The NBA Cup continues Tuesday, and so I'm primed and ready to unveil the NBA Cup betting handles, courtesy of BetMGM.
In the Magic-Bucks game, bettors are sweet on Orlando to cover the 6.5-point spread, with 62% of the handle on that bet. For Dallas-Oklahoma City, there's a ton of big money on the Mavericks ML at +150.
Naturally, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the star of all the prop action, but not in the way you might expect.
Below, I'll highlight where the betting action is for Tuesday's NBA Cup action and what we can learn from the Magic vs Bucks and Mavericks vs Thunder handle:
NBA Cup Betting Handles: Magic vs Bucks
Magic vs Bucks, Dec. 10, 7 pm ET
| Team | Spread | % Bets | % Handle | Total | % Bets | % Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Magic | +6.5 | 56% | 62% | O215.5 | 68% | 77% |
| Milwaukee Bucks | -6.5 | 44% | 38% | U215.5 | 32% | 23% |
Betting Handle per BetMGM
NBA Cup Betting Handles: Mavericks vs Thunder
Mavericks vs Thunder, Dec. 10, 9:30 pm ET
| Team | Spread | % Bets | % Handle | Total | % Bets | % Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | +4.5 | 54% | 44% | O231.5 | 38% | 57% |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | -4.5 | 46% | 56% | U231.5 | 62% | 43% |
Betting Handle per BetMGM
Our NBA Expert Fading The Public on Bucks ATS
NBA expert Chris Walder sees a sneaky fade of the public here, despite 62% of the handle on the Magic to cover vs the Bucks. He liked the Bucks -7.5 and will still bet them at -6.5.
Torn oblique injuries to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have left the Magic searching for offensive solutions, and in their 115-110 victory over the Suns, Jalen Suggs stepped up with 26 points on 18 shots. Wagner had been averaging 26.1 points on 45.7% shooting before his injury, and while Suggs shows promise, matching the Bucks' top-10 offense (113.9 points per 100 possessions) in the semifinals will be tough.
Orlando, 10-0 at home but 7-9 on the road, faces a Milwaukee team that’s 7-1 in its last eight home games and 5-1 straight up when favored by 7.5 points or more, making the Bucks a strong pick to cover the spread and secure the moneyline.
If you're not interested in game picks for tonight's NBA Cup games, BetMGM has also provided us the most bet on player props, in terms of number of tickets, for the slate tonight:
Five Most Bet NBA Cup Player Props
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over 5.5 assists (-130)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope under 9.5 points (+100)
- Khris Middleton over 10.5 points (-140)
- PJ Washington over 6.5 rebounds (-125)
- Daniel Gafford over 0.5 assists (-180)
5.5 assists is a nice line for SGA heading into this contest. The Thunder guard has cashed the OVER in 52% of games this season and in nine of 16 (56%) games vs the Mavericks. Dallas is vulnerable to assists, as Scottie Barnes just dropped 14 dimes against the Mavericks on Sunday, making him the third guard (technically) in Dallas' last three games to cash an assists OVER.
