The potential NBA Finals clash between the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder this afternoon will draw the most eyeballs, but don’t sleep on the rest of the Sunday schedule, with some elite performers on show.
I’ve selected my three favorite NBA player props for the January 5 action, with a wager on one of the craftiest scorers in the game among my NBA picks.
Best NBA player props today
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Walker Kessler Over 10.5 rebounds (-110 at bet365) -
Dorian Finney-Smith Over 3.5 rebounds (-115 at bet365) -
DeMar DeRozan Over 23.5 points (-115 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-5 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
NBA player props for January 5
Prop bet #1: Walker Kessler Over 10.5 rebounds
The Walker Kessler buzz has cooled off a little after his eye-catching rookie season, but he’s looked every inch a starting center this year for the Utah Jazz. His minutes are way up compared to last year, his assist numbers have almost doubled, and, most importantly, his rebounding stats rank inside the Top 10 in the NBA.
It’s Kessler’s work on the glass — 11.1 rpg — that’s got my attention here. He gobbled up 16 boards in the Jazz’s win over the Miami Heat last night, and he’s gone past this 10.5 O/U line in five of his last six games.
That bodes well for tonight’s battle with a physical Orlando Magic team which enters short on offensive talent. Even on the second night of a back-to-back set, I see Kessler anchoring the Utah defense while keeping Goga Bitadze and Wendell Carter Jr. at bay.
The Jazz’s shaky shooting could also help with this Over, as Kessler grabbed seven offensive rebounds against the Heat.
With an eye on the future, Utah is giving Kessler every chance to expand his skill set as a starter, and I’m counting on another impressive stat line here.
Prop bet #2: Dorian Finney-Smith Over 3.5 rebounds
The Los Angeles Lakers are 7-3 in their last 10 games, but it’s their most recent wins — after swapping D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith — that seem to be moving the needle.
With his hustle and passable 3-point shooting, Finney-Smith is an easy fit for any rotation, and I expect his role to steadily increase on the road to the playoffs. Even with his current minutes in the mid-20s, there’s a lot to like about his props.
As a steady wing rebounder, I’m taking the Over on Finney-Smith’s boards tonight against the Houston Rockets — exactly the type of opponent where his feisty defense brings extra value.
Finney-Smith has hit the Over on this 3.5 line in two of his three games as a Laker and brings a career average of 4.6 rpg. He even matched that 4.6 mark for the struggling Brooklyn Nets across 20 outings this year.
Anthony Davis will have his hands full against Alperen Sengun, so L.A. will need other contributors on the glass here. Look for Finney-Smith to be part of the solution for J.J. Redick’s men.
Prop bet #3: DeMar DeRozan Over 23.5 points
The Sacramento Kings poured in 138 points to sink the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, and that included a timely DeMar DeRozan scoring spree.
With so many mouths to feed in this Sacramento starting five, DeRozan’s numbers have taken a hit (20.8 ppg), but he shot 10-for-18 from the field on the way to 29 points last time out, and he’s well placed for another big night here.
The Kings’ injury list should nudge DeRozan toward more touches too. De’Aaron Fox is doubtful, while Keegan Murray is questionable, so that opens up 20+ shots to share between DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis.
Though his field goal attempts are down, DeRozan continues to score efficiency (49%) – and there was even the bonus of four 3-pointers in the win over Memphis. I like his chances of pushing past this 23.5 number, despite Golden State ranking in the Top 10 for the fewest points allowed per game (110.5).
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NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
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