It’s another big night in the NBA, featuring several teams trying to get back on track and make up ground in the standings.
The Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings all fall into that category, and that brings a boatload of bettable NBA player props across this nine-game slate.
Here are my three favorite NBA picks, including combo props for two of the league’s premier playmakers in Tyrese Haliburton and James Harden.
Best NBA player props today
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Tyrese Haliburton Over 27.5 points + assists (-120 at bet365) -
Josh Hart Over 9.5 rebounds (-115 at bet365) -
James Harden Over 12.5 rebounds + assists (+100 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-6 at 11:30 a.m. ET.
NBA player props for January 6
Prop bet #1: Tyrese Haliburton Over 27.5 points + assists
The Indiana Pacers have climbed back to .500 after consecutive victories, but it’s the form of Tyrese Haliburton that’s surely putting the biggest smile on Rick Carlisle’s face.
Haliburton has found his stroke, including 11-for-25 shooting from beyond the arc in his last two games, and he’s coming off an impressive week that served up respective points + assists totals of 35 and 48.
He’s hit the Over on this 27.5 number in four of his last five outings, and now he gets to face a depleted Brooklyn Nets team tonight. He shouldn’t run into much resistance on the perimeter, and good things happen for the Pacers when he gets into the paint.
Haliburton’s playmaking hasn’t returned to peak 2023-24 levels where it was almost routine to see him finish with 10+ dimes, but he’s jolted the Indiana offense into life. As long as he’s surrounded by Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner, the assists will be there.
The playoff race in the East is tightening up, and I see more Haliburton magic nudging the Pacers towards the Top 6 here.
Prop bet #2: Josh Hart Over 9.5 rebounds
With Karl-Anthony Towns leading the NBA in rebounds per game, it’s easy to forget that the New York Knicks have a second elite rebounder. That’s Josh Hart, and he’s amped up his work on the glass in recent games.
I expect that to continue here, especially if Towns (questionable) is ruled out or limited by a hamstring issue. Hart matched KAT with 16 rebounds in Saturday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, and he’s posted double-digit boards in six of his last seven contests (with 14 or more in three of those).
Tonight’s matchup against the Orlando Magic should lean towards a bruising rockfight, which will suit Hart and the Knicks just fine. The Magic are missing key scorers, so look for an undermanned offense to give New York lots of rebounding opportunities.
Hart’s minutes are another reason to love this Over. Tom Thibodeau is going to ride his starters, and Hart has logged at least 40 minutes in each of the past four games, including 45 minutes against the Utah Jazz last week.
If he stays out of foul trouble, there’s a clear path to the Over here for a wing defender who punches above his weight in rebounding battles.
Prop bet #3: James Harden Over 12.5 rebounds + assists
Things are looking up for the Los Angeles Clippers, with Kawhi Leonard playing his first minutes of the season and the team surpassing expectations in this 20-15 start.
Along with Ty Lue and his coaching staff, James Harden deserves plenty of credit of keeping the Clippers afloat after a rough summer — and Leonard’s return should free up "The Beard" to do less scoring and more of everything else.
I like the Over on Harden’s rebounds + assists prop tonight, particularly on the heels of 15 dimes against the Atlanta Hawks at the weekend. Harden is averaging eight dimes and six rebounds per game this year — and that alone makes this 12.5 line feel a little light.
Even with Kawhi’s 20-minute cap, L.A. has more offensive threat now, and there are few guards better than Harden at pulling the strings. Though Ivica Zubac does most of the work on the boards for the Clippers, Harden is an able contributor there too and may be called on in a bigger way tonight against Rudy Gobert and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
If Harden is dialed in, this is a prop you may not even have to sweat out.
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NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
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