After a weekend in the sports world that was headlined by a wild NFL Sunday, the NBA season kicks back in to gear tonight with a loaded nine-game slate. Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will square 0ff against Zion Williamson‘s New Orleans Pelicans in a matchup between MVP candidates. However, the real headliner tonight will be a revenge game as Donovan Mitchell is set to play against the Utah Jazz for the first time since becoming a Cavalier. Below bettors can check out some of the best NBA player props and bets to make for Monday, Dec. 19.
PrizePicks NBA Player Props | Dec. 19
Giannis Antetokounmpo Over 10.5 Rebounds
Antetokounmpo is having himself another terrific year on the glass, as he’s averaging over 11 rebounds per game for the third consecutive season. He is playing 32.9 minutes per game and typically plays 33 or more minutes when the game is competitive. He’s played 33 or more minutes in 14 games this season and has recorded 11 or more rebounds in 10 of those games, averaging 12.2 rebounds in the process.
The Bucks should have a tough, competitive matchup against the Williamson-led Pelicans tonight, which should mean more minutes for Giannis. Khris Middleton won’t play tonight, leading to even more rebounding opportunities becoming available for Antetokounmpo. He’s averaged 10.3 rebounds per game with Middleton on the court this season, and that number jumps up to 11.5 rebounds per game when Middleton doesn’t play. It’s also worth noting that the Pelicans have allowed a ton of rebounds over their last three games. They played the Jazz twice and the Suns once in those three games and gave up an average of 57.7 rebounds per game, which was second worst in the league over that span.
OddsShopper shows this play at -140 on BetMGM with a 55% chance to win.
Donovan Mitchell Over 27.5 Points
One of the most shocking developments of the offseason was when the Utah Jazz traded away their star point guard (and their team’s most popular player) to the Cleveland Cavaliers. So far, the Jazz are holding on to the No. 8 seed in the west, while Mitchell and the Cavaliers are among the best teams in the league. Tonight Mitchell will face his old team for the first time since being traded away, and he’s in a great position to put some points on the board. He’s averaging 29.5 points per game on the season, and he’s averaged 34.2 points per game over the last five. Mitchell is playing nearly 39 minutes per game in the month of December and is putting up 22.7 field goal attempts per game.
Meanwhile, the Jazz have the league’s sixth-worst defensive efficiency while allowing the eighth-most points per game in the NBA. OddsShopper reveals this line is actually over/under 28.5 points at most sportsbooks, and on DraftKings the over for that line is -140, which means bettors are getting great odds on the PrizePicks line.
