The last 2 teams not to have started their NBA seasons get their campaigns underway on Thursday night. The Milwaukee Bucks will begin with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. These Eastern Conference contenders will be keen to set the tone from the get go. The same can be said for the nights later game as the Lakers and the Clippers take on each other in the battle for Los Angeles. With the Clippers winners of 7 straight games in the matchup, it has been a one sided of late.
Check out the player props I have picked out for each game below.
One of the biggest acquisitions the Philadelphia 76ers have made in the offseason is the addition of P.J. Tucker. While the forward has not been brought in to be a major contributor on the offensive end, his defense and tenacity should see him earn plenty of time on the floor. Tucker managed 33 minutes of playing time on opening night. With that he was able to score 6 points on 3 of 5 shooting. I expect him to be able to recreate something similar here.
Playing against the Milwaukee Bucks should also suit Tucker well. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best help defenders in the league so expect him to step in and assist his team on Joel Embiid post ups or James Harden drives. Having him guard a more offensively challenged player like Tucker would allow him to do just that. The end result should mean that Tucker finds himself with the ball more often, likely in the corner, as he works as an outlet for the 76ers stars. Having made 41.5% of his 3-pointers for the Miami Heat last season, he does have the ability to punish the Bucks for this.