Bucks vs Nets Props – Best Player Prop Bets for January 18th

• The Milwaukee Bucks travel to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York to do battle with the Nets at 7:30 PM EST on Monday, Jan. 18th
• Both teams are coming in hot on multiple game winning streaks
• See the best player prop bets for Friday’s game below

The stars will collide when Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks take on James Harden, Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. It’s still early but this game could certainly be a preview of this season’s Eastern Conference Finals.

The Bucks are on an absolute tear since the calendar turned to 2021, winning seven in a row. The Nets are on a three game winning streak of their own, and might even have Kyrie Irving back for this one.

Milwaukee has won seven of the last ten games in this series but it was the Nets who won the last matchup 119-116 back in August. The Bucks are favored by 2 points in this matchup and there are plenty of player props to consider.

Bucks vs Nets Player Props and Odds

Odds taken Jan. 18th from FanDuel

Don’t Forget About Bobby Portis

In a game that features James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Khris Middleton, it’s easy to forget about the role players. Obviously the stars will be on the court longer but each team features contributors outside of the stars. One guy that jumps off the screen in every single Bucks’ game is Bobby Portis.

Don't leave Bobby Portis open 🎯#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/zT5KqlDAld

— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) January 12, 2021

The total for this game opened at 240 which was the highest opener on the slate by 12 points. It has since been bet down to 237.5, but it still represents the highest total of the day. These two teams are 5th and 6th in the NBA in pace which should lead to an up and down type game. They are 1st and 2nd in field goal percentage, respectively, and that is why we should see some points.

With all the talk of the stars in Milwaukee, the forgotten man seems to be Bobby Portis. He is a high energy force off the bench that is quietly turning in a career year. He is in line for 20+ minutes tonight against a Nets team that has absolutely nothing in the depth department after trading for Harden. Portis could feast.

The beauty of a guy like Portis is that he can get double-digit points or rebounds or both on any given night. His 18.6 usage rate is the highest of any Bucks’ reserve and he is making the most of the opportunity. He is taking “good shots” and that’s reflected by his career high 54.9% shooting percentage. The stars may get the all the shine tonight, but Portis should still deliver his normal output.

The Pick: Bobby Portis Over 18.5 points + rebounds (-106)

Bobby Cleans the Glass

Portis can score which will go a long way in winning the points + rebounds bet but he could just as easily grab double-digit rebounds. He has done so five times this season even though he only plays about 23 minutes per game. He is averaging nine per contest in the month of January but the sports books have yet to catch on.

Milwaukee's Bobby Portis has 15 rebounds in 15 minutes. I think he had a dozen on that possession.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 16, 2021

The depth of the Nets will be a concern going forward and it was in Harden’s first game against the Magic. It seemed to adversely affect the Nets when it came to rebounding as they allowed an absurd 87.9% opponent defensive rebounding percentage. If that is the keeps up tonight, Portis will have seven rebounds by the end of the first half.

The Pick: Bobby Portis Over 6.5 Rebounds (-124)