Best NBA Player Props Today: Young Torches Bucks Backcourt

Prop bet #1: Can’t-miss Cade

The Detroit Pistons just went winless for an entire calendar month. Things are dire in the Motor City, and questions are understandably being asked of every person in the front office, every coach, and yes, every player on the roster.

A huge amount of scrutiny has focused on former No.1 pick Cade Cunningham, and what he is and isn’t doing to will this team to wins. But while Detroit hasn’t been winning, keen observers have noticed a significant uptick in a key area of Cade’s game.

Cade was an elite shooter in college. He then had a serious ankle injury prior to his rookie season, and a shin injury in his second, and the shooting simply hasn’t translated. Personally, I’ve never wavered on Cade becoming a strong perimeter shooter. And lately, that faith is being rewarded.

Cade is shooting 34.2% from downtown on the season, but over his last five games he’s knocking down 42.9%. He’s also hit two or more triples in seven straight games. Things are so miserable in Detroit that oddsmakers haven’t adjusted to Cade Cunningham odds accordingly just yet.

Cade Cunningham prop: Over 1.5 threes (-132 at FanDuel)

Prop bet #2: Jalen’s jumper

Jalen Suggs is one of this season’s breakout players. He was an outstanding NCAA player, but his particular skillset didn’t translate to NBA basketball through his first two years, and that transition was compounded by injuries.

This season, the Orlando Magic, and the rest of the league are seeing Suggs for exactly who he is: a bonafide winner. Suggs has already cemented himself as one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders, and his energy and competitiveness are absolutely infectious.

Suggs’ defensive impact wouldn’t add up to all that much however if he hadn’t shown growth as a shooter. The Magic are desperate for spacing around Paolo Banchero Franz Wagner, and even more desperate for anyone in their guard rotation to give it to them. Suggs has answered the call this season, getting his outside shot up to a respectable 37% on the season.

He’s been even better recently, shooting 41.7% from downtown over his last five games, and he’s hit two or more in five of his last six games, making Jalen Suggs odds an attractive target. 

Jalen Suggs prop: Over 1.5 threes (-115 at Unibet)

Prop bet #3: Young at heart 

The Atlanta Hawks are only going to go as far as Trae Young takes them, but “Ice” Trae got off to a frigid start this season. Through Young first seven games, he looked like a shell of himself. Young was shooting 33.6% from the field and just 27.3% from downtown.

But in the nine games since, Young has shot 44.4% from the field and 38.4% from downtown, and he’s also scored an average of 30.3 points per game. He’s only improved over his last five, pushing his points per game up to 32 per contest on 40.4% from three.

The perimeter shot coming around is the game changer for Trae, as it allows him to get his drives and foul game going by forcing aggressive closeouts. The Milwaukee Bucks backcourt pairing of Damian Lillard and Malik Beasley are one of the more flammable defensive units in the NBA, so I’m backing Trae Young odds to keep his hot streak rolling on Saturday.

Trae Young prop: Over 27.5 points (-110 at Sports Interaction)