3 NBA Player Prop Bets for Thursday 1/18/24

Player props can be useful in a variety of ways -- from taking advantage of them straight up to measuring a player's potential to produce in daily fantasy basketball on FanDuel. Here, we're going to focus on the former.

Using a wealth of statistical data, including numberFire's daily basketball projections, here are some NBA player prop bets that look appealing via the NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

NBA Prop Bets

Jordan Poole Over 15.5 Points (-113)

Jordan Poole is averaging 16.9 points per game this season and has exceeded 15.5 points in his last four games, averaging 22.0 points in that span.

Tonight, he'll go up against the New York Knicks, and I think we can trust a player like Poole to let it fly at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have a great defense and are letting up just 110.9 points per game (tied for third-fewest). However, they've struggled on the second night of back-to-backs this season, going 2-5 in that span and allowing 115.1 points per game.

Poole nets 40.1% of his points from behind the arc, and the Knicks are surrendering the sixth-most three-point makes (3PM) to shooting guards. New York's defense could come in tired after last night's win, and Poole is not shy from downtown. 3PM alone could do a lot of the heavy lifting to get Poole to 16 points tonight.

Poole's game log shows us that he is a streaky shooter. He's been shooting above 40.0% from the field in five straight games, so I think we should trail him while he's hot. Plus, Poole is the type of player who will try to show out at Madison Square Garden. He's played at MSG just twice in his career, but he's averaging 22.5 points off of 14.5 field-goal attempts (FGA) at the Mecca.

Vince Williams Jr. Over 18.5 Pts + Reb (-128)

It's time we catch up on what's been going on with the Memphis Grizzlies. In January alone, Memphis has lost Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, and Desmond Bane to injuries. Memphis' depth chart is now quite paltry, and players such as Vince Williams Jr. have been handed fresh opportunities and high usage rates.

In five games without Morant, Williams is averaging 21.0 combined points and rebounds (PR). In four games without both Morant and Smart, he is averaging 21.7 PR. And in two games without Morant, Smart, and Bane, Williams is netting 28.0 PR per contest. It's a small sample, but we can't ignore just how needing this Memphis team is. Williams will start and see the typical minutes and scoring opportunities of some of the league's best, meaning over 18.5 PR isn't far-fetched.

Williams will go up against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team that somehow had a hard time putting away the flailing Detroit Pistons last night. The T-Wolves are awesome, but the second night of a back-to-back could tame this rock-solid defense. Minnesota is giving up only 107.6 points per game (fewest in NBA), but on the second night of a back-to-back, they are surrendering a towering 123.7 points, which would be good for the second-most points allowed in the league.

The T-Wolves have been giving up the ninth-most 3PM in their last six games. Williams nets 56.8% from behind the arc and has been shooting the three-ball at a 40.6% clip this month.

DeMar DeRozan Over 24.5 Pts + Ast (-120)

The Chicago Bulls will go up against the Toronto Raptors for the first game of an NBA on TNT doubleheader, and DeMar DeRozan is primed to shine in the national TV spotlight.

On the season, DeRozan is averaging 27.3 combined points and assists (PA). Zach LaVine missed extended time for Chicago, which buffed up DeRozan's stats. But even though LaVine is back to action, we can rest easy knowing DeRozan is still averaging 25.6 PA in 23 games alongside LaVine.

The Raptors should prove to be a great matchup for DeRozan. For starters, Toronto will be playing the second night of a back-to-back, meaning sloppy defense and a faster-than-usual pace could come into play. Further, Toronto has now traded away two players who we could reasonably qualify as their best defenders, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.

Toronto surrenders the fourth-most points and eighth-most assists to small forwards per game.

DeRozan is netting 35.0% of his points in the paint, and the Raptors are ceding the ninth-most paint points in the league. Add in the loss of Siakam, and we could see this Toronto paint defense become even more vulnerable tonight.

Plus, the more DeRozan drives to the hoop, the more foul shot opportunities he will be granted. In an October matchup between these two teams, the Raptors allowed DeRozan to get off a whopping 14 free-throw attempts -- the possibilities here could go a long way when targeting DeRozan's over.

DeRozan has gone up against the Raptors twice this season, netting 29.5 PA per contest (23 and 36 PA performances). He spent nine seasons playing for the Raptors and will now get a chance to show off in front of the Toronto crowd and on national TV.

FanDuel Sportsbook is offering a No Sweat Same Game Parlay for tonight's NBA on TNT games. The Bulls-Raptors and Timberwolves-Grizzlies matchups will be featured, so I'd consider taking advantage of this promo and target either DeRozan or the aforementioned Vince Williams Jr. prop.

When building a parlay for this Bulls-Raptors showdown, I'm seeing value in Scottie Barnes Over 27.5 Pts + Reb, as well.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.