Durant Leads NBA Player Props For Opening Night

• The NBA season returns Tuesday with two games featuring valuable player props like Kevin Durant over 27.5 points at -114 odds.
• Other props include KD to hit over two threes (+127), Andrew Wiggins to have over 17 points (-114), and Montrezl Harrell to have over five rebounds (-114).

LAS VEGAS – After the shortest offseason in the history of major American sports, the NBA is back Tuesday night with two games between potential top teams.

The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James will take on the Los Angeles Clippers while the new-look Brooklyn Nets face the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers and Clippers will be looking familiar to most NBA bettors, while the Nets welcome Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to face a Warriors team without Klay Thompson and Draymond Green for the time being.

While spread and moneyline bets are always available, bettors should also key in on some of the NBA player prop bets currently available on the major online sportsbooks.

Kevin Durant Over 27.5 Points (-114)

Kevin Durant will be making his Brooklyn Nets debut Tuesday against his former team in the Golden State Warriors. Those who know Durant know that he has a flair for the dramatic, and loves proving his haters wrong at any opportunity. What better way to remind the league of your dominance than a breakout performance to start the season.

The wait is over. @KDTrey5 returns to the NBA floor for the first time in 552 days tonight.

KEVIN DURANT IS BACK pic.twitter.com/DPGYYra27V

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 13, 2020

Durant has looked limber as ever in the preseason and will be going up against a Warriors lineup without Draymond Green. With Green out, the Warriors' options to guard Durant come down to Eric Paschall or Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins is known as one of the lowest-effort defenders in the NBA while Paschall had a defensive rating of 114.2 last season, good for last on the Warriors. Look for KD to go off tonight to announce his triumphant return.

• Kevin Durant Over 2.5 Three-Pointers Made (+127)

Much of the same reasoning can be applied to this bet, but with a higher return on investment. Durant is one of the best three-point shooters in the league but was asked to take less of them during his time with the Warriors.

With Golden State, Durant averaged just 2.06 threes per game but was asked to shoot less of them thanks to the other members of that team spacing the floor. Prior to the Warriors, KD averaged 2.5 threes a game in his final three years with the Oklahoma City Thunder. KD should be able to knock at least three down in tonight’s game.

Andrew Wiggins Over 17.5 Points (-114)

While heavily criticized throughout his NBA career, Andrew Wiggins has always been able to do one thing effectively: score the basketball. Wiggins will now be solidifying himself into a Golden State lineup that will likely utilize Wiggins far more effectively than he ever was in Minnesota.

Wiggins averaged 22 points in 42 games with the Timberwolves last year and would love to get back on that same pace with the Warriors. With Klay and Draymond out, there will need to be more scorers other than Steph Curry on the floor. With the total for this game set at 230 points, there could be plenty of opportunities for Wiggins.

• Montrezl Harrell Over 5.5 Rebounds (-114)

Montrezl Harrell is one of the new additions for the Lakers following the departure of bigs Dwight Howard and Javale McGee. Harrell won the sixth man of the year award for the Clippers last season and will be debuting in the Purple and Gold against his old team Tuesday night.

Harrell is a physical machine and is known for his hustle whenever he is on the court. Harrell averaged 7.1 rebounds last year for the Clippers and would love to ball out against his old team.

Bettors can find all these NBA player prop bets and more at any of the international online sportsbooks.