Even now, contests between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder conjure memories of the epic battles pitting the Splash Brothers against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook – and the teams square off again in one of tonight’s marquee matchups.
That’ll be a magnet for NBA player props, but the star power doesn’t end there, with Luka Doncic, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson and Giannis Antetokounmpo all in action, too.
Take a closer look at the standout props for the January 2 slate with my free NBA picks.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Luke Kornet |
Over 9.5 assists + rebounds | -130 |
 Chet Holmgren |
Over 9.5 rebounds | +100 |
 Cedric Coward |
Over 13.5 points | -115 |
Prop #1: Luke Kornet Over 9.5 assists + rebounds
Victor Wembanyama’s knee injury is a blow for NBA fans across the globe, but the San Antonio Spurs are at least accustomed to rejigging the rotation without Wemby. This season, that’s typically meant a bigger role for Luke Kornet, and I’ll take the Over on this combo prop here.
Kornet is a little overqualified for the backup center spot, but the upside is that he can step into the starting lineup with ease. He finished with nine rebounds and four assists in the Spurs’ win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday, and he’s gone past this O/U number in three of his last six games.
Now he’s going to be filling Wembanyama’s giant shoes in a matchup against the Indiana Pacers, who’ve been short on frontcourt options ever since Myles Turner’s offseason exit.
Kornet should be able to get most of the way to this Over in rebounds alone, but don’t sleep on his passing skills. He dished 3+ assists five times in December, and he’s built a nice connection with the San Antonio guards which should be on show tonight.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-SW, FanDuel Sports Network-Indiana
Prop #2: Chet Holmgren Over 9.5 rebounds
The Oklahoma City Thunder still have a big lead at the top of the West, and they’re well placed to extend it tonight against a Golden State Warriors team missing Draymond Green and possibly Steph Curry.
OKC has injuries of its own to navigate, with Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams both out, but that should just nudge Chet Holmgren towards another monster rebounds haul. Holmgren has grabbed 9+ boards in four straight games, including a 10-rebound effort against the Portland Trail Blazers on New Year’s Eve, and he could feast again here.
The athleticism of this Thunder squad is in stark contrast to the aging Warriors, and I see that particularly showing up on the glass. Even if Holmgren ends up tracking Al Horford and Quinten Post out to the perimeter at times, there will be enough possessions on both ends where he’s around the hoop and able to punish smaller Golden State lineups.
Holmgren snared 11 rebounds in 25 minutes against the Warriors in November, and OKC’s limited frontcourt depth clears a path for another double-digit tally.
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: Prime Video
Prop #3: Cedric Coward Over 13.5 points
It’s already clear that the Memphis Grizzlies nailed the Cedric Coward pick last summer, and their rookie wing is coming off an impressive December where he averaged 15.4 PPG.
Coward saved his best for last, with 28 points on 10-for-16 shooting on December 31 in an overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, and he’s seeing enough volume, even when sharing the court with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
I like the Over on his points total tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers, particularly as he’s nailed this prop in four of his last five contests. His steady numbers are coming despite a shaky mark from three-point range (28%), but he’s still shooting 51% from the field overall.
The Lakers gave up 128 points to the Detroit Pistons in their last outing, so I’m riding with a Memphis offense that’s got Morant back at the controls. The fast-paced Grizzlies rank seventh in the league in field goal attempts per game, so count on Coward to knock down his jumpers and punish L.A. in transition tonight.
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network SE-Memphis, SPECSN
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