I know. I know. NFL Playoffs start today. If you’re reading this article, you’re part of the elite. A true athlete. Somebody who can watch sports ALL DAY! We can’t let the NBA fall by the wayside! There is money to win! 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 14
Giannis Antetokounmpo, UNDER 40 Points + Rebounds + Assists:
I’ll admit I hate betting the under. Especially for a superstar. But there are a lot of factors at play here that support this. For one, Giannis has hit this under in all three of his last three games. That’s crazy to say with such a dominant force like Giannis, but the Bucks are starting to get acclimated to everybody in their roles as they begin to get healthy again. Even in this acclimation period, they’ve won two of their last three games. Also, the Heat have been incredibly injured over the past few games. Lowry, Herro, and Bam have all missed time, which means we could be in the midst of potential blowout risk, allowing Giannis to hit this under as he’ll play less minutes. Lastly, there’s a chance I’m judging the Heat incorrectly, and even without their stars it’s possible the Heat play up to their year long stats, meaning a 6th ranked defense and 28th ranked pace. A recipe for fewer possessions than the Bucks are used to, and those possessions are defended well. There are a lot of universes where I can see Giannis hitting his under in this matchup. I think we’re living in one now.
Jayson Tatum OVER 28 Points:
I’ve been targeting players against the Hornets all season to solid success rates. The Hornets are tanking for Wenbanyama (as they should be), and as a result, they are the 15th seed, with a 28th ranked offense, and a 26th ranked defense. Jayson Tatum can score against any defense. It’s the reason he’s averaging over 30 points per game on the season. He can certainly do it against one of the worst defenses in the league. Tatum has at least 28 points in four of his past five games. Feel free to go for 25+ points if you want an easier line to hit.
James Harden OVER 40 Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Philly takes on the Utah Jazz in this matchup. Harden has been on an absolute tear recently. Is he playing any defense? No, but that’s not why we’re here. He’s had 40+ PRA in three straight games. He’ll get a chance to keep that streak going in a pace-up matchup (Jazz are 12th fastest pace in the league), and the 27th ranked defense in the league. Joel Embiid has been back for the past two games now, so don’t let his return scare you away from Harden’s high usage rate recently. Bet accordingly!
For more great analysis check out our full 2022-23 Fantasy Basketball Draft Kit!