Happy New Year. Can we still say that? I think I'm still within the grace period. Anyways, welcome to another day of NBA player props, as we hunker down for the cold after the holiday season. As always, monitor any potential news and lineup announcements.
The best way to stay informed about NBA player props is to stay up-to-date with the latest news. The second-best way is to shop around at different sportsbooks. Player props rarely have identical odds across platforms, so ensure you get the best value. We have a solid nine-game slate today, so we have a plethora of options. Either way, let's get to it.
Unless specified otherwise, each bet will be for a single unit.
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Thursday’s Best NBA Player Prop Bets
Last Time: 2-1 | This Season: 40-32
LaMelo Ball Over 31.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds (-108 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Buzz buzz, baby. The beekeeper is back. I'm not sure why, but the Hornets have been my number one team in terms of return on investment (ROI) this year. Despite their 14-26 record, they've actually been kind of fun to watch with a near top-10 offensive unit that jumps to second over their past 10 games.
They aren't a force to be reckoned with, but they aren't a team to take lightly either. LaMelo Ball and Co. continue their West Coast swing after losing to the Clippers, where Ball had 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. The Lakers’ defense ranks worse than the Clippers’ at 25th overall, and this is a line the Charlotte guard has covered in seven of his last 12 games. When he does, he soars over it.
If you're going to bet his over, or under for that matter, if you have a vendetta against me, I'd take his alts. His usage continues to steadily climb and is at 37% over his last week of play. He's taking more shots and snagging more boards to go with it, so I expect his points + assists + rebounds line to continue rising each game as we get closer to the All-Star break.
Tyler Herro Under 31.5 Points + Assists + Rebounds (-115 at Hard Rock Bet)
I have been waiting for this moment. The fastest team in the league meets the slowest. Boston is averaging nearly 10 possessions fewer per game than Miami this season. Do you know how much back and forth that is for each team? It's not exactly like this line is super low either; this is a number that Tyler Herro hasn't covered in seven of his last eight games.
Yes, I understand he's just returning from injury and things are a bit different, but he seems to just be getting back to his regular playing time and doesn't exactly seem to be lights out. Boston has actually allowed the second fewest combined points + assists + rebounds to opposing shooting guards, and still limits point guards to a bottom-10 clip, depending on how you categorize Herro. Either way, Miami's pace is going to take a hit, and the opportunities will be limited for the Kentucky product.
Kevin Porter Jr. Under 12.5 Rebounds + Assists (-127 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
This one may seem a bit random, but I pulled this directly off the BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet, and I must agree. San Antonio has been deadly this season, owning the third-best defensive unit while performing only better in their last 10 games. If you look at Milwaukee, they take a hit offensively when traveling, ranking 25th in road offensive efficiency.
Myles Turner is back and off the injury report, and Giannis Antetokounmpo should be full go with his ankle, so it's not like Kevin Porter Jr. will manage many rebounds either, especially as the third-worst rebounding unit against a top-five squad in San Antonio. If you aren’t using the BettingPros Prop Bet Cheat Sheet, you're missing out on money-making opportunities. There isn't a better tool in the market for all your betting needs, and it is a good reason for my success over the last three years. I'm in on San Antonio tonight, and I expect Porter and Milwaukee to struggle.
Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. Follow him on Twitter @ryancoleman_98. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.