The first two games of the 2024 NBA Cup quarterfinals take place on December 10, and while there's only four teams worth of players to bet on, the props market should still be booming on Tuesday night.
Here are three player prop wagers to consider for when the Orlando Magic take on the Milwaukee Bucks and the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Dallas Mavericks, including a scoring prop for superstar guard Kyrie Irving at plus money (+104).
Kyrie Irving OVER 22.5 Points vs. Thunder (+104)
Preview: Dallas Mavericks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, 9:30 p.m. ET
The return of Luka Doncic to Dallas' starting lineup hasn't stifled Kyrie Irving's production, as the veteran guard is averaging 21.3 points on 50 percent shooting from both the field and 3-point range in the last four games.
He'll need 23 points on Tuesday versus Oklahoma City to reach the OVER on plus money, which Irving has done in six of his last seven appearances. The one exception was a 10-point night against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 3 which was far and away his worst showing of the 2024-25 campaign, so let's chalk that up to a rough night and nothing more.
Irving registered 23 points on 17 shot attempts back on Nov. 17 against the Thunder, which is likely why the prop total is what it is. Now he only averaged 15.7 points on 44.7 percent shooting and didn't go OVER 22.5 points once during the Mavericks' conference semifinals win to advance past Oklahoma City, so we'll need this recent hot streak of his to help propel him to otherwise unseen production. At plus money, though, it's worth the risk.
Cole Anthony UNDER 17.5 Points + Assists vs. Bucks (-102)
Preview: Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. ET
Circumstances have clearly changed for the Magic, what with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner both suffering from torn obliques which will keep them sidelined for the foreseeable future. Rather than work their offense through the frontcourt, players like Jalen Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Cope, and Anthony Black should see increased roles as Orlando attempts to figure out what its blueprint for success will be until one or both of its bigs returns.
In the case of Cole Anthony, he's only nailed the OVER on 17.5 combined points and assists on one occasion this season, averaging fewer than half the minutes (10.9) he did a year ago (22.4). Now he did play a season-high 29 minutes in the Magic's surprise victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, yet he still didn't reach an OVER on 17.5 points and assists, although he just barely missed with 17 in total (14 points and three assists).
Anthony's often woeful shooting has kept him glued to the bench more often than not, and it's those inconsistencies which make him such a risky play, even with more playing time out of sheer necessity.
Moritz Wagner OVER 5.5 Rebounds vs. Bucks (+106)
Preview: Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7 p.m. ET
He's no Franz, and he's not going to mirror his brother's production, but on this night, Moritz Wagner is worth your consideration for rebounds at OVER 5.5 against a Bucks team which allows 45.5 boards to the opposition at Fiserv Forum (25th overall).
The older Wagner has gone five-straight games grabbing six or more boards, while also having done so in exactly half of his total appearances this season for Orlando (13 of 26). Moritz is also averaging 6.1 rebounds in 13 games over his career when Franz isn't available.
