Suns vs Grizzlies Props – Best Player Prop Bets for MLK Day Game

• The Phoenix Suns hit the road for their first game in a week in a special MLK Day contest against the Memphis Grizzlies at 5:00 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 18th
• The Grizzlies have won four straight, while the Suns are coming off their worst loss of the season last Monday to the Wizards
• See the best player prop bets for Monday’s game below

The well-rested Phoenix Suns (7-4) take on the streaking Memphis Grizzlies (6-6) at the FedExForum Monday in a special Martin Luther King Day contest in the city where the civil rights leader was assassinated 53 years ago.

The Suns last played Jan. 11 in a 128-107 defeat to the Wizards. The loss to Washington was Phoenix’s worst of the season – but the loss was amplified when a Wizards COVID outbreak forced the Suns to postpone their last three games for contact tracing purposes.

As for Memphis, reigning Rookie of the Year Ja Morant got a day off Friday to rest his sprained ankle when the Grizzlies-Timberwolves game was postponed due Minnesota’s coronavirus issues. The postponement was the first for Memphis this season. Morant came back to log 30 minutes and finish with a team-high 17 points in a 106-104 win over the 76ers Saturday.

The Grizzlies have won four straight overall and three straight in this series dating back to last season. Considering the series history, the way they’re playing right now and the Suns’ lay off, it’s a bit surprising Phoenix is favored in this spot. There’s also plenty of player props to consider.

Suns vs Grizzlies Player Props and Odds

Odds taken Jan. 18 from William Hill

Book Ends

Devin Booker can score the ball in bunches. But so far this season, the Suns star player is only averaging 23 points per game, which is his lowest since his second year in the league – when he became a starter.

https://twitter.com/PeakRussWest24/status/1351022268546248708

Booker’s semi-down season so far has been hard to diagnose. Maybe playing in a nationally-televised TNT game on a special holiday will provide extra motivation to the player named to his first All-Star team last year.

Perhaps facing Memphis is the perfect tonic to whatever is ailing Booker. He’s put up 36 and 40 in his last two outings against the Grizzlies. I’m looking for him to end his season somewhat adrift with a big night in Bluff City.

• The pick: Devin Booker Over 24.5 points (-120)

Ja Rules?

With Ja Morant props off the board due to his uncertain status because of his ankle injury, a trio of Grizzlies are available to wager on Monday. In the eight games Morant missed rehabbing his ankle, three different players stepped up to be the team’s leading scorer any given night: Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas. With Valanciunas off the board Monday, we turn our attention to Anderson and Brooks.

With Morant likely to play, I love the multi-talented Anderson to shine in a complimentary, Swiss Army knife-type role Monday. Anderson put up an 11-point, six-rebound, five-assist line Saturday and I can see a similar outing on the horizon Monday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rLKpUviRAY

Anderson is averaging 4.3 assists per game, above the 3.5 threshold Monday. Plus, at +130 you’re getting good value.

• The pick: Kyle Anderson Over 3.5 assists (+130)

The other Memphis player I’m keying on is Dillon Brooks. He was the team’s leading scorer on three occasions over the last few weeks – and I expect him to score against a Suns defense that is less than stifling. And while over 16.5 points offers better value at -120, it’s less of a sure thing than his prop from beyond the arc.

Brooks averages 2.1 made three-pointers per game (on 6.5 attempts). That’s decent volume. And while the payout is only -145 for over 1.5, it’s a far more likely prop to pay out.

The pick: Dillon Brooks Over 1.5 three-pointers made.