NBA Player Prop Bets, Odds & Picks: Tuesday (12/17)
Tonight, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder will battle in the NBA Cup Championship. How will Brook Lopez fare from beyond the arc? Will Khris Middleton continue to get his teammates involved against a very good defense? And what should we expect from Luguentz Dort?
Here are the three best NBA player props for Tuesday, December 17.
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Tuesday’s Best NBA Player Prop Bets
This Season: 18-23 (-2.20 units) | (Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Brook Lopez 2+ Three-Pointers Made (+120)
On Saturday, Lopez finally broke out of his funk, knocking down two three-pointers for the first time in December. He went 2-of-5 from deep, scoring 16 points. It was the first time he scored in double figures since he scored 18 against the Washington Wizards on November 30.
Lopez is averaging just 1.0 three-pointers per game in six contests this month. However, for the season, he's averaging 1.8 makes per game. Tonight, he takes on a Thunder defense that is allowing opponents to knock down just 33.1% of their attempts from beyond the arc. But Lopez is shooting 35.7% from beyond the arc this season, and he's averaging 5.0 attempts per game. Even during his current struggles, he's made at least one three-pointer in 15 of his last 16. Therefore, his floor puts him one away from this Over. Take a chance on him, making at least one more three for this solid price.
Khris Middleton 5+ Assists (+120)
Middleton has only played four games this season, and while he's struggled to score, he has been effective at getting his teammates involved. He's averaging 5.8 assists per game and dished out at least five assists in three of his four contests. Saturday's game against the Atlanta Hawks was the first time he didn't record at least five assists, but he still managed four in just 22 minutes.
Because of how good the Thunder are defensively, it's not surprising to see them allowing just 24.0 assists per game, which ranks fourth-best in the league. The Bucks are averaging just 24.0 assists per game, which ranks 24th in the league. But in their last three games with Middleton in the lineup, they're averaging 27.0 per game. Middleton has made this offense look slightly different, even if he's having difficulty finding his stroke right now. This may not be the best matchup, but look for Middleton to involve his teammates just like he's done in every game.
Luguentz Dort 3+ Three-Pointers Made (+110)
Dort has made at least three three-pointers in three consecutive games. He knocked down five of his nine attempts against the Houston Rockets on Saturday, and he's averaging 2.5 makes per game in December. While he's been prone to terrible shooting nights, as highlighted by his 0-of-6 performance on December 5 against the Toronto Raptors, he's on right now, and this price makes it worth taking a chance on him.
The Bucks rank in the middle of the league regarding three-pointers allowed and opponents’ three-point percentage. In a matchup that is neither good nor bad, I expect Dort to continue to attempt more three-pointers than he has on average this season. He's attempted at least six shots from beyond the arc in his last four games, though he's only averaging 5.6 attempts per game this season. As a 40.3% three-point shooter, seven attempts would likely be enough to solidify this Over him.
Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.