NBA Player Props & Best Bets Tonight: Best Prop Picks for Monday, Jan. 12

My NBA player props tonight focus on Deandre Ayton, Sam Merrill, Payton Pritchard, and Moussa Diabate as part of Monday’s NBA best bets.

🏀 NBA player props tonight: Jan. 12

See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds.

💰 Best NBA player prop tonight: Deandre Ayton (Lakers) Under 23.5 points + rebounds (-126) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Check out all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.

Deandre Ayton has quietly regressed in recent weeks for the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s averaging 10.3 points and 6.8 rebounds since Dec. 23, failing to clear this line in seven of those nine outings.

Several factors have contributed to Ayton’s recent form, but he was always a short-term answer at center for a Lakers team that had limited cap space last offseason. The Sacramento Kings appear to be an easy matchup, but he finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds in the last head-to-head matchup, which he played without backup center Jaxson Hayes.

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Sam Merrill (Cavaliers) Over 11.5 points (-130) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill has been on a heater, scoring at least 15 points in five straight contests. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game this year, clearing this line in 16 of 22 outings.

Merrill has an excellent chance to keep the streak alive against the Utah Jazz on Monday. The Jazz are 30th in defensive rating, including 29th against spot-ups and 30th in 3-point attempts allowed. Per Props Madness, Merrill averages 5.4 points on spot-ups and 3.7 triples per contest.

This Over costs -130 at bet365, cashing $7.69 on a $10 bet.

Payton Pritchard (Celtics) Under 35.5 points + rebounds + assists (-116) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

With Jaylen Brown doubtful, the market expects Payton Pritchard to see an uptick in usage for the Boston Celtics. His PRA line is listed at 35.5, up from 25.5 last time.

That’s not an unreasonable expectation, but it’s worth noting that he finished with four points, four assists, and seven rebounds in his most recent game. Pritchard has played twice without Brown, and his PRA line has never closed higher than 33.5.

The Pacers are a bad team, but they’ve fared well against spot-up shooters (sixth) while ranking seventh in assists allowed.

Moussa Diabate (Hornets) Double-double (+500) ⭐⭐⭐

Center Moussa Diabate has cracked the starting lineup for the Charlotte Hornets, and he’s crashing the glass like crazy ever since. 

Since Dec. 22, Diabate has averaged 11 rebounds on 25.8 rebounds chances (that’s not a typo) per game. He’s grabbed double-digit boards in seven of nine contests.

During that stretch, Diabate has scored double figures five different times. This +500 seems like a fun flier on something that is very plausible.

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