We have a total of two NBA player props for this Sunday, and our staff of basketball betting experts is focused on some key players who could be in line for noteworthy performances to close the weekend.
Read below for our NBA player prop picks for Sunday, January 5.
NBA Props for Sunday, January 5
- Anthony Black
- DeMar DeRozan
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”Anthony Black Under 5.5 Assists (-115)” subtext=”Jazz vs. Magic, 6:30 p.m. ET” center=”false” logo1url=”https://static.sprtactn.co/teamlogos/nba/100/orl.png” link1=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/odds/orlando-magic” link1follow=”true” logo2url=”” link2=”” link2follow=”true” trailinglogourl=”” trailinglink=”” trailinglinkfollow=”true”][/subheader]
Orlando will be without Jalen Suggs tonight in addition to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Suggs’ absence will open up some assist opportunities for the remaining Magic, but I’m not expecting Black to be the main beneficiary. Cole Anthony should be the guard that steps up here. They have other capable options on the bench, too.
Most of the healthy Orlando players see usage rate bumps with all of Banchero/Wagner/Suggs off the floor, including Black, who gets a nice 3.1% increase. But, his assist rate hardly budges (+0.1%). It’s Anthony who gets a hefty 6.7% assist rate boost without the main trio. Black has averaged just 2.4 assists on 6.6 potential assists since Wagner went down.
We’ve seen one game without Banchero/Wagner/Suggs. Anthony had one of the best games of his career, exploding for 35 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Black dealt with foul trouble and barely played in the second half, finishing with 10 points and two assists. We can’t take much from the results of a one-game sample, but the playing time was interesting.
Cory Joseph was unearthed for a season-high 24 minutes and Trevelin Queen entered the rotation in a legitimate way for the first time. Orlando’s available backcourt playing time could be dispersed among all four players.
Utah is an excellent matchup. The Jazz are terrible on defense and give up plenty of assists. The books just seem too confident it’ll be Black to benefit, specifically in the assist department. I’d even be interested in Anthony’s assist prop if it’s around this number, but I just don’t expect Black to step into a much larger distributor role.
Pick: Anthony Black Under 5.5 Assists (-115)
[subheader sizedown=”false” text=”DeMar DeRozan Under 32.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-106)” subtext=”Kings vs. Warriors, 8:30 p.m. ET” center=”false” logo1url=”https://assets.actionnetwork.com/348219_kings.png” link1=”https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/odds/sacramento-kings” link1follow=”true” logo2url=”” link2=”” link2follow=”true” trailinglogourl=”” trailinglink=”” trailinglinkfollow=”true”][/subheader]
By Nick Galaida
This is a little bit of a speculative play, and one that hinges on the availability of Keegan Murray. This season, DeMar DeRozan is averaging only 20.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per 36 minutes of action with Murray on the floor (28.5 points + rebounds + assists), per RotoGrinders CourtIQ.
DeRozan has posted more than 32 PRA in only 10-of-27 games in which Murray has been active, and he has recently seen his minutes reduced in certain situations when Trey Lyles allows the Kings to play at a quicker pace.
Murray has missed each of Sacramento’s last two games, but returned to practice Saturday and has been upgraded to questionable ahead of tipoff Sunday. If Murray ends up being active, this market number is simply too high.
Even if Murray is out, there is a chance this line is too inflated for a matchup against a Golden State team that ranks ninth in defensive rating across its last eight contests.
Pick: DeMar DeRozan Under 32.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-106)
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