After losing homecourt advantage in Game 1 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers are under pressure to win their upcoming home game. Despite Luka Doncic`s strong performance with 37 points, LeBron James underperformed in Game 1 with only 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists, falling short of his expected player prop numbers. Will the veteran LeBron James bounce back and exceed his prop totals in Tuesday`s game, or is his age starting to show?
Tuesday`s NBA schedule also includes the Pacers hosting the Bucks and the Thunder hosting the Grizzlies. For those looking at NBA prop bets, key players to consider include James, who has odds of +160 for a double-double and +1200 for a triple-double on FanDuel Sportsbook.
Kyle Kuzma Over 5.5 Rebounds + Assists (-110)
Kyle Kuzma`s Game 1 performance, where he recorded zero stats in 22 minutes, was widely discussed. Despite this poor showing and a decrease in production since joining the Bucks from the Wizards, Kuzma still averaged 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 33 games with the Bucks this season. Given the Bucks` 19-point loss in Game 1, partly due to Kuzma`s struggles, both Kuzma and the team will be aiming for a much better outcome on Tuesday.
According to an analyst, focusing on Kuzma`s rebounds and assists props is wise because these stats reflect effort and teamwork, which are within his control even if his shot isn`t falling. Kuzma averages around 7.5 rebounds plus assists when combining his Wizards and Bucks stats. Interestingly, he has averaged even more on the road (8.8) than at home this season. BetMGM offers this prop at -110 odds, while other sportsbooks have it priced higher.
Ja Morant Over 3.5 Turnovers (-105)
The Oklahoma City Thunder`s strong defense, which was crucial to their league-leading record, is partly built on forcing turnovers. They led the NBA in forced turnovers (16.9) and steals (6.7) this season, and boast the No. 3 scoring defense, allowing only 107.2 points per game. In Game 1, the Thunder dominated with a 131-80 victory. Although Ja Morant only had one turnover in that game, he played just 26 minutes due to Memphis` ineffective offense. Memphis needs Morant to be more aggressive on Tuesday, but this could lead to increased turnovers. Analysts point out that Morant is responsible for 25% of his team`s turnovers this season, and projections suggest Memphis will have around 19 turnovers, potentially leading to about five for Morant.
It`s expected that Ja Morant will need to take on a larger offensive role for Memphis, as he is their primary shot creator. Even with a strong performance, his increased usage could result in exceeding 3.5 turnovers. DraftKings offers the Over 3.5 turnovers prop for Morant at -105 odds.
LeBron James Over 1.5 Made 3-Pointers (-158)
For LeBron James` prop, analysts are prioritizing season-long trends over recent game performance at home. James averages 2.5 made 3-pointers per game and has exceeded 1.5 in 71.4% of his home games this season. However, in his last three games, including two at home, he has only made 2 of 13 attempts from beyond the arc. Projections estimate James will make 2.3 three-pointers on 6.4 attempts. Last postseason, James made multiple 3-pointers in three out of five games, hitting three in each of those.
The recommendation to bet on James hitting over 1.5 three-pointers is based on his season-long 43.1% home 3-point percentage, rather than his recent 15% shooting slump. Minnesota allows the fifth-most 3-point attempts in the league and ranks fourth in 3-point percentage. To compete with Minnesota, teams often need to rely on 3-point shooting, as dominating them in rebounding or turnovers is challenging. FanDuel offers the best odds for this prop at -158, with other betting platforms already adjusting odds higher.
Jasper Hawthorne