The NBA Cup advances into the knockout stage when the Orlando Magic visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
While this is one of just two games on the NBA odds board, there are endless wagering options thanks to the deep menu of Magic vs. Bucks props.
I dig into those NBA player props, giving you my best NBA picks for tonight's action.
Best Magic vs Bucks props for tonight
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Lillard Under 7.5 assists (-135 at bet365) - Portis Over 7.5 rebounds (+110 at bet365)
- Lopez Over 9.5 points (-105 at bet365)
Picks made on 12-10.
Magic vs Bucks player props for December 10
Prop bet #1: Damian Lillard Under 7.5 assists
With the total at 213 points, this number is currently tied as the lowest Over/Under for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.
The Orlando Magic present a tough defensive challenge for Milwaukee, ranked third in advanced defensive rating and bringing games to a screeching halt with its methodical tempo, sitting 25th in pace of play.
With points projected to be at a premium, assists will also be scarcer for the Bucks and point guard Damian Lillard. He’s averaging 7.5 assists per game and is coming off an 11-assist performance in the win over Brooklyn on Sunday. Before that outpouring, however, Lillard had handed out five or fewer assists in the three games prior.
The Magic not only limit their opponents’ possessions but clamp down on the passing lanes, tightening for the seventh-lowest assist-to-field goal ratio. In terms of total assists allowed per contest, Orlando sits second fewest at 22.9.
Lillard’s assist market is bouncing between 6.5 and 7.5 dimes on Tuesday night. His player projections all sit well below eight helpers, with almost all models calling for less than seven assists.
Prop bet #2: Bobby Portis Over 7.5 rebounds
The knockout round of the NBA Cup brings playoff-like intensity to the middle of December.
Bucks forward Bobby Portis is notorious for finding another gear in the postseason and will be called upon to up his effort against Orlando to advance Milwaukee to the next stage.
Portis showed a little of that intensity in an 18-rebound effort in the loss to Boston last week and will be active on the boards tonight. He’s averaging 7.5 rebounds so far this season, which is where his rebounding total sits for Tuesday.
The Magic are already playing without Paolo Banchero, who leads the team with 8.8 rebounds a night, and could be without 6-foot-10 reserve Jonathan Isaac (hamstring), who’s been big on the boards since Banchero went down at the end of October.
Portis’ projections range from 6.8 to eight rebounds, with more than a few forecasts calling for more than 7.5 boards. My projections come out to 7.9 rebounds, which provides good value with the Over at +110.
Prop bet #3: Brook Lopez Over 9.5 points
Milwaukee’s veteran big man is mired in a funk this month, averaging just 4.5 points in the first four games of December. Brook Lopez is shooting just 35% from the field compared to averages of 13.1 points on 51.5% shooting in November.
Part of the problem is venue, with three of those four games coming on the road. The 7-footer is a homebody, scoring almost four additional points inside Fiserv Forum.
Lopez enjoys a 48% shooting clip in front of the Milwaukee faithful, including a boost in his 3-point attempts and makes (2.3 for 6.3). These splits aren’t reserved for this season only, as Lopez saw similar production at home in 2023-24.
Tuesday’s player models all call for more than 10 points from Lopez tonight, with a ceiling of 11.9. My number comes out to 10.8 points, which should have his Over 9.5 points priced around -130 instead of the -105 available at bet365.
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