Best NBA Prop Bets Today (Paul George, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Expected to Score Big)

The BetSided team is diving in prop bets for Monday night’s NBA action, and we have four plays for you to consider in the seven-game slate. 

If you’re looking for scoring, Reed Wallach and Joe Summers have two stars they think will have big games, while Peter Dewey and Ben Heisler have their sights set on the first quarter between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. 

Let’s jump into today’s best props:

Best NBA Prop Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Prop Bets Record: 39-39 (-4.3232 units)

Best NBA Prop Bets Today

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 26.5 Points (-126)
• Paul George OVER 26.5 Points (-111)
• Milwaukee Bucks 1Q ML (-140) vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Bucks 1Q OVER 29.5 Total Points (-110)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 26.5 Points (-126)

If sportsbooks are going to keep giving us value on Shai, I'll just keep betting on him. Perhaps the breakout star of the young NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder guard averages 31.1 points per game on 54.3% shooting with just under 24 shots per game. He's been spectacular, and that volume alone gives him value to clear this prop.

Gilgeous-Alexander has at least 28 points in nine of his 12 games and shouldn't slow down against a Celtics team that ranks 22nd in defensive rating. This line is giving too much respect to Boston's defense, which hasn't been the same world-beating unit we saw last year.

Oklahoma City plays at the seventh-fastest pace in the NBA, so Shai will have plenty of volume and should get second-chance opportunities as well thanks to Boston's 20th-best rebounding percentage.

Pretty much any points prop under 30 is a bet for me moving forward on Shai. Let's keep backing the best cash cow there is early in this NBA season. – Joe Summers

Paul George OVER 26.5 Points (-111)

Paul Geroge has been averaging 24.7 points per game this season, but should be in line for a big outing against the helpless Houston Rockets defense that is 29th in points allowed per 100 possessions. 

George is posting a 31% usage rate, right around his mark for last season and is taking more than eight 3-pointers per game. Given that Houston wants to play fast (ninth in pace this season) and doesn't defend, I expect the Clippers forward to get going offensively and push into the 30's. – Reed Wallach

Milwaukee Bucks 1Q ML (-140) vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Milwaukee Bucks are the best first quarter team in the NBA this season, going 5-1-1 against the spread at home in the first frame and averaging 31.4 points per game. 

They’re taking on an Atlanta Hawks team that has struggled in first quarters, ranking 21st in the NBA in net rating at -5.6. 

The Bucks get Giannis Antetokounmpo back in the lineup tonight, so they should be rejuvenated on offense early. If Milwaukee comes close to its usual first quarter output, it should be able to hold an early advantage. – Peter Dewey

Bucks 1Q OVER 29.5 Total Points (-110)

I love picking the brain of our NBA wizard Peter Dewey, who once again continues to track one of the most absurd betting stats in the league this year with the Atlanta Hawks.

I, of course, love finding first quarter trends and edges, and just like last week, I'm going OVER on the Bucks team total in the first quarter over the Hawks, even as Milwaukee is still dealing with injuries to Jrue Holiday amongst others.

The Bucks will have revenge on their minds after Atlanta throttled them in the second half last week, and should get off to another great start; ranking second in the league in first quarter offensive rating and first in overall 1Q net rating at +20.1.

Meanwhile, the Hawks own the fourth-worst defensive rating on the road in the first 12 minutes this year, trailing only the Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.

Atlanta seems to score and play faster earlier on the road compared to at home, so let's run with the Bucks and back the early points at home. – Ben Heisler

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.