The first Monday of 2026 is upon us. So let’s start the New Year off right with some NBA player props, and I’ve found my three favorites for today.
Brandon Igram will clean the glass, Jalen Williams will dish out the dimes, and Deni Avdija will let it fly from deep. Check out my NBA picks for Monday, January 5.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Brandon Ingram |
Over 6.5 rebounds | +100 |
 Jalen Williams |
Over 5.5 assists | +115 |
 Deni Avdija |
Over 2.5 threes | +125 |
Prop #1: Brandon Ingram Over 6.5 rebounds
The Toronto Raptors have been a thorn in the Atlanta Hawks' side this season, winning all three meetings, including Saturday night’s matchup in a high-scoring 134-117 final.
One of the Raptors' biggest edges is found on the glass. While they don’t have a ton of bigs, they are a solid rebounding team, ranking 15th in rebounding rate.
The other side of that is that the Hawks are downright bad on the boards, boasting the fourth-worst rebounding rate in the NBA while surrendering the fifth-most opponent rebounds per game.
Raptors forward Brandon Ingram is averaging 6.0 rebounds per game, but has put in more work on the boards lately, pulling down nine, eight, and nine in his last three games, respectively.
Ingram has also hauled in nine, six, and nine rebounds in the three games against the Hawks this season. With a rebounding total of 6.5 and the Over at even money, I’m betting Ingram is a beast on the boards once again.
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FDSN Southeast-Atlanta, TSN
Prop #2: Jalen Williams Over 5.5 Assists
The Oklahoma City Thunder look a little thunderstruck ever since the San Antonio Spurs conquered them in the NBA Cup Finals.
After their incredible 24-1 start to the season, many were wondering if OKC could beat the Golden State Warriors' record of 73 wins. But the Thunder are just 6-5 in their last 11 games.
One of the Thunder’s issues is that it appears that Jalen Williams is still trying to find his shooting rhythm after missing the first chunk of the season.
But the OKC guard is still contributing all over the court, averaging 6.1 assists over his last seven games, and he should keep dishing out the dimes tonight against the Charlotte Hornets.
The Hornets rank in the Bottom 5 in defensive rating, and teams that move the ball have been particularly tough for Buzz City to slow down. Charlotte allows the second-most assists per game this season.
Williams has an assists prop sitting at 5.5 with the Over at tantalizing plus money. It’s a number he’s gone Over in six of his last seven games.
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FDSN Southeast-Charlotte, FDSN Oklahoma
Prop #3: Deni Avdija Over 2.5 threes
Deni Avdija is having a breakout season for the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game.
He’s also shot a solid 36.2% from 3-point range this season, and I like him to keep letting it fly tonight against the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz are arguably the worst defensive team in the NBA, ranking dead last in defensive rating, and guarding the perimeter has been a big problem.
The Jazz allow opponents to shoot the second-most threes per game, while ranking 26th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
Avdija is also in a shooting rhythm right now, going 6-for-11 from three over his last two games, and has drained three or more deep balls in three of his last five games overall. At this plus money, backing Avdija to stay hot beyond the arc is a great bet tonight.
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: KJZZ, KUNP
Cash your ML bets quicker with bet365's early win payout
Take advantage of the early win payout at bet365, where any pre-game NBA moneyline bet gets paid out as a winner if your team goes up by 20+ points!
Learn more about this feature, and all of bet365's offerings, with our comprehensive bet365 review.
21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
