Top NBA Prop Picks for Friday: Chris Paul Winds Back the Clock

The Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, and Phoenix Suns take center stage with our NBA player prop picks for Friday's nine-game slate.

There are two point guards expected to miss Friday’s games, and considering their level of play on defense I think those absences will open up some exciting possibilities for opposing guards to have big games. I’ll back them, and go back to the glass and exploit a bad rebounding team with Friday's NBA prop picks.

Here are my top prop picks for Friday’s NBA schedule (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Friday's NBA Prop Picks

Tyrese Maxey Over 14.5 points (-120) ?????Pascal Siakam Over 8.5 rebounds (+105) ???Chris Paul Over 28.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-115) ????

SEE ALSO: Friday's Expert NBA Picks

Top NBA Prop Predictions

Maxey Over 14.5 points (-120)

The Boston Celtics are going to be without guard Marcus Smart once again, which should leave a gaping hole in their defense. Dennis Schroder, owner of a 111.3 defensive rating, will slide in and immediately create a favorable matchup for Maxey, who needed no help in this spot.

Maxey’s first game back from a four-game absence saw him go just 4-for-13 from the field for 10 points, but I’d chalk that up to rust more than anything. I also think the 10-point game has seriously depressed this line into a great buy-low spot. If you look at his last 23 games — and I say that, because he turned a clear corner about 10 games through the season when he found his footing in this offense and began to take more shots — he has averaged 17.6 points on 45.2% shooting and 39.8% from deep in 34.6 minutes per game.

This is a very attackable NBA prop pick line and one that’s even better now that there’s no Smart.

Siakam Over 8.5 rebounds (+105)

Siakam has averaged 8.3 rebounds per game this season, so this is already a very surprising number to see. Now, he can take aim at a Detroit Pistons team that has ranked third-to-last in rebounding rate over the last two weeks.

While Detroit has gotten Isaiah Stewart back down low, it has still lacked a ton of physicality without Jerami Grant. That’s who would have ordinarily battled with Siakam for boards, and instead, it’ll likely be Saddiq Bey.

The Pistons also own just a 49.2% effective field goal percentage in that time and miss a boatload of shots, which should help Siakam rack up the boards. He had 12 rebounds the last time he saw the Pistons this season, which tied for his third-best rebounding game of the year.

This is a safe line for backing the Over with our NBA prop picks.

Paul Over 28.5 points, rebounds, and assists (-115)

Similar to Maxey going at a Celtics defense that won’t have Smart, Paul will take aim at a weakened Indiana Pacers backcourt that is missing T.J. McConnell and likely will be without Malcolm Brogdon once again as Indiana tries to be cautious with his Achilles injury.

Paul went for double-digit assists in four of his last five games, averaging 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game along the way. He’s a prime candidate to have a big game with Brogdon out, and judging by the 5.5-point line there should be no concern of a blowout.

Back Paul for Over 28.5 PRA to complete our NBA prop picks.

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NBA prop picks made 1/14/2022 at 2:57 p.m. ET.