It’s a nine-game hoops schedule tonight in the NBA..
My favorite NBA player props are eschewing the marquee matchups to include two young guards on teams at the bottom of the standings.
Here are my top three NBA picks for the January 3 action.
Best NBA player props today
Quickley Over 23.5 pts+ast (-105 at bet365) 
Poole Over 22.5 points (-120 at bet365) 
Bane Over 3.5 threes (+165 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-3 at 10:30 a.m. ET.
NBA player props for January 3
Prop bet #1: Immanuel Quickley Over 23.5 points + assists
Maybe, just maybe, Immanuel Quickley’s return will provide a spark for what’s looking like a lost season for the Toronto Raptors.
The injury-plagued Raptors have limped through the past two months, but Darko Rajakovic may finally have his first-choice starting five available tonight against the Orlando Magic.
Quickley was a man on a mission in Wednesday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, finishing with 21 points and 15 assists and putting some snap back into an offense that was held to 71 points by the Boston Celtics on New Year’s Eve.
I like the Over on Quickley’s points + assists combo prop, with his workload likely to trend upward after 32 minutes against the Nets in just his fourth game this year.
He knocked down three of his seven 3-pointers and, even with R.J. Barrett’s possible return from an illness and extra mouths to feed on offense, I see IQ getting enough touches to cash this Over.
As usual, Orlando’s feisty defense will pose challenges, but Quickley’s stats from last season (18.6 PPG, 6.8 APG) show he can thrive in the lead guard role.
Prop bet #2: Jordan Poole Over 22.5 points
Jordan Poole stock remains at a low price, but it’s hard to ignore his recent stretch of shotmaking. The Washington Wizards have finally strung together a couple of wins, and Poole has been a key factor.
He led the way with 30 points on 10-for-21 shooting against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, and he’s blown past this 22.5 O/U line in each of his last five outings.
The 3-ball has been a big part of that eye-catching scoring surge. Poole is 29-for-63 from downtown over that stretch, and he’s at a healthy 41% from deep overall this season.
I’m predicting another Over here against a flailing New Orleans Pelicans team that’s dropped 11 games in a row.
With Washington embracing the youth movement and bringing Kyle Kuzma, Jonas Valanciunas, and Malcolm Brogdon off the bench, that paves the way for Poole to be the headline act in the starting group.
He may not always be efficient, and his defense continues to be a tough watch, but I’m riding with Poole on his current hot streak.
Prop bet #3: Desmond Bane Over 3.5 threes
By recent standards, this has been a quieter regular season for the Memphis Grizzlies, but Taylor Jenkins has still been forced to tinker with his rotations due to various injuries. A 23-11 record is a testament to the Grizzlies’ resilience.
There’s extra reason for encouragement too, with Desmond Bane heating up after some rough shooting nights in November. He averaged 18.8 ppg last month while shooting 41% from beyond the arc, and he could take another leap as 2025 begins.
I like the Over on his 3-point makes tonight. He’s knocked down 22 of his last 48 threes, with seven or more attempts in four of his past six contests, and he certainly won’t be short of opportunities.
With Ja Morant still sidelined, Bane’s backcourt play takes on greater significance, and I expect Memphis’ league-leading offense (123.2 ppg) to travel well against the Sacramento Kings in a late tip.
Bane’s steadier shooting numbers have positioned the Grizzlies just outside the Top 10 in 3-point makes per game and 3-point percentage, and there’s nothing overly daunting about the Kings’ perimeter defense here. At plus-money odds, this Over is a good value pick.
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NBA odds today
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