January 23 NBA Player Props – Best Bets for Sunday Including Heat vs Lakers

• Sunday, January, 23rd is a stacked day of NBA action, starting at Madison Square Garden
• Kyrie Irving is in action once again with the Nets on the road against Minnesota
• Read below for the latest NBA player props and best bets

Sunday’s NBA schedule is packed. Starting with the Clippers and Knicks at 1:10pm ET, there’s a marathon of games including a duel between the Heat and Lakers in Florida, the Hawks and Hornets in North Carolina and the Grizzlies and Mavericks in Texas.

With Kyrie Irving available again, the Nets are still two-point underdogs in the NBA odds for their matchup with the Timberwolves.

The night is wrapped up as the struggling Warriors host the Utah Jazz in a top-of-the-West duel — Golden State won their previous meeting on New Year’s Day, but Draymond Green remains sidelined with a calf issue.

NBA Player Props – January 23rd

Odds as of Jan 23 at FanDuel

LaMelo Ball’s All-Around Play

The Atlanta Hawks have the fifth-worst rebounding rate over the last 10 games and the worst defense in the league over that span. Charlotte plays with pace (fifth-fastest in the league across that period), and sits fourth in offense on the season.

This is a game for Hornets players to put up numbers, and few can load up the box score quite like LaMelo Ball. The former third overall pick is averaging 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists on the season, and he’s been especially productive of late, averaging 7.5 boards and 8.5 dimes across his last four appearances. His play has him among the top 10 in the 2022 NBA Most Improved Player odds.

Charlotte moves the ball, and their offense is a representation of LaMelo’s selfless play. They are third in assists on the year, and on a team that struggles on the boards, he has a big role as a rebounder (only Mason Plumlee and Nick Richards have a higher rebounding rate on the team).

Atlanta gives up the most assists in the league. Ball has recorded 15 or more rebounds and assists in five of his previous seven outings. He was one assist away from a triple-double in his previous matchup with these Hawks.

We’ve got extra possessions, a porous defense and a player that contributes in all areas. The 14.5 line seems very low — take the over here, even up to 15.5.

• Pick: LaMelo Ball over 14.5 rebounds and assists (-118)

Anthony Edwards’ Scoring vs Brooklyn

The Nets are a great matchup for Anthony Edwards. Brooklyn is not only the 25th-ranked defense over the last 10 games — they are small on the perimeter with Kyrie Irving, Patty Mills and James Harden, providing various one-on-one advantages for the ultra-athletic Edwards.

Edwards hasn’t hit this over in any of his last three games, but that doesn’t put us off here. This game with Brooklyn should be close — as the two-point spread suggests — and the 2020 first overall pick is unafraid of getting shots up even if he’s endured some inefficient nights of late.

While he’s had some explosive nights from three, this Nets matchup is particularly tantalizing for Edwards because of their issues defending the basket. They allow the sixth-highest share of shots in the restricted area, and while they generally do a good job at protecting the basket once opponents get there, they are without Kevin Durant’s length and potentially will not have Nic Claxton available (the third-year big man is listed as questionable).

It’s a game for Edwards to play big minutes. It’s a game where he should be able to dominate against the Nets’ smaller perimeter players.

This is a night to bust out of a relative slump. Take the over.

• Pick: Anthony Edwards over 22.5 points (-104)