The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. I’ll be giving out NBA best bets and player props here as often as possible, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on big news that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work throughout the season. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Sunday, January 5th. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on January 5th
NBA Best Bets Today – January 5th
Boston Celtics at Oklahoma City Thunder – 3:30 pm ET
Oklahoma City is 15-2 straight-up this season. The team has also won nine straight games, and five of the team’s last seven victories have come by double digits. The Thunder might be without Chet Holmgren right now, but they have looked the part of the best team in the league. So, while the Celtics have won three in a row, it’s hard not to like the home team here. After all, Boston had lost four of its previous six games before this recent three-game run.
It’s just really hard to ignore the home versus away numbers here. Boston’s +11.5 road net rating is excellent. However, I’m not sure the Celtics have been in an atmosphere quite like this. Oklahoma City has a home net rating of +13.3, and the Thunder have some of the best fans in the league. Realistically, this team is a whole other beast when playing at the Paycom Center. That’s because this is the best team in the league defensively no matter where it plays. The Thunder are first in adjusted defensive rating (104.8), and they have been historically good on that end of the floor. But when playing in Oklahoma City, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s teammates are a little bit better offensively. And that’s huge considering the weight the team puts on his shoulders on most nights.
Of course, the Celtics do have some awesome perimeter defenders. So, this is going to be a game in which Gilgeous-Alexander will have to work for everything. But this is a guy that is in the running for MVP. He should be able to figure it out. And I just don’t see the Celtics having a great game offensively. Oklahoma City has the toughness and size to give Boston trouble, especially with this being a third road game in a row for the Celtics. It’s also their third game in four nights. The same is true for the Thunder, but they’re a younger team. They’re also not as banged up. Boston only has Jaylen Brown listed as questionable when it comes to rotation players, but guys have been in and out of the lineup over the last few weeks.
Bet: Thunder ML (-130 – 1.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – January 5th
Utah Jazz at Orlando Magic – 6:30 pm ET
There will be no Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs tonight, so the Magic will be looking for some guys to step up. I think Cole Anthony will be one of them, but I couldn’t find any player props for him. However, I also think Anthony Black will fill up the stat sheet in this one. This Jazz defense has been miserable all year, as they’re 30th in adjusted defensive rating (117.7). So, being the lead ball handler against Utah gives Black a lot of upside tonight. Black isn’t the best offensive player in the world, but he should do enough scoring if he’s getting free lanes to the basket and wide open 3s. He’s also a good playmaker, so I trust him to rack up assists. And he’s very big for a point guard, so rebounds should come too.
I know there’s not much in Black’s recent game log to suggest he’ll do much of anything here, but you have to project his role a little with all the injuries to Orlando. If he is able to shed his questionable tag, there will be all sorts of opportunities tonight. I’d be stunned if he doesn’t make the most of them.
Bet: Black Over 21.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-108)
Parlays, Teasers, Late Added Plays, In-Season Futures
Nothing yet. However, make sure you’re coming back before tip if you don’t want to miss plays. I added a player prop on Zaccharie Risacher last night with two hours until Hawks-Clippers started.
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2024-25 NBA Record: 153-147-1 (+7.38 units)
