It’s a perfect night to check in on the NBA rookie class, with the top four picks all in action, headlined by Cooper Flagg in the national TV spotlight.
Dylan Harper and Kon Knueppel go head-to-head in the early tip, while VJ Edgecombe takes on Derik Queen and the New Orleans Pelicans, and my top NBA player props dip into that pool of future stars as well as a wager on a man who played in last year’s Finals.
Read on for my top NBA picks for the January 31 slate.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Pascal Siakam |
Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists | -110 |
 Jaden McDaniels |
Over 1.5 three-pointers | +110 |
 Cooper Flagg |
Over 20.5 points | -112 |
Prop #1: Pascal Siakam Over 36.5 points + rebounds + assists
The Indiana Pacers are 6-5 in their last 11 games, and Pascal Siakam deserves a ton of credit for keeping his foot on the gas pedal in a season that’s heading for a high lottery pick. He’s averaging 24.4 ppg in January, and his scoring should be the focal point for cashing this combo Over tonight against the Atlanta Hawks.
He’s gone past this O/U number in five of his last seven games, including a 26-9-4 stat line against these same Hawks on Monday – and I’m banking on a repeat effort here.
With Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith providing the spacing, Siakam has had more room to operate, and he should be able to feast against a Hawks team that’s allowing 118.1 PPG, which ranks in the bottom third of the league. Of course, it helps Indiana that Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu are both on the injury report.
But Spicy P’s contributions are showing up elsewhere in the box score, too. He’s dished 5+ assists in six of his past nine outings to go with some big nights on the glass, and his rebounds tally would surely get a boost if Jalen Johnson is ruled out for Atlanta.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network SE-Atlanta, FanDuel Sports Network-Indiana
Prop #2: Jaden McDaniels Over 1.5 three-pointers
When Jaden McDaniels is knocking down three-pointers, the Minnesota Timberwolves become very tough to beat, and he was a perfect 5-for-5 from downtown in Thursday’s statement win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
McDaniels has found a nice shooting rhythm lately, making 2+ three-pointers in five of his last six contests and posting a 49% mark on triples this month. He’s never going to be a high-volume marksman, but plenty of his looks are wide open with Anthony Edwards drawing a crowd on his drives.
That’s the formula I’m looking for as the T-Wolves take on the Memphis Grizzlies, who are on the second night of a back-to-back set and slumped to a disappointing loss in New Orleans yesterday.
Minnesota has the fourth-highest 3-point percentage in the league at 37.4%, and that spells trouble for a depleted Memphis squad that’s giving up the third-most attempts (40) from beyond the arc this season. Look for McDaniels to be one of the beneficiaries.
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-NO, FanDuel Sports Network SE-Memphis
Prop #3: Cooper Flagg Over 20.5 points
It’s worth tuning in for this Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets showdown just to see what Cooper Flagg serves up as an encore after his 49-point masterpiece earlier this week.
Flagg went 20-for-29 from the field against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, and he’s the biggest threat to a gritty Houston defense here, especially with Anthony Davis still out.
While the Rockets have given Flagg tough tests in the three meetings this year, the Dallas rookie is a quick learner, and I expect him to stay on the attack after his season-best outing.
The Mavs are so short on shot creators that the ball is going to end up in Flagg’s hands early and often, and he’s shooting 48% from the field despite shaky numbers from downtown.
Flagg has reached the 20-point mark five times since the calendar flipped to 2026, and he’s hit this Over in four of the five games where he’s logged at least 30 minutes on the court.
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: ABC
These props are available now at bet365, one of our best betting sites.
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.
