NBA Wednesday player props: Culver should thrive in bigger role
Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.
Tuesday's blockbuster trade could shape the rest of the season for the four teams involved, but it also opens up opportunities for players to step up until their newly acquired teammates hit the court. Here are the best player props for Wednesday night, starting with one player in a prime spot to assume a bigger role.
Jarrett Culver over 10.5 points
Culver's scoring totals have almost perfectly coincided with his playing time this season. During an eight-game stretch in December, the most minutes he played in any single contest was 24, and he topped out at seven points. Then, he played at least 28 minutes in his next 11 consecutive games and scored in double figures every single time.
The rookie wing has since played fewer than 28 minutes in all but one of his last seven games and predictably topped out at seven points in those contests. With starter Robert Covington among five Minnesota Timberwolves players purged from the lineup after Tuesday's megadeal, Culver is in line for a massive spike in playing time Wednesday. It helps that the Atlanta Hawks' perimeter defense - which has been hurt by injuries - is atrocious even when fully healthy.
Markelle Fultz under 17.5 points + assists
Fultz experienced success recently against some of the NBA's best defenses but should struggle Wednesday in a tough positional matchup. The Boston Celtics have allowed the third-fewest points (21.0) and sixth-fewest assists (8.0) to point guards this season.
Only two other teams have done a better job of limiting the 21-year-old Orlando Magic guard, as he's averaged 5.7 points and 2.3 assists against Boston during his brief NBA career - which ironically began after the Celtics traded away their right to take him in the 2017 draft. He was held to six points and four assists in this matchup on Jan. 24. If there's a Boston curse, expect it to continue for the third-year pro.
Victor Oladipo under 12.5 points
It's impressive that Oladipo is back on the court just a year after his horrific leg injury against the Toronto Raptors, whom he'll face Wednesday for the first time since. But don't expect an inspired effort from the Indiana Pacers star, who's logged single-digit scoring totals despite 20-plus minutes in each of his last three games. Toronto allows the fifth-fewest points (21.2) to shooting guards and owns the league's best defensive rating since Jan. 27.
C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.