NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Trae Young, Jeremy Sochan, Knicks-Hawks and Celtics-Cavs)

Who's ready for an 11-game NBA slate on Wednesday?

There are plenty of big games on the slate with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Trae Young and several other stars playing tonight.

That leads to four more picks for today's best bets, and we're coming off yet another 2-1 night to improve the season record.

I have two player props, an upset pick and one spread pick for today's action, so a little of everything for your liking.

Let's get into our four picks for Wednesday!

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record for 2022-23 Season: 29-17-1 (+8.8733 units)

NBA Best Bets Today

• Cleveland Cavaliers ML (+110) vs. Boston Celtics
• Trae Young OVER 40.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-120)
• Jeremy Sochan OVER 10.5 Points (-125)
• New York Knicks -2.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks

Cleveland Cavaliers ML (+110) vs. Boston Celtics

Cleveland leads the NBA in 3-point shooting this season, going 42.7 percent from beyond the arc as a team, an insane number through the first six games.

Garland’s potential return will only make this offense better, and the Cavs are also playing elite defense, ranking third in the NBA in defensive rating. 

Boston was the league’s No. 1 defense a season ago, but the injury to Robert Williams III is extremely concerning against the Cavs’ frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. 

The Celtics have a top five offense so far in the 2022-23 campaign, but they are in the bottom 10 in the league in defensive rating. Boston has the scoring to keep up with this high-powered Cleveland offense, but I don’t think it should be favored, on the road, against a team that it already lost to at home. 

Give me Cleveland to win this outright, especially since Darius Garland will play. 

Trae Young OVER 40.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-120)

We all know how much New York Knicks fans can’t stand Trae Young, but he was electric against them in the playoffs two seasons ago and again last season. 

In three games against the Knicks in the 2021-22 campaign, Young averaged 35.7 points, 6.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. 

That would easily put him past this PRA prop, and he’s gone OVER 40.5 in five of his seven games this season, averaging 29.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 9.7 assists per game. 

New York has given up a lot of points in recent games, and has increased its pace this season. Don't be shocked if this turns into a bit of a shootout at Madison Square Garden.

Jeremy Sochan OVER 10.5 Points (-125)

The San Antonio Spurs are going to be short handed on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors with Keldon Johnson, Isaiah Roby and Devin Vassell all listed as out. 

That opens the door for first-round pick Jeremy Sochan to continue his solid play after he cleared this line in three straight games. 

Sochan has seen his minutes increase from 23 to 28 to 31 in those games, so I expect him to see even more usage with so many key options out of the lineup on Wednesday. 

New York Knicks -2.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks simply don’t cover in losses, and that makes me concerned when they are slight road dogs against the New York Knicks. 

The Hawks were blown out in their last game against  the Toronto Raptors, and now they take on a Knicks team that is 3-0 straight up at home this season. 

New York actually has a better net rating (12th) than Atlanta (17th) this season, and the Knicks have increased their pace of play in the 2022-23 campaign compared to last season. 

This is a rivalry type matchup with how much Knicks fans can’t stand Trae Young, but the addition of Jalen Brunson and potential return of Quentin Grimes (questionable) leads me to backing New York to win and cover.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.