois: Khris Middleton over 20.5 points (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
The Heat played the Bucks without Jimmy Butler twice last season. In those two games, Khris Middleton posted 33 and 25 points. His recent play points to the over here as well, as Middleton is averaging 26.7 points per game and is yet to finish with fewer than 22 of them. This play is safe unless Butler surprises everyone by playing tonight.
Dalzell: James Wiseman over 10.5 points (-143 at FD Sportsbook)
He's averaging 14.7 points through three games while shooting .833 on three-pointers (5 of 6). He's played a minimum of 23 minutes in each game, and tonight should be no different while matched up with the lowly Pistons. Detroit has allowed five bigs to score 11 or more points on them through three games, and Wiseman should be next in line.
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