It’s a light slate across the Association for New Year’s Day, with just five games on the schedule.
My NBA player props will focus on Kevin Durant, Jalen Duren, and Tyrese Maxey.
Read more in my NBA picks for Thursday, January 1.
Best NBA player props today
| Player | Pick |  |
|---|---|---|
 Kevin Durant |
Over 26.5 points | -115 |
 Jalen Duren |
Over 10.5 rebounds | -115 |
 Tyrese Maxey |
Over 27.5 points | -125 |
Prop #1: Kevin Durant Over 26.5 points
Kevin Durant hasn’t missed a beat this season in his first year with the Houston Rockets. The future Hall of Famer leads the way for his new team with 25.5 PPG per night. Durant averaged 26.6 points in December, and he finished the month with back-to-back 30-point performances.
Durant has cashed the Over in three of his last six only, but he’s playing extremely well right now, and I’m leaning into the revenge game narrative tonight as the Rockets face his former team, the Brooklyn Nets. That always provides motivation for a player.
While he scored just 19 points against the Nets earlier this season, KD is averaging just under 26 PPG on the road. I’ll take him to show out again.
- Time: 6:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBA TV Canada
Prop #2: Jalen Duren Over 10.5 rebounds
I’ll sing Jalen Duren’s praises every single day. The big man is a physical force down low for the Detroit Pistons, and he’s quickly turning into one of the most impactful centers in the league due to his impact on both ends of the floor.
Aside from averaging nearly 20 PPG, the University of Memphis product is also bringing down 10.8 rebounds per night. He’s cashed the Over in boards in four of his last seven appearances, and he’s averaging 12.8 rebounds at home compared to 9.5 on the road. The Detroit Pistons will host the Miami Heat tonight.
The Miami Heat are also considered an easy matchup for opposing centers, allowing 15.6 rebounds per contest. Duren should dominate on the glass here.
- Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: FanDuel Sports Network-SU, FanDuel Sports Network-DTX
Prop #3: Tyrese Maxey Over 27.5 points
Joel Embiid, who? Sure, Embiid is still a key piece for the Philadelphia 76ers, but Tyrese Maxey has emerged as their superstar.
The Kentucky product is third in the league in points with 30.8, and he’s fresh off showing out for 34 on Tuesday in a win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
In fact, Maxey has cashed the Over in points in five of his last seven outings. Sometimes, his total is even around 30 points, but it sits at 27.5 tonight, which screams value. The Sixers take on the struggling Dallas Mavericks, and Maxey dropped 38 points on them on December 20.
I expect another mammoth performance from the guard.
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Where to watch: NBCSP, KFAA
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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