Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Nurkic Should Own Glass vs Clippers

As we hit the three-week mark of this young NBA season, the league is treating us to a barren slate with just three games tonight. 

Not to worry, though. Even if the NBA prop betting cupboards are pretty bare, we've found a great wager from each of Tuesday's games.

Check out our NBA prop picks for November 9, with hopes of milking some profit from tonight's limited selection. 

NBA player props for November 9

• Korkmaz Over 14.5 points (-110)
• Whiteside Over 12.5 pts + rebs (-120)
• Nurkic Over 10.5 rebounds (-102)

Picks made on 11/9/2021 at 12:05 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Popping the Kork

The Philadelphia 76ers are pretty destitute right now.

One of their stars is locked into the NBA's most ridiculous staring contest with the team's front office. The other two, including MVP candidate Joel Embiid, have COVID-19. 

There are more minutes and shots available to this roster right now than there are B-list movies on Netflix, and one guy who's been taking advantage is fifth-year forward Furkan Korkmaz. 

Kork is averaging 22 points over the past two games, and with Embiid and Tobias Harris both out, he played almost 40 minutes and had 16 shot attempts (12 of which from long range) against the Knicks in Philly's last game. 

Korkmaz is sure to see similar opportunities tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks, with his points total sitting at a measly 14.5. And speaking of COVID, starting Bucks shooting guard Khris Middleton — Korkmaz's likely opposition — also has it. Korkmaz will thus see more of Grayson Allen, who, while a definite irritant, isn't as long or generally as good as Middleton on D. 

Back Korkmaz on the Over here, and avoid any juice. 

Pick: Furkan Korkmaz Over 14.5 points (-110 at FanDuel)

Mr. Whiteside

Remember Hassan Whiteside? That dude who won you your fantasy league back in, like, 2015? 

You'd be forgiven if you hadn't exactly kept up with him over the past few years as he bounced around the NBA (although he did put up another stellar fantasy campaign for Portland in 2019-20). He's currently Utah's backup center, and more currently, facing a points + rebounds total of 12.5 tonight against the Atlanta Hawks. 

We like this prop for a few reasons: First off, Whiteside averages a clean 15 combined in this market on the season. Second, it's a total he's topped in eight of 10 games this season. Third, Atlanta's a strong rebounding team (fourth in rebounding rate), which is likely why this number's low.

But Utah's the NBA's top team in that metric, and the Hawks' backup front line of Gorgui Dieng and Danilo Gallinari is nowhere near as proficient on the glass as starters John Collins and Clint Capela are. 

Look for Whiteside to face little resistance on his way to an Over here. 

Pick: Hassan Whiteside Over 12.5 points + rebounds (-120 at DraftKings)

Nurk lurks

Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic has seen his role in Portland's offense gradually decline. Over the past two seasons, the Blazers were forced to adopt a more perimeter-heavy approach with the Bosnian Bear playing just 45 regular-season games due to injuries. So far, that pattern has held under new head coach Chauncey Billups, with Nurk averaging just 11.5 ppg — the same mark as last year, and a personal low with the Blazers. 

Despite this, Nurkic has remained ever-active on the glass and is actually pulling in a career-high 11.9 boards per game this season. He's surpassed tonight's total of 10.5 rebounds in five of 10 games so far, but his matchup with the Clippers is especially appealing. 

L.A. is liable to run small-ball sets at any time, and neither of its traditional centers are dominant rebounders. As a team, the Clippers own the NBA's fifth-worst rebounding rate, and Nurkic will most likely have his way on the boards tonight. 

Bank on the NBA's fourth-leading rebounder to make his impact felt, at a price that isn't juiced at all. 

Pick: Jusuf Nurkic Over 10.5 rebounds (-102 at FanDuel)

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