NBA Player Props Today: October 21 Best Bets & Picks, featuring Norman Powell and Darius Garland

NBA Wednesday brings bettors the first massive slate of the season, with 11 games on the docket, including an ESPN doubleheader in Timberwolves-Heat, with both teams welcoming new superstars, and Warriors-Lakers, who are on the outside looking in, in the loaded Western Conference. Let's dive into my best NBA player prop bets for Wednesday, October 21. You can also get our expert NBA picks for all games, as well as every matchup throughout the 2026-27 NBA season.

Best NBA Player Prop Bet: Norman Powell (CHI) Over 18.5 Points (-120)

Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing.

It'll likely be tough sledding for the Chicago Bulls this season in a deep Eastern Conference. They're led by Josh Giddey and All-Star veteran Norman Powell, who is primed to be the Bulls' leading scorer by the trade deadline - and potentially suited up for a contender come February if the Bulls are selling. Let's focus on Bulls-Raptors, where we're targeting Powell's points prop of 18.5 on DraftKings.

Powell will have a tough matchup at hand versus perimeter stoppers Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes, but the volume he should see on Wednesday Night is enough to back last year's All-Star. He'll thrive in the halfcourt for the Bulls, who lack an isolation scorer and late shot clock option. His preseason tape was extremely encouraging, as he shot 50% from 3-point range on 16 attempts.

Best NBA Player Prop Bet: Darius Garland (LAC) Over 7.5 Assists (-125)

Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.

The Clippers overhauled their roster from a season ago, trading James Harden and Ivica Zubac, and moving Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto in the off-season - a move that was filled with controversy. Next to Darius Garland in the starting lineup is where things get dicey. Newly acquired Brandon Ingram and Max Struss will be sidelined to start the season, as will Bradley Beal, so Rui Hachimura and potentially Derrick Jones will need to step up in their places. Though we're siding with Garland's assists prop on FanDuel at 7.5 priced at -125, compared to -140 on other major books. Expect a massive workload for Garland versus the Kings in a game that projects to stay close between two likely lottery teams.