NBA Player Props & Best Bets Tonight: Best Prop Picks for Friday, Jan. 9

My NBA player props tonight feature two Overs on Jake LaRavia and Collin Gillespie, along with two Unders on Derik Queen and Kawhi Leonard as part of Friday’s NBA best bets.

A parlay featuring all four player props offers a +1209 payout.

🏀 NBA player props tonight: Jan. 9

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

💰 Best NBA player prop tonight: Jake LaRavia (Lakers) Over 9.5 points (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

You might question Los Angeles Lakers forward Jake LaRavia as my NBA player props column lead, but the last time I did that, he scored 26 points. With Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura sidelined, LaRavia has averaged 14.7 points over his past six contests.

Due to injuries, LaRavia has emerged as the de facto third option behind Luka Doncic and LeBron James. He’s cleared this scoring line in four of his previous six matchups, averaging 10.3 field goal attempts per game. The Milwaukee Bucks, tonight’s opponent, rank 19th in defensive rating

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Derik Queen (Pelicans) Under 19.5 points + assists (-113) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As Zion Williamson has become more involved in recent weeks, Derik Queen has lost some offensive usage for the New Orleans Pelicans. He’s finished with 18 points + assists or fewer in five straight games, averaging nine points and 4.6 assists.

The fit between Queen and Williamson remains awkward, so New Orleans has had only 266 minutes with them on the floor together. Queen is averaging 5.4 fewer points and one fewer assist per 75 possessions while playing with Williamson, per DataBallr.

This ticket costs -125 at FanDuel, so I’m grabbing the -113 discount at DraftKings.

Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) Under 31.5 points + assists (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard has cooled off a bit in recent games. He hasn’t finished with more than 29 points + assists in three straight outings, averaging 23.7 points and four dimes during that stretch.

On the surface, the Brooklyn Nets should be a favorable matchup. However, the Nets actually are the best defensive team against pick-and-roll ball-handlers (per Props Madness). That’s where 19% of Leonard’s scoring production comes from this year.

Collin Gillespie (Suns) Over 12.5 points (-121) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If the NBA Most Improved Player odds race were serious, Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie would be a viable candidate. He’s averaging 13.6 points per game this season, including 15.9 across his past 24 contests, after being buried in the rotation his first two years.

Gillespie hasn’t scored more than 11 points in three consecutive matchups, but the New York Knicks offer a favorable spot for that to change. The Knicks, who rank 18th in defensive rating, are 20th or worse in defending the top three ways Gillespie can score (Props Madness): pick-and-roll ball-handler, spot-up, and transition.

With FanDuel setting this line at 13.5, Caesars offers a nice deal to back Gillespie tonight.

🎟️ Most-bet NBA player props tonight

Betting insights via BetMGM.

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