Best NBA Player Prop Bets for Monday, January 16

What kind of performances can we expect on Sunday from C.J. McCollum, Marcus Smart, and Mikal Bridges? Follow along as our NBA betting expert, Nick Galaida, breaks down his three favorite NBA prop bets for January 16 on the hardwood

The NBA’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations will begin at 1:00 PM ET with the Boston Celtics taking on the Charlotte Hornets, and they will conclude with a battle between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers in Hollywood at 10:30 p.m. EST. In total, the slate features nine-games, with some of the league’s brightest stars in action.

We have scuffled the last few days with our picks in this article, but we remain a profitable 28-22-2 across the last 17 days overall. Below, we take a look at today’s holiday action and offer three recommendations for bettors looking to attack the player prop market!

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NBA Player Props, January 16, 2023

C.J. McCollum o34.5 points + rebounds + assists (-115)

Per CourtIQ, C.J. McCollum sees the largest increase in usage (+4.5%) this season when both Williamson and Ingram are off of the floor. In these situations, McCollum is averaging 25.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per 36 minutes of action. In his last five games, McCollum is averaging 29.4 points on 21.8 shot attempts. In the month of January, the Cleveland Cavaliers have experienced difficulties against opposing guards — allowing 26 points to Anthony Edwards, 50 points to Damian Lillard, 32 points to Jordan Clarkson, 25 points to Duane Washington Jr., 18 points to Jamal Murray, 25 points to Chris Paul, 44 points to DeMar DeRozan, and 26 points to Zach LaVine. On Monday, the Cavaliers will be playing their seventh game in 13 days, during which they have played in six different cities and three different time zones. Expect McCollum to be aggressive offensively against these weary travelers. If he does not hit the over in this spot with points alone, look for him to make up the difference with a healthy collection of points and rebounds.

Marcus Smart o13.5 points (+106)

Per Jay King, Jaylen Brown will be out of the lineup once again for the Boston Celtics on Monday against the Charlotte Hornets. In Brown’s absence, Marcus Smart has an opportunity for another impressive performance. According to props.cash, Smart has cleared this market number in five of his last six games with Brown in street clothes, dating back to last season. In that span, his lone miss was a 13-point performance against Charlotte this past Saturday – a game in which Smart shot only 5-for-15 from the floor. Playing at home this season, the Hornets rank 26th in defensive efficiency, 25th in opponent field goal percentage, and 29th in opponent free throw attempts per game. Expect a bounce-back performance from Smart in this spot – take the over.

Mikal Bridges u16.5 points (-105)

Though Mikal Bridges has scored 24 points or more in two of his last three games, it is doubtful that he will be able to sustain such production with his current shot volume. In January, Bridges has attempted more than 15 shots in a game only once, and has attempted 11 shots or fewer in four of his seven trips to the hardwood. On Monday, he draws a tough matchup against a Memphis Grizzlies defense that leads the NBA in defensive efficiency at home this season, allowing only 105.9 points per 100 possessions. Expect Bridges to fall under this market number in this spot, unless he can surprise the betting community with an extremely efficient day shooting the basketball against one of the league’s most formidable opponents.