Oddsmakers expect plenty of shootouts when the Indiana Pacers host the Chicago Bulls tonight and that has me betting on a big game from Zach LaVine.
My NBA picks are also betting on New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray while fading the Detroit Pistons' Cade Cunningham with my three favorite NBA player props for Wednesday, January 8.
Best NBA player props today
LaVine Over 24.5 points (-115 at bet365) 
Cunningham Under 9.5 assists (-105 at bet365) 
Murray Over 2.5 steals and blocks (+132 at bet365)
Picks made on 1-8 at 2:45 p.m. ET.
NBA player props for January 8
Prop bet #1: Zach LaVine Over 24.5 points
The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers both play at a blazing-fast tempo and struggle on defense, which is why we have a massive O/U of 242.5 when they face off tonight.
The Pacers are 22nd in points per game allowed (116.1) and have struggled to defend opposing guards. That's bad news as they try to slow down Zach LaVine, who leads Chicago with 23.1 ppg on 51/45/82 shooting splits.
LaVine has been red-hot lately, dropping 32+ points in four of his last five games. He also scored 32 points on 12-for-22 shooting when these teams previously clashed on December 6.
Prop bet #2: Cade Cunningham Under 9.5 assists
The Brooklyn Nets have been beyond pathetic on offense. They traded away point guard Dennis Schroder in the middle of December and now leading-scorer Cam Thomas, second-leading scorer Cam Johnson, and newly-acquired guard D'Angelo Russell are all sidelined by injuries.
That said, while the Nets have no capable scorers, they've been filling out their lineup with long and energetic young players, which has resulted in better defensive play. Over their last 10 games, they are 15th in defensive rating (112.2), a massive improvement from a defensive rating of 117.7. They also play at the slowest pace in the league, which has resulted in them limiting opponents to 108.8 ppg over their last 10.
With that sluggish tempo and improved defense, it won't be easy for Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham to eclipse his lofty assists total of 9.5. Cunningham has gone below this number in each of his past five games.
Prop bet #3: Dejounte Murray Over 2.5 steals and blocks
With Dejounte Murray in the lineup, the New Orleans Pelicans are a lot more disruptive on defense. The 6-foot-4 guard was an All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2018 and led the NBA in steals in 2022.
Murray has racked up 3+ blocks and steals in six of his last eight contests and is averaging 0.5 blocks per game and 3.4 steals per game over that span. Today, Murray and the Pelicans host a Portland Trail Blazers squad that has been sloppy with the ball.
The Blazers are 29th in opponent blocks per game (6.2) and 28th in opponent steals per game (9.7). With their young backcourt struggling when pressured, back Murray to force plenty of turnovers.
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NBA odds today
Here are the full NBA odds for all of today’s matchups.
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