Believe it or not, we’re almost halfway through the NBA season at this point. Time flies when you’re having fun! We’ve got a massive 11 game slate on tap tonight. A few lopsided matchups and a few tough ones. We’ll be able to have our pick of actionable ideas. With prop bets, we don’t need to wait for season-long storylines to play out. Every day is a new day. Fantrax wants to help you win a bit of money, so we will be giving you NBA Player Prop Bets every week. We’ll shy away from keying in on any particular sportsbook, as we know odds vary, and so do props. We’ll focus on our projections, and allow you to find your best odds. Let’s get into today’s props.
NBA Player Props for January 6
Kyrie Irving, OVER 25 Points:
A couple of nights ago, I (incorrectly) made the call that the reason behind the Nets’ winning streak was receiving contributions from players outside of KD and Kyrie. KD hadn’t dropped 30+ points in 4 of his previous 5 games. While I may have been correct in that the success of the Nets, I miscalculated how much the Nets would lean on their stars in a matchup vs. an equally powerful squad in Chicago. The Nets went on to lose vs. Chicago, but KD dropped 44, while Kyrie struggled. Tonight, the Nets play the third seed Pelicans, who will present a test for the Nets (with or without Zion). I expect a bounce back game from Kyrie tonight, and he’s had 25+ in five of his last five games. I don’t feel too threatened by the Pelicans’ 4th ranked defense. Some players can’t be guarded. Kyrie is one of them.
Kristaps Porzingis UNDER 22 Points:
I don’t love taking unders. To be frank, it’s unnatural to root for failure. And it’s not a habit anyone should form. But the numbers are the numbers. The Wizards are taking on the Thunder tonight. Neither are particularly good teams, but they both have reputable NBA talent. What stands out to me most is that the Thunder are actually a solid team defensively, despite playing with the 2nd fastest pace in the league. Lu Dort is a tremendous wing defender, and they’re long enough to keep the paint relatively clogged. After watching what this Thunder team did to the Celtics a few nights ago, I’m sold. Porzingis averages 22 points per game on the year. It’s risky, but I certainly can envision a scenario where his under hits. Especially if pace is required. I expect the Wizards to lean more on Kuzma, Beal (if Beal is healthy), and other guards. Feel free to take the under up to 27 if you would like a little less risk.
Bojan Bogdanovic OVER 25 Points:
The Spurs and Pistons are both tanking teams that are evaluating their current talent. Bojan is a player Detroit will likely be trading for more pieces at a later date. In the meantime, they will be showcasing him for a better haul down the road. He’s currently averaging 21 points per game, and he’s had 21+ in 3 of his past five games. With the Spurs dead last in defensive rating, while playing with the 10th fastest pace in the league, I feel very good about expecting a better than average shooting night for Bojan. Feel free to lean on other Detroit scorers tonight as well. An OVER for Jalen Duren and/or Jaden Ivey could be in the cards as well!
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