Wednesday brings 12 NBA games, and there is no better place to win some money than on Sleeper Fantasy, which routinely offers some of the best odds in the business. The Bucks-Pacers matchup in Indiana, with a total of 258, highlights tonight’s set of games as they meet for the fifth time this season. The Pacers lead the season series 3-1, including a victory in the In-Season Tournament Semifinals. We have a few other exciting games tonight, including the new-look Raptors against the Grizzlies and the Clippers visiting the Suns. Let’s start our card tonight with a Giannis Antetokounmpo discount.
Selecting the right projections may be challenging, but with the assistance of OddsShopper’s Sleeper Fantasy NBA Optimizer and thorough research, we have you covered. Let’s dive into the best Sleeper Fantasy NBA picks and player projections for Jan. 3.
Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Predictions
Giannis Antetokounmpo M/L 28.5 Points (22% off)
Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 30.9 points per game, and in the four games this season against Indiana, he averaged 46.3. That massive total includes a career-high 64 points back on Dec. 13. Indiana allows the most points in the paint on the season, and Giannis leads the NBA with 20.6 points in the paint per game. This is a no-brainer in a game with two of the best offensive teams in the NBA.
If you’re not familiar with Sleeper, you can wager up to $10 per entry, and the contest multiplier must be at least 3x when using a promotional pick. Don’t get crazy with the multiplier and miss out on some easy money here. Sleeper has some of the best odds in the business, but they do not provide insured or flex plays, so keep your card to a minimum to take advantage of these discounts.
Best Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo More Than 28.5 Points
Marcus Smart M/L 2.5 Rebounds
Marcus Smart is averaging 2.3 rebounds per game, and the Grizzlies are 1-point home favorites over the Raptors. This is not a sexy play by any means, but it has good value. We’ve seen Smart play 30-plus minutes in three straight games since his return on Dec. 26 after missing six weeks of action. The Raptors rank 23rd in opponent rebounds allowed to guards, and I expect Smart to play 30-plus minutes tonight, generating enough opportunities to get to three rebounds.
OddsShopper’s Positive EV Bets tool shows that Underdog has this at 3.0, while all other operators are juiced to the over between -170 and -175. More than on 2.5 rebounds has a 60% expected win rate and -154 true odds.
Best Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Prediction: Marcus Smart More Than 2.5 Rebounds
If you’re looking for some other pick’em action tonight, is legal in your state.
Josh Giddey M/L 12.5 Points
Josh Giddey is averaging 12.2 points per game, and over his last five, he’s up to 14.4. In this timeframe, he ranks fifth in the NBA with a 23.3 offensive rating. He gets a favorable matchup tonight against a Hawks team that ranks 27th in defensive rating and is in the top 5 in pace. There’s a reason this game has a total of 248.5. Giddey’s recent success could be because the off-court drama is behind him or because he is attempting more shots. In the month of December, he’s averaging 3.5 3-point attempts per game after shooting just two per game in November.
The Thunder are clicking right now, winners of five straight games and standing second in the West. This is the second game of a back-to-back, but that shouldn’t faze these young guns. Giddey is shooting 53.4% from the field on no rest, so this plays into his favor. He gets to 13 points tonight in another Thunder victory.
Best Sleeper Fantasy NBA Player Prediction: Josh Giddey More Than 12.5 Points
