It’s wall-to-wall hoops today as the MLK Day slate serves up 12 straight hours of action — and that means an NBA player props frenzy.
Here are my top three NBA picks from the January 20 schedule, featuring a rebounding prop in the late-night window.
Best NBA player props today
-
Jalen Johnson Over 27.5 points + rebounds (-115 at bet365) -
Derrick White Over 3.5 assists (-115 at bet365) -
Nikola Vucevic Over 10.5 rebounds (-115 at bet365)
NBA player props for January 20
Jalen Johnson Over 27.5 points + rebounds
With three straight wins, the Atlanta Hawks have vaulted into unfamiliar territory above the play-in line, and they’re shaping up to be a pesky first-round playoff opponent.
Jalen Johnson’s return over the weekend after a shoulder injury is another boost for Atlanta, and he was quickly back in the groove, pulling down 13 boards and finishing as a +6 as the Hawks beat the Celtics.
I see that carrying over into this afternoon’s matchup against the New York Knicks, with Johnson filling the stat sheet as a scorer and a rebounder. His season averages of 19.7 ppg and 10.2 rpg go beyond the 27.5 combo prop O/U line here, and his work on the glass will be especially important against a physical Knicks team.
You only have to look at Atlanta’s December results to see Johnson’s impact. The Hawks went 8-3 last month, and he scored 19 or more points in six of those contests.
Trae Young will be in the villain role at MSG, but it’s Johnson who could be the swing factor in Atlanta pulling off a road upset.
Derrick White Over 3.5 assists
The Boston Celtics are 3-4 in their last seven games, prompting the first whispers of concern about their NBA title chances, but I see the defending champs getting back to basics today against a Golden State Warriors team missing Draymond Green — and possibly Steph Curry too.
The Celtics are at their best offensively when Derrick White asserts himself as a ball-handler, and it’s noteworthy that his dip in assists has coincided with Boston’s rockier run of results.
White averaged 4.8 apg in December, but he’s down to just 2.3 apg so far this month, pushing this O/U line down to 3.5. That feels ripe for cashing in here, with the Celtics due for a response after a dispiriting OT loss to the Hawks last time out.
The math should swing back in their favor too. Boston made just 15 of its 52 3-pointers against the Hawks, and a more efficient night from downtown is an obvious path to bumping up assist numbers.
With the Celtics likely to be at full strength this evening, I see White taking on a bigger share of the playmaking and reaping the benefits of being the setup man for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Nikola Vucevic Over 10.5 rebounds
The Chicago Bulls are reeling after back-to-back losses to the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers, but you can’t fault Nikola Vucevic’s effort. In addition to a 40-point explosion against the Hornets on Friday, he’s been a consistent force on the glass for Chicago.
Vucevic arrives in red-hot rebounding form, with 55 boards across his last four outings, and I’m taking the Over on his rebounds prop tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The numbers speak for themselves. Vucevic is averaging 11.9 rpg in January, up from 10 rpg last month, and he’s pulled down 11 or more boards in 10 of his past 12 contests. In an undersized Bulls frontcourt, and with little depth to call on, he’s carrying a huge rebounding burden.
Vucevic will be in for a bruising battle here against Ivica Zubac, but the Clippers’ offensive efficiency should take a hit without Kawhi Leonard in the lineup. I see that translating to more L.A. 3-point attempts and a stack of rebounds for the Bulls’ frontcourt.
If Chicago is going to end its troubling five-game skid, it starts with another active effort from Vucevic in the paint.
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
