Eight games of NBA action are set to take place on Wednesday, January 22nd with each team roughly at the midpoint of the regular season.
Three matchups will be tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET as the Timberwolves face the Mavericks, the Hawks will play the Pistons, and the Nets will host the Suns. A half-hour later, the Houston Rockets will host the Cleveland Cavaliers as the night’s marquee matchup. In addition, the Grizzlies face the Hornets and the Thunder will play the Jazz. The Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans were also supposed to face off in this time slot but the game has been canceled due to snow.
Two games will take place in the late window as the Sacramento Kings host the Golden State Warriors at 10:00 p.m. ET before the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics play at 10:30 p.m. ET.
With plenty of action on the eight-game NBA schedule, here are my favorite prop bets on the Wednesday slate.
Spencer Dinwiddie Under 13.5 Points (-115)
The Dallas Mavericks continue to attempt to tread water as Luka Doncic remains sidelines with his calf injury. This has led to an increase in opportunity for Spencer Dinwiddie who is averaging 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across the 30.7 minutes per game he has played in the 13 games since Doncic has been injured. In contrast, he is averaging 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across his 24.6 minutes per game on the season overall.
While his opportunities have increased, Dinwiddie’s efficiency has not. He also will now take on a Minnesota Timberwolves defense that ranks fifth in points allowed, sixth in opponents’ field goal percentage, and fourth in opponents’ three-point percentage. Opposing starting point guards are shooting just 39.8% from the field on the season which is the toughest mark in the league. Minnesota ranks 25th in pace on the season while the Mavericks have logged the sixth-slowest pace of play over their past five home games.
Dinwiddie has been held to under 13.5 points in 26 of the 41 games he has played this season. He has shot just 40.0% from the field and 31.5% from beyond the three-point during Doncic’s absence and has shot 36.2% from the field and 28.6% from beyond the arc over his past five games. Expect the shots to continue to be hard to come by against a hard-nosed defensive opponent and for Dinwiddie to be held under 13.5 points for the second consecutive game.
Nick Richards Over 18.5 Points & Rebounds (-115)
The Phoneix Suns have been among the most active teams in the NBA trade market as they desperately attempt to breathe life into their star-studded roster. Most notably, they agreed to a deal with the Charlotte Hornets last week which landed Nick Richards in Phoenix. The Kentucky product will be suiting up for his third game in a Suns uniform and is expected to be plugged into the starting lineup for the second consecutive game.
Richards made his presence immediately known in his debut finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds in 29:29 of game time. The Suns were blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers in his second game in which his opportunity and output were limited due to the 26-point loss. Phoenix will prepare to face the Brooklyn Nets tonight who will provide a much clearer opportunity for Richards to impose himself.
Brooklyn enters this matchup with a 14-30 record on the season and ranks 18th in opponents’ points allowed. Nic Claxton is allowing opponents to shoot 68.2% from the field as the primary defender this season which is among the worst rates in the league. Richards is averaging 9.2 points and 7.5 rebounds on the season and recorded over 18.5 points and rebounds in seven of the 21 games he played. The 27-year-old is expected to see an expanded opportunity after escaping the crowded Charlotte frontcourt. Expect Richards to assert himself in this matchup and record over 18.5 points and rebounds for the second time in a Suns jersey.
Lauri Markkanen Over 5.5 Rebounds (+110)
The Utah Jazz will travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight and have their hands full in this matchup. The Thunder look like every bit of the championship contenders they aspire to be and lead the Western Conference with a 35-7 record while holding opponents to the fewest points, worst field goal percentage, and worst three-point percentage in the NBA. However, they rank 27th in opponent rebounds allowed and give up the fourth-most offensive rebounds in the league.
Lauri Markkanen continues to be a bright spot on this Utah Jazz team. The Finnish big man is averaging 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game with 1.7 of these coming on the offensive glass. This also is a step back in his rebounding production as Markkanen has averaged 7.2 rebounds per game throughout his career and 8.2 or greater over each of the past two seasons. Even while having a down rebounding season, Markkanen has recorded over 5.5 rebounds in 17 of the 31 games he has played.
Both these teams rank in the top ten in pace on the season so there should be plenty of shots. While Markkanen has missed the previous four games with a back issue, he has been upgraded to questionable ahead of tonight’s matchup. Oklahoma City will continue to be without Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren for this game. Expect Markkanen to make his return to the floor and have success on the glass against a shorthanded Thunder team. The 5.5 line is too low based on his profile as a player and the outlook for Oklahoma City. Expect him to have no problem clearing this tonight.
James Harden Over 2.5 Made Three-Pointers (-145)
The final matchup of tonight’s NBA slate will involve the Los Angeles Clippers hosting the defending champion Boston Celtics. Both these teams should be relatively satisfied with their start to the season and this will be an interesting measuring stick matchup for each side. Kawhi Leonard has made his return to the floor for the Clippers but will be out tonight’s game in addition to Ivica Zubac. James Harden is also officially listed as questionable with a groin injury but has played eight straight games entering tonight and held the same injury label before the last game.
Looking at his production on the court, Harden is averaging 21.3 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. He is connecting on 34.4% of his shots from beyond the three-point arc while attempting 8.3 three-pointers per game. This comes out to an average of 2.9 made three-pointers and Harden has recorded over 2.5 made three-pointers in 21 of the 40 games he has played this season. This includes back-to-back games leading into this matchup and four of his last five.
Harden and the Clippers will need to increase their three-point volume to have a chance in this game. Boston is attempting 49.0 three-point attempts as a team this season which is 6.1 more per game than any other team and is set to be an NBA record if it lasts for the season. Trading two points for three points is a losing formula and Harden will be looked at to step up as he leads the team in three-point attempts with only Normal Powell joining him in shooting more than 4.0 perimeter shots per game individually. Look for Harden to be in attack mode from the perimeter in this matchup and connect on at least three three-pointers against the defending champs.
