Bryan Armetta shares his two favorite player props on DraftKings Sportsbook for Tuesday’s Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic NBA Cup matchup.
The NBA Cup quarterfinals get started tonight with a Southeastern Division showdown. Miami has surpassed all expectations over the first two months of the season. Now, with leading scorer Tyler Herro active, the Heat are healthier than ever. The same can’t be said for their opponents, the Magic, who are currently without Franz Wagner (ankle). Still, this hard-nosed Orlando roster remains capable of grinding out a win at home.
In a primetime battle between offense and defense, which players will step up? The Heat are favored by 1.5 points (-102) over the Magic, with the over/under set at 235.5 points. Here are two of the top prop bet picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s Heat vs. Magic matchup.
Heat vs. Magic prop bet picks
Anthony Black 24+ points + rebounds + assists (-123)
As previously mentioned, Wanger’s injury changes things for the Magic. That’s especially true on offense, where the team lacks impact scorers other than Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane. After that, there’s ample room for some of Orlando’s other players to contribute. Over the past few weeks, that includes Anthony Black. During his previous eighth games, the guard is averaging 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. That’s despite a middling 42% field goal percentage. In other words, Black has put up numbers without efficient shooting.
Whether or not the Arkansas alum finds his shot tonight, he should stay busy. The Heat play at basketball’s fastest tempo, often leading to inflated box scores. Opponents are posting the ninth-most points (118.3), third-most rebounds (57.8) and seventh-most assists (28.0) per game against Miami. When these two teams last met, on December 5th, Black tallied 27 points + rebounds + assists. In fact, he’s reached that mark in five of his last six outings. All signs are pointing to another stat-stuffing performance on Tuesday.
Bam Adebayo 10+ rebounds (-114)
Herro might be Miami’s top option on offense, but Bam Adebayo is the team’s best player. Over 18 games, the center has notched 19.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists with 48/35/79 shooting splits. That’s without mentioning elite defense on the other end of the floor. However, that level of effort can, on occasion, lend itself to a letdown game. Still, the big man’s role is invaluable, making him an enticing pick for bettors. This new-look Heat offense has also made it easier for the three-time All-Star to rack up counting stats.
Flirting with a double-double won’t be so easy on Tuesday. The Magic have allowed the eighth-fewest points (113.6) and ninth-fewest rebounds (50.8) per game to their opponents. However, Adebayo has proven to be an exception to those stellar numbers, especially on the glass. In each of his previous three meetings with Orlando, the center has recorded at least ten boards. The loss of Wagner, third on the team in rebounds per game (6.1), is another factor to consider. Even if points are hard to come by, Adebayo should make his presence felt tonight.