With nine games on the NBA schedule, it’s officially a ball night! With that much action on the board, there is no shortage of value to be found in the player prop market, and I’ve found my three favorites.
And Dame isn’t the only Bucks player I like to let it fly against the Trail Blazers.
Here are my NBA picks for Saturday, Jan. 4.
Best NBA player props today
Claxton dbl dbl (+190 at bet365) 
DiVincenzo o2.5 threes (-115 at bet365) 
Portis o1.5 threes (+165 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-4 at 1:24 p.m. ET.
NBA player props for January 4
Prop bet #1: Nic Claxton Double Double
It’s tough being a member of the Brooklyn Nets unless they play in Milwaukee, I guess. That aside there aren’t too many bright spots on this team that is 13-21 heading into Saturday night’s matchup against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.
One is they are playing Joel Embiid and the 76ers. The former MVP still doesn’t look right this season.
It’s only been 12 games so far, but he’s having the worst shooting season of his career and is grabbing just 7.6 rebounds per game.
And when Embiid isn’t rebounding, the Sixers aren’t rebounding. In fact, Philadelphia enters this game ranked dead last in the NBA in rebounding rate.
What seems like a lack of effort is also evident in the paint, where Philly ranks 18th in opponent points in the paint per game.
That brings me to another bright spot for the Nets – Nic Claxton. The Brooklyn big man had a bit of a slow start to the season, averaging 9.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, and has recorded just seven double-doubles this season.
But Claxton has turned it on of late, averaging 11.3 points and 8.8 rebounds over his last six games, recording three of his seven double-doubles during this stretch.
With Claxton going for 12 points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes in his last game against the Sixers back on Nov. 22, I’m backing him to record another double-double tonight at solid plus money.
Prop bet #2: Donte DiVincenzo Over 2.5 Made Threes
The Minnesota Timberwolves are still trying to find their footing this season. The T-wolves are off to a disappointing start, with a 17-16 record and currently sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
Maybe trading Karl-Anthony Towns wasn’t such a good idea.
At least one of the players they received in that trade is starting to find his shooting rhythm. Sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo got off to a slow start with his new team and is hitting just 35.9% of his 3-point attempts this season, down from his career average of 37.4%, but he’s turned it around lately.
DiVincenzo is draining 47.4% of his 7.1 3-point attempts over his last eight games, and I like him to stay hot when he takes the court on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons.
The Pistons haven’t been terrible on the defensive end of the floor this season but they do have some problems on the perimeter. Detroit allows the fourth-highest opponent 3-point shooting percentage in the NBA on 37 attempts per game.
While Anthony Edwards is still facing lots of double teams, it has opened things up for DVD, and that shouldn’t change tonight. His made threes prop is sitting at 2.5 and he’s hit three or more these six times during this eight-game hot streak.
Give me the Over.
Prop bet #3: Bobby Portis Over 1.5 Made Threes
Damian Lillard will welcome his old team to town when the Milwaukee Bucks play host to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, and while it won’t be a shock to see Dame let it fly tonight with his old mates, he’s not the only Buck I like to let it rip from deep.
Bobby Portis has tearing it up for nearly a month now. The stretch big is averaging 17.8 points per game over his last 10 games, which is in large part thanks to his shooting a ridiculous 46.7% from 3-point range over that stretch.
Portis is taking 4.5 threes per game during this period, and this matchup against the Blazers should produce more opportunities for him to let it fly from beyond the arc.
Portland comes into this one struggling, having won just three games since Dec. 1, and defense has been a big issue. The Blazers enter this matchup ranked 27th in defensive rating and while they don’t allow the most 3-point attempts per game, they have the third-worst opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
And with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton still nursing injuries, it could mean more minutes for Portis in what could be a lopsided game.
Portis has hit two or more threes six times during this 10-game hot streak, and at this price, in this matchup, I can’t say no to backing him to do it once again.
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NBA odds today
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