Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Giannis Owns Glass Against Hornets

It’s a light night in the NBA with just five games on the board, but there are some quality matchups for NBA player props bettors to enjoy.

The slate is highlighted by LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers heading to Madison Square to take on the New York Knicks as he tries to track down Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record. 

Plus, Darius Garland has the hot hand heading into a matchup with the Heat, and Giannis Antetokounmpo should be a freak on the glass against the Hornets. 

Here are my best NBA player props picks for Tuesday, January 31.

NBA player props for January 31

• Garland Over 2.5 threes
• James Over 27.5 pts
• Antetokounmpo Over 13.5 rebs

Picks made on 1/31/2023 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Today’s best NBA player props

The odds widgets below represent the best odds currently available for each betting market at regulated sportsbooks.

Darius does it

Tuesday night features an intriguing clash of Eastern Conference contenders when the Miami Heat visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs and Heat sit in fifth and sixth respectively in the East but have bigger aspirations than that.

Both teams are also dealing with some injuries to key players. Jimmy Butler is questionable with a quad injury, and while Donovan Mitchell has returned to the lineup for Cleveland, the Cavs took it easy with him in his return allowing him to play just 20 minutes last time out.

No word on a minute restriction for Mitchell in this one but either way, Mitchell’s backcourt running mate Darius Garland stepped up in his absence.

Garland is averaging 25.1 points and 10.3 assists over his last eight games while shooting an impressive 43.3% from 3-point range over that stretch. Garland will have a great opportunity to keep letting it fly from deep in this matchup.

The Heat are a team known for their strong defense but their style of play can leave them vulnerable on the perimeter. Miami tends to collapse on the ball when it moves inside, funneling things toward Bam Adebayo. But a smart team that is able to kick the ball out will get some open looks against the Heat.

As a result, Miami ranks 23rd in opponent 3-point attempts and 26th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.

Garland has hit three or more threes five times over the last eight games, and the plus money on the Over 2.5 makes this a solid play tonight.

Darius Garland prop: Over 2.5 made 3-pointers (+135)

The return of the King

LeBron James is closing in on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record. and he isn’t doing it slowly. LeBron is just 117 points behind the record and he’ll have a good chance to take a good chunk out of that tonight when the Los Angeles Lakers head to Madison Square Garden to face off against the New York Knicks.

LeBron continues to do things we have never seen before in a season where he has turned 38 years old,  getting buckets at a crazy rate for almost two months. Over the last 22 games, James is putting up a big 34 points on 53.9% shooting. Now, he faces a Knicks squad that isn’t the stout defensive team we’ve been used to over the last few years.

New York ranks middle-of-the-pack in defensive rating and over the last seven games is surrendering 120.7 points per game.

Now, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said Monday night that James is still dealing with “significant soreness” in his knee and is questionable, but it feels like LeBron is always questionable to play these days and it’s hard to see him sitting this one out.

A nationally televised game at The Garden as he approaches the all-time scoring record? Not likely. I think LeBron suits up and goes Over his point total of 27.5, a number he has eclipsed 17 times in his last 22 games.

LeBron James prop: Over 27.5 points (-120)

Greek treat

Giannis Antetokounmpo seems to be over his most recent knee issues that cost him five games as the Milwaukee Bucks’ superstar is on another one of his patented tears. Antetokounmpo is averaging 38.3 points and 12.8 rebounds over his first four games since his return.

The Greek Freak is playing well and should be motivated heading into tonight’s matchup against the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets, who own an ugly 15-36 record, embarrassed the Bucks the last time they met back on Jan. 6, thumping them 138-109 as 10-point underdogs.

Giannis pulled down a season-low four rebounds in that game, a stunning number when you consider the matchup and the style of play. But oddsmakers certainly feel that game was an exception, setting his rebounding prop at 13.5.

That’s a reasonable number when you consider the fact Antetokounmpo is averaging 14.2 rebounds over his last 11 games, and the Hornets rank 21st in the NBA when it comes to rebounding rate.

But the real reason to like Giannis to go Over this big number is that there are a ton of rebounds up for grabs in Hornets’ games. Charlotte takes the third most field goal attempts per game in the NBA.

Generally, that wouldn’t be a bad thing if not for the fact the Hornets rank dead last in effective field goal percentage. Which of course means a lot of missed shots, and in turn, rebounds. As a result, Charlotte also ranks next-to-last in opponent rebounds per game. 

With Bobby Portis also still out, Giannis will need to put on his best “Greek Freak,” mode on the glass and go Over his rebounding total.

Giannis Antetokounmpo prop: Over 13.5 rebounds (-115)

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