The kickoff to the 2024 NBA Cup on Tuesday, November 12 offers a slew of opportunities in the player props market, including when Dallas Mavericks sniper Klay Thompson faces his old team in the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. Oddsmakers at FanDuel Sportsbook have his scoring prop at 15.5 points, and the UNDER is calling our names.
Along with projecting Thompson to be contained offensively by his former teammates, here's a look at all player props you should consider wagering on for the eight games on the schedule.
Klay Thompson UNDER 15.5 Points (+100)
In theory, Thompson should want to light up the Warriors considering how the organization wasn't inclined to pay up to keep him on the roster. Perhaps there's a touch of animosity there stemming from how things ended after Thompson helped bring Golden State four championships during his tenure.
However, on Tuesday in West Group C action, the 34-year-old veteran will likely need to wait a bit longer to make a statement in his old stomping grounds. The Warriors own the fourth-best defense in basketball, allowing just 107.6 points per 100 possessions, and possess an embarrassment of riches defensively on the wing to guard a static Thompson.
He's also exceeded the 15.5-point mark just once in his last seven games, converting just 38.5 percent from the field and under 29 percent from 3-point range. While he'll certainly be looking to have a memorable box score, at plus money, and when analyzing his recent cold spurt, another pedestrian line should be in the cards.
Bobby Portis OVER 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-106)
The Milwaukee Bucks are in total disarray at 2-8 SU, and will now be without superstar guard Damian Lillard on Tuesday as he's in concussion protocol. That's 26 points on 17.8 shot attempts left unaccounted for, and when taking on the Toronto Raptors and their league-worst defense at Fiserv Forum, the opportunity is there for someone like Bobby Portis to flourish.
Portis currently averages 12.5 points and 8.2 rebounds off the bench for Milwaukee, ranking eighth in Sixth Man of the Year betting odds at 28-to-1 at FanDuel. The Raptors' frontcourt is hindered with All-Star Scottie Barnes and backup center Kelly Olynyk injured, forcing head coach Darko Rajakovic to give a rookie like Jonathan Mogbo a healthy dose of minutes and throw him to the lions early.
While Portis has only hit the OVER on 22.5 points and rebounds in three of his 10 appearances this season, the circumstances with Lillard being out and the Bucks desperate for a win with plenty of holes to exploit in the Raptors' defense lean in favor of the first OVER in three games connecting.
Goga Bitadze OVER 19.5 Points + Rebounds (-111)
Slotting into the starting lineup with Paolo Banchero (torn oblique) and Wendall Carter Jr. (foot) hurt, Goga Bitadze has made the most of his added playing time and is putting up double-double numbers for the 5-6 Orlando Magic.
As a starter over the last four games, Bitadze is averaging 10.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and three assists while shooting 66.7 percent from the field. He's nailed the OVER on 19.5 points + rebounds all four times, as well, making for an enticing bet against the visiting Charlotte Hornets.
At 6-foot-11 and weighing roughly 250 pounds, Charlotte lacks the size in the low post to throw at Bitadze, who may not be a top-scoring option for Orlando but should still plow his way to another double-double on Tuesday with brute force.
