NBA Player Props and Best Bets for Monday 1/8/2024

DeMar DeRozan Over 20.5 Points (-108) at FanDuel

DeRozan averages 22.2 points per game and scored 21 or more in nine of his last 12 games. He only put up 17 in the Chicago Bulls’ game against the Charlotte Hornets last Friday but did so on an efficient 60% shooting while also battling foul trouble.

The Hornets rank 29th in defensive rating and have not shown any improvements on that side of the ball. DeRozan is a proven scorer who has trended over, and he should be able to deliver on this lower line when he gets back on the court on Monday.

Jayson Tatum Over 9.5 Rebounds (+102) at FanDuel

Tatum and the Boston Celtics are facing the Indiana Pacers, who play at the fastest pace in the entire league. A quicker pace means more opportunities for rebounds, especially with how many jump shots the Pacers take per game.

 In three games against the Pacers this season, Tatum snagged 12, 12, and 13 boards. He also has two 13-rebound games in his last three outings and is a great bet to go over his total for plus-money. Bettors willing to accept more risk could also consider getting him for 12+ rebounds for +220 odds, which is justified by his recent performances against Indy.

Jalen Green Under 2.5 Threes (-130) at FanDuel

Green was on a five-game stretch of overs until he went 1-6 from three against the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday. That’s more in line with the precedent he said prior to last week, as he’d gone under in 10 of 12 games prior to his hot streak.

The Houston Rockets are taking on the Miami Heat on the road on Monday—Miami is about average in three-point defense, and since the Rockets aren’t a great offensive team in the halfcourt, they should be able to contain a player who is the third option on his team.

Collin Sexton 20+ Points (+130) at FanDuel

It’s easy to forget, but Sexton averaged 24.3 points per game in his third year in the league. Now a member of the Utah Jazz, he cracked the 20-point barrier in 11 of his last 15 games and just put up 22 on the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. 

The Jazz are facing a Bucks squad that scores a ton of points but that is also 19th in defensive rating. Utah will need their best bucket-getters on the court for extended minutes to keep pace, but Sexton has a decided matchup advantage on offense against the backcourt parking of Malik Beasley and Damian Lillard.

Jordan Poole Under 14.5 Points (-102) at FanDuel

Remember when tickets for Poole to win the scoring title were a hot commodity? The 2022 NBA champion has a January-high of 10 points and went under this total in six straight games and 13 of his last 19.

One of the most damning pieces of evidence that supports Poole’s under is that he’s taken fewer shot attempts with every passing month, culminating in just 8.3 attempts per game to start the new year. To make matters worse, he’s about to face a disruptive OKC Thunder defense and will likely be defended by Lu Dort, one of the league’s best stoppers.