NBA Thursday Night Player Prop Parlay: Back Maxey and Nurkic

A couple of nights into the 2023-24 NBA season, we have been treated to some enthralling games across the Association. Thursday night promises to provide two more belters with Eastern Conference giants clashing and a rare regular-season matchup between Kevin Durant and LeBron James in Los Angeles.

James Harden is unavailable for the Sixers despite packing his bags for the road trip, while Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are both doubtful for the Suns, with the latter missing the opening game of the season.

Read below for our analysis of Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns from US sports expert Sam Cox. For more free basketball tips, visit the bettingexpert community, and for more expert tips, visit our Expert Insights section.

• Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey over 21.5 points
• Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns: Jusuf Nurkic over 12.5 rebounds and assists

Player Prop Parlay odds: 3.39

Odds available as of October 26th 2023. Odds may now differ.

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MILWAUKEE BUCKS VS PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Fri, Oct 27. 00:30 (UK time)

Tyrese Maxey is poised for a huge year. With Harden surely on his way out, Maxey is going to be running the offence, which he has shown he can do with great efficiency on high volume. The electric guard had a usage rate of 18.8% in minutes with Harden last season, and averaged just 17.2 points per 36 minutes.

Without Harden, Maxey’s scoring skyrocketed to almost 27 points per 36. His efficiency naturally dipped slightly, but his usage was up at 30.5%. To give some context, that would have been the 16th-highest usage in the NBA last season. Bradley Beal, DeMar DeRozan, and Kyrie Irving all had lower usage rates than Maxey did in non-Harden minutes.

Beginning his fourth season, Maxey is heading towards an All-Star berth. He averaged 20.3 points per game in 2022-23, but Bet365 have set his points line at just 21.5 for the opening game of 2023-24.

This number seems a couple of points too low, and that’s before we consider the vulnerability of the Bucks’ perimeter defence.

• Selection: Tyrese Maxey over 21.5 points
• Best Odds: 1.87
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stakes: 10/10

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LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS PHOENIX SUNS

Fri, Oct 27. 03:00 (UK time)

Jusuf Nurkic grabbed 14 rebounds and dished three assists in Phoenix’s season opener. With no true point guard, Frank Vogel is clearly keen to run plenty of offence through his centre. If Beal and/or Booker are out, Nurkic’s playmaking from the high post and elbow will be even more important for Phoenix in the halfcourt.

Nurkic had eight potential assists against the Warriors, which was more than Kevin Durant. His rebounding dropped to just 9.1 per game last season, but he’s had multiple double-digit campaigns in his career, and needs to be a force on the boards against a Lakers team which can run some sizeable line ups with Anthony Davis, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura and LeBron James.

Given how he started the season, this number seems too low. The 1.95 price represents exceptional value. Nurkic might not be the player he once was, but he has a major role to play on this Suns team as a rebounder and passer.

• Selection: Jusuf Nurkic over 12.5 rebounds and assists
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stakes: 5/10

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