Bryan Armetta shares his three favorite player prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Wednesday’s 12-game NBA slate.

Basketball is finally back, and the anticipation has never been higher. The Thunder may be defending champions, but hope springs eternal across the association. Fans and analysts will get their first look at several contenders tonight, with marquee matchups on tap all evening.

For opportunistic bettors, this is also an opportunity to cash in on offseason uncertainty. With rotations and depth charts still a mystery, there’s value to be had. Still, the opposite is also true – avoiding the wrong name is just as important as choosing the right one. Which players can you trust on Wednesday night’s 12-game slate?

Here are three of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s NBA action.

Top NBA prop bet picks

Chris Boucher over 8.5 points (-113)

The Celtics, without superstar Jayson Tatum, are a wildcard this season. In addition to missing their best player, the team also parted ways with Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. That’s a major blow to any squad’s big man depth. Boston, limited in cap space, didn’t land any standout replacements. Along the front court, it’ll be some combination of Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Sam Houser and Chris Boucher.

Of that uninspiring quartet, Boucher might have the most potential. After all, we’ve already seen him play well as a member of the Raptors. Granted, the defensive specialist never saw a consistent starting role in Toronto. There’s a good chance that changes in Boston. Keep in mind, this is arguably the NBA’s most trigger-happy club. Plodding bigs such as Queta and Garza don’t offer Boucher’s versatility and spot-up shooting. The 33-year-old connected on 36.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc last season. If the Celtics opt for a smaller starting five, the veteran could easily flirt with 25+ minutes. Even against a solid Philly defense, this number feels too low.

Bam Adebayo under 28.5 points + rebounds (-123)

Tyler Herro is out for at least a few weeks, if not months. That leaves the Heat without their leading scorer. If anyone on Miami’s roster can step up offensively, it’s Bam Adebayo. The three-time All-Star averaged 18.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 48.5% shooting last season. That’s in spite of his 23.5% usage rate, the center’s lowest mark since 2020. It’s a near-guarantee Bam’s workload increases during this upcoming campaign.

Although Adebayo is poised for a terrific season, he might not get off to a strong start. Wednesday’s opponent, the Magic, excel at defending down low. Last year, the team held opponents to 45.4 points per game in the paint, the NBA’s second-lowest mark. In addition, Orlando’s offense plays at one of the league’s slowest paces, limiting scoring opportunities. In six of his previous ten meetings with the Magic, Bam hasn’t reached 29 combined points + rebounds. There’s a good chance that trend continues tonight.

Jaren Jackson Jr. over 8.5 assists + rebounds (+102)

An already questionable Grizzlies roster will be without some of its most important pieces tonight. Ty Jerome (calf), Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), Brandon Clarke (knee) and Zach Edey (ankle) are all out tonight vs. New Orleans. The latter two are especially noteworthy, as it leaves Memphis quite thin down low. That’ll put even more pressure on Jaren Jackson Jr. The former Defensive Player of the Year has blossomed into one of the NBA’s best two-way players. Last season, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.

Typically, JJJ’s biggest impact is felt on defense. However, this Grizzlies offense needs him now more than ever following this summer’s Desmond Bane trade. Other than Ja Morant, it’s not as if the team has an abundance of distributors. In addition, tonight’s opponent loves to give up easy passes. Teams averaged 28.6 assists per game against the Pelicans last season, third-most in basketball. To make matters worse, New Orleans surrendered the fourth-most rebounds per game as well (52.3). Jackson Jr. has notched at least nine assists + rebounds in four of his last five games against the Pels. Given how depleted Memphis looks at the moment, expect another all-around outing from the big man.