NBA Summer League Wednesday Betting Odds, Notes and Player News to Watch

Underdogs had a bounceback day yesterday, going 6-3 against-the-spread (ATS). It remains profitable to buy those teams on the moneyline, as four of those six actually won outright at pretty nice odds.

Anyway, let's dive into today's slate of games. I'll run through the current spreads and totals, as well as give player news to keep your eye on.

Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) vs. Detroit Pistons (3-0): 3 p.m. ET

• Spread: Pistons -6
• Total: 177.5
• Line movement watch: The total opened at 176.5 but has been bet up to 177.5. It's historically been profitable to tail line movement on overs.
• Players to watch for: The 76ers have continued to play their main prospects in Zhaire Smith, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, although they haven't been particularly impressive this summer, especially in terms of offensive efficiency. Given that Zhaire missed so much time last year and won't be needed in a big way for the team, I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to give him run. The Pistons' main draft pick this year, Sekou Doumbouya has yet to suit up in Vegas, although Bruce Brown, Khyri Thomas and Svi Mykhailiuk continue to get run. Brown is probably the most likely candidate to be held out given he'll be a part of the team's rotation this year.

Croatia (0-3) vs. Dallas Mavericks (2-1): 3:30 p.m. ET

• Spread: Mavericks -15.5
• Total: 175.5
• Players to watch for: The Mavs lost their last game 105-101, but have largely been excellent so far in Vegas. They don't have a whole lot of high-upside NBA talent; guys like Josh Reaves have overperformed in a couple games. But a lot of their success is because they've continued to play Cam Payne, the former Thunder lottery pick from 2015 who is now 24 years old. He's not an awesome NBA player, but he's great in this setting. How long they play him will determine Dallas' continued success in Vegas.

Charlotte Hornets (1-2) vs. Chicago Bulls (1-2): 5 p.m. ET

• Spread: Hornets -1
• Total: 175.5
• Players to watch for: The Hornets are coming off the most embarrassing loss of Summer League, losing outright as 20-plus point favorites to the Chinese national team on Monday. They should have won the game, but it is important to note they sat Dwayne Bacon, Miles Bridges and Devonte' Graham — their three main prospects on this team. The question, of course, is whether they did that because it was a back-to-back against China or whether those guys are done for the summer. The Bulls didn't exactly have a great performance Monday either, losing by 37 to the Pelicans. Shaq Harrison didn't play, but they still started three draft picks in Coby White, Chandler Hutchison and Daniel Gafford. I'd expect those guys to continue to play, potentially leading to value on Chicago as a dog today if the Hornets guys don't go.

Orlando Magic (1-2) vs. Brooklyn Nets (2-1): 5:30 p.m. ET

• Spread: Nets -3.5
• Total: 172.5
• Players to watch for: It looks like Mo Bamba is likely done in Vegas for the Magic, and they'll move to featuring G-Leaguers and journeymen. Veteran Amile Jefferson is a guy to eye in DFS, as he went for 24 and 15 yesterday against a solid Heat team. The Nets got a win Monday despite sitting Jarrett Allen, who should be done in Vegas; he's way too good for this competition. They did play Dzanan Musa, Rodions Kurucs, Theo Pinson and Nic Claxton, though, so the roster is not bare. Of those guys, Kurucs is the most likely to sit moving forward given his role with the team this upcoming season.

Minnesota Timberwolves (3-0) vs. Miami Heat (3-0): 7 p.m. ET

• Spread: Heat -1
• Total: 173
• Players to watch for: If you missed the news, Jarrett Culver is not expected to suit up at all for Minnesota. They still have NBA talent though; Keita Bates-Diop and Josh Okogie especially should be a part of the team's rotation this year. Naz Reid, a 19-year-old prospect who didn't get drafted, has looked solid in spurs, too. The question is how long Okogie especially will play. The Heat continued their excellent play, highlighted by 2019 lottery pick Tyler Herro, who put up 25-7-5 in 33 minutes yesterday. I would guess they'd continue to let him play, but perhaps they limit him more on a back-to-back.

Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (2-1): 7:30 p.m. ET

• Spread: Pelicans -6
• Total: 171
• Players to watch for: No Zion Williamson, Frank Jackson or Christian Wood — no problem apparently for the Pels, who won by 37 Monday against the Bulls. They're still loaded on this team with guys like Kenrich Williams, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jaxson Hayes, the latter who had his breakout game, scoring 28 points in 20 minutes and putting up the dunk of the summer:

The Cavs, meanwhile, remain terrible, and it looks like their main prospects in Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr. and Jaron Blossomgame are done in Vegas (or never started).

San Antonio Spurs (2-1) vs. Phoenix Suns (1-1): 9 p.m. ET

• Spread: Spurs -5.5
• Total: 173.5
• Players to watch for: One of the MVPs so far of the Summer League has been the Spurs' second-year guard, Lonnie Walker, who exploded for 32 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals in Monday's win vs. the Raptors. He's your typical sophomore breakout player in Vegas, but hIow long will San Antonio push him? The Suns don't have anyone with his upside; their most interesting guys remain Elie Okobo and Jared Harper.

LA Lakers (0-3) vs. New York Knicks (0-3): 9:30 p.m. ET

• Spread: Knicks -3
• Total: 174
• Players to watch for: I don't have a whole lot of positive things to say about this Lakers squad. It stinks. Of course, the Knicks are also 0-3 in Vegas, which is surprising considering they were the pre-event favorite. They lost by 12 to the Raptors last night, and that was despite playing a ton of NBA guys in Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, RJ Barrett, Kadeem Allen, Tyler Cavanaugh and Ignas Brazdeikis. That talent has to mean something eventually… right?! The over seems somewhat interesting here.

China (1-2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (1-2): 11 p.m. ET

• Spread: Bucks -19.5
• Total: 168.5
• Players to watch for: China is riding high after yesterday's shocking victory of the Hornets. You might recognize one of their players: Zhou Qi, who was the Rockets' second-round pick back in 2016. He was excellent, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine boards in 24 minutes, although I think that game said more about Charlotte than it did about China. The Bucks lost Monday but played their main two guys in Sterling Brown and DJ Wilson. I'll be curious how long those guys will remain in Vegas.

Golden State Warriors (2-1) vs. Denver Nuggets (1-1): 11:30 p.m. ET

• Spread: Nuggets -1.5
• Total: 171.5
• Players to watch for: The Warriors featured Jacob Evans, their first-round draft pick last year, on Monday, giving him a team-high 31 minutes. He wasn't particularly impressive though, scoring just 12 points and committing five turnovers. Their other interesting guys are Davon Reed and Jordan Poole, with the latter having a solid game. I would expect those guys to continue to play. Michael Porter Jr. will not play in Vegas this summer with another injury tweak, and instead the Nuggets will feature journeymen and a couple of second-round picks in Jarred Vanderbilt and Thomas Welsh.