Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Brooks Cooks the Books

As the latest pandemic spike continues to royally mess things up in the NBA, we're navigating the minefield with your best prop bets for Saturday night's action.

All three of tonight's plays factor into injuries (or other absences that shall remain unnamed) and players making the most of increased opportunity. 

Find out who to back this evening with our NBA player prop picks for January 8. 

NBA player props for January 8     

• Brooks Over 20.5 points (-110)
• Portis Over 2.5 threes (+165)
• Yurtseven Over 12.5 rebounds (-105)

Picks made on 1/8/2022 at 1:55 p.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Today’s best NBA player props       

Dillon 'em softly

The Memphis Grizzlies put their seven-game winning streak on the line tonight against the depleted L.A. Clippers, but the Grizz will be pretty short-handed themselves. 

Franchise dude and usage-magnet Ja Morant is doubtful for tonight, as is Kyle Anderson, while Desmond Bane is questionable. This leaves a ton of touches for the rest of the Grizzlies to soak up.

Enter Dillon Brooks, who, even when Morant is playing, generally behaves as though he's the best player on the floor. Brooks will have a green light tonight with Ja out, and a clear runway if all three of the above players sit. 

Brooks recently reeled off a stretch of 21+ points in six of seven games (with Memphis closer to full health), and is arguably the safest bet in the entire NBA to call his own number with the Grizzlies' other guns sitting. Consider putting multiple units on this. 

Pick: Dillon Brooks Over 20.5 points (-110 at FanDuel)

Sniping deer

The potential for teams to light up the Charlotte Hornets from long range is great. 

Buzz City hasn't defended well against the long ball, allowing the NBA's third-highest 3-point frequency to opponents, and to convert those looks at the seventh-highest rate. To boot, the Hornets play at the league's fastest pace, meaning the likelihood of more looks from deep.

As such, the books have taken an aggressive line on most of the Bucks' 3-point totals for tonight's matchup, but we think there's still value for one Bobby Portis at +165 for Over 2.5. 

The Bucks' backcourt is absolutely decimated, with basically its entire rotation sidelined. Milwaukee, by necessity, will have to play more big-ball lineups, and Portis will see increased minutes as a result. 

Portis has also canned multiple threes in 11 of his past 14 games, and is shooting 43.5% from distance on the season, good for eighth in the NBA. He'll get consistent looks while spacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo, and shouldn't be as susceptible to 3-point variance as others in this market. 

We wouldn't be as inclined to fire this bet at even money, but at +165, it's worth the gamble given the matchup and Milwaukee's roster situation.

Pick: Bobby Portis Over 2.5 threes (+165 at bet365)

Omer's Odyssey

If you're a casual NBA fan, then you probably have no idea who Omer Yurtseven is, but the Miami Heat rookie center is quickly making a name for himself among fantasy buffs and sports bettors.

With both Bam Adebayo and Dewayne Dedmon sidelined, Yurtseven has fallen into 30+ minutes on the regular over the past two weeks and has become an absolute rebound machine. 

Yurtseven has grabbed 12+ rebounds in 10 straight games. Since taking on more minutes with Dedmon also out, Yurt has upped his output to an average of 15.16 rpg, eclipsing tonight's 12.5 total in six straight outings. 

The Suns welcome back Deandre Ayton tonight, but he hasn't played in two weeks and may have some rust to knock off. Either way, Yurtseven's a workhorse on the boards who's trending up and provides good value at this total. 

Pick: Omer Yurtseven Over 12.5 rebounds (-105 at bet365)

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