Today’s NBA Player Prop Picks: Joker Stings Utah Again

Wednesday night offers up the usual buffet of NBA prop bet options as one of the association's typically busiest evenings. 

With no shortage of choices on our hands, we've saved you some time by perusing the multitude of markets for your best bets amid the action.

We've got a variety of angles on tonight's plays, including the reigning MVP to snap out of a slump. Here are January 5's NBA player prop picks. 

NBA player props for January 5

• Bey Over 20.5 points (-116)
• Beal Under 0.5 steals (+200)
• Jokic Over 1.5 made threes (-102)

Picks made on 1/5/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Today’s best NBA player props

Down by the Bey

You're forgiven if you haven't exactly been paying attention to the Detroit Pistons this season. At 7-28 and tied for the worst offense in the league, Detroit's a tough watch and has little to contribute to the NBA's overall narrative this season, save for Jerami Grant's trade destination and Cade Cunningham's stake in the Rookie of the Year odds.  

So, a lot of people are probably unaware of what Saddiq Bey is doing right now, which is a damn shame. Since Grant's thumb injury, Bey has gone off, averaging 25 points per game and topping tonight's total of 20.5 in eight of nine contests. 

Bey's been bombing away from long range, and tonight's matchup favors his profile immensely, facing the Charlotte Hornets. who concede three-pointers at the NBA's fifth-highest rate. To boot, they also play at the league's fastest pace, meaning Bey will have all the reps he can handle to help push past his points total. 

Pick: Saddiq Bey Over 20.5 points (-116 at FanDuel)

Fading Beal's steals

Bradley Beal's been having a pretty rough season by his standards. Averaging his fewest points in four seasons, Beal's shooting a career-low from 3-point range and, more relevant to our cause here, averaging his fewest steals since his rookie season. 

Beal's steals market tonight is an intriguing one, with a 0.5 O/U juiced to -245 for the Over, and paying out a whopping +200 for the Under. 

Washington faces the Houston Rockets tonight, who do lead the NBA in turnovers, meaning Beal will have ample opportunity to record a steal. But he's failed to do so in six of his past 12 games. 

Obviously, this prop's price should be favoring the Over given the matchup, but this much seems generous. We could be stepping into a trap here, but we're rolling the dice.  

Pick: Bradley Beal Under 0.5 steals (+200 at bet365)

Serbian sniper

Nikola Jokic has been on a bit of a 3-point skid the past little bit. He's hit multiple 3-pointers in just one of his last nine games, but that hasn't stopped him from hoisting. 

This play is relying a bit on variance to right itself but also taking advantage of a good matchup and price. Jokic is paying -102 to hit 2+ 3-pointers tonight versus the Jazz, against whom he typically performs well. 

Part of Joker's M.O. is to drag Rudy Gobert away from the hoop, forcing the Frenchman to operate in midrange and perimeter realms he's far less comfortable in, while Joker dictates the flow of the offense with Utah's defensive backbone removed. Earlier this season, Joker was 3-3 from long range vs. Utah en route to a 24/6/6 line in the first half before injuring his knee.

In fact, Joker shot 9-12 from long range in three meetings with the Jazz last season, and strategically, his continued presence on the perimeter makes sense matchup-wise. Back Jokic to find his groove — he shot almost 39% from three last year, he won't keep bricking forever. 

Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 1.5 made threes (-102 at FanDuel)

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