Opening Night NBA Prop Bets: Why Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Williams and Mitchell Robinson Are Worth a Look

Finally, the NBA season is back. The league’s first three games are all on Tuesday, Oct. 20 – a neat little package that lets you chase a handful of prop bets without juggling a massive slate.

We’ve got Boston in Detroit, Philadelphia at New York, and Oklahoma City in San Antonio. The Celtics start with a road test against last year’s Eastern‑Conference No. 1 seed, then the Knicks host the Sixers for a little post‑championship ceremony, and the Thunder head west to face the Spurs.

Sounds like a simple schedule, right? Not quite. The new prop rules for the 2026‑27 season have trimmed a lot of the “bench‑player” lines, largely to keep the betting market clean after the Rozier‑Porter scandals. That means most of the action lives with starters – and the ones we’re watching are doing a lot more than just clocking minutes.

Let’s break down the four players I think give you the best value on Tuesday.

Mitchell Robinson – OVER 7.5 rebounds (‑130)
Robinson spent last season tucked behind Karl‑Anthony Towns in New York, pulling down 8.8 boards per game in a limited role. Now he’s in Boston, where he’ll likely split time with Neemias Queta but will see more minutes than he did as a backup. Detroit’s frontcourt isn’t exactly a rebounding nightmare, and Robinson’s offensive‑rebound instincts are still among the league’s best. A little extra playing time could easily push him past the 7.5‑board mark.

Cade Cunningham – OVER 23.5 points (‑119)
The Pistons built their offense around Cunningham last season, and he rewarded them with 23.9 points and nearly 10 assists per game. With Tobias Harris headed to San Antonio, the scoring load is only going to increase. Boston’s defense was second‑best in offensive rating, so expect the Pistons to lean heavily on Cunningham’s shooting. He’s already posted a 25‑, 32‑, and 42‑point game against the Celtics in the past, so 23.5 points feels doable.

Jalen Brunson – OVER 27.5 points (‑122)
Brunson’s rise in New York has been a bit of a surprise story, and now the Knicks are hanging their championship banner while he gets the crowd’s roar. He averaged 26 points a season ago and torched Philadelphia both in the regular season and the playoffs. The Sixers lack a true rim‑protector for Brunson, and his recent track record includes four 30‑plus‑point games against Philly. It’s a high line, but the matchup and the home‑court energy make it tempting.

Jalen Williams – OVER 17.5 points (‑109)
Williams earned All‑NBA honors in 2024‑25, but injuries clipped his production to 17.1 points last year. The Thunder’s defense is solid – a top‑three unit last season – yet the team will need a secondary scorer to complement Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander. Expect his minutes and shot volume to rise from the 13.5 per‑game average he logged last year. If he gets back to the 19‑21 points he posted before the injuries, the 17.5 line looks attractive.

Those odds are pulled from DraftKings and will change as the night approaches, so keep an eye on the market. And, as always, gamble responsibly – call 1‑800‑GAMBLER if you need help.