NBA

3 NBA Player Prop Bets to Target on Thursday 1/5/23

Austan Kas  —  @AustanKas Jan 5th, 2023

Here, we'll focus on utilizing daily fantasy basketball projections and a slew of other tools to help make money betting player props. For this article, we are focusing on the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook to pinpoint spots where value can be had tonight.

The prop-betting experience on FanDuel Sportsbook is getting even more fun. You can track your player props with real-time updates and place in-game props with ease.

Please note that betting lines and our daily fantasy basketball projections may change throughout the day after this article is published.

Kelly Olynyk Under 12.5 Points (-120)

The Houston Rockets are a pretty friendly matchup in most regards, but they've been tough on bigs. That has me on the under on Kelly Olynyk's point prop.

For the year, Houston is limiting the center position to 20.6 points per game, the ninth-fewest. Houston (17th in pace) is also a slight pace-down spot for the Utah Jazz (14th).

Olynyk has netted 12 or fewer points in four of his past five games. In two meetings with the Rockets this season, he's averaging 8.5 points per night.

Our model projects Olynyk to score 11.7 points on Thursday.

Paolo Banchero Under 20.5 Points (-114)

There are a few reasons to back the under on Paolo Banchero's points prop.

For one, his scoring numbers have dropped as the year has progressed. His per-game scoring average has fallen with each passing month, bottoming out at 19.1 points per game in January.

In addition to that, he has a brutal matchup tonight with the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis is holding the small forward position to 21.1 points per night, the sixth-fewest, and they sit third in defensive rating.

Banchero has gone under 20.5 points in seven of his past 11 games.

We project the Orlando Magic's star rookie to record 18.7 points in this one.

Michael Porter Jr. Over 5.5 Rebounds (-122)

This is another spot where our model sees solid value.

Michael Porter Jr. is at home versus the Los Angeles Clippers. LA is a really good defense (and team), but they've been giving on the glass to small forwards, permitting 7.9 rebounds per game to the position, the sixth-most.

MPJ has snagged at least six boards in four of his last six outings, and our projections have him amassing 6.4 boards on Thursday.