NBA Player Props for Wednesday, 1/21: Best Bets & Predictions Today
What kind of performances can we expect from Evan Mobley, Kon Knueppel, and Chet Holmgren? Follow along as our NBA betting analyst, Nick Galaida, breaks down three of his favorite NBA prop bets for Wednesday, January 21st. Get all of Nick’s picks, including more NBA plays, by subscribing to the RotoGrinders Props & Pick’em package.
Wednesday’s 7-game NBA slate is headlined by an ESPN doubleheader, beginning with the Cavaliers against the Hornets at 7:00 PM ET and followed by the Thunder against the Bucks at 9:30 PM ET.
Tonight’s NBA injury report is once again lengthy, with Darius Garland, Jalen Williams, and Kristaps Porzingis among the notable names already ruled out.
As always, be sure to use tools like CourtIQ and our NBA starting lineups page to evaluate how injuries impact usage and to search for inefficiencies in the player prop and DFS markets.
Below, you can find 3 of my favorite picks for Wednesday, January 21st!
Editor’s Note: Don’t live in a state with sports betting? Use our Underdog promo code & PrizePicks referral code GRINDERS to unlock generous sign-up bonuses for fantasy pick’em contests today.
Best NBA Player Props for Wednesday, January 21st
Here are my top player prop bets for today, with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 21st:
- Evan Mobley Over/Under 17.5 Points
- Kon Knueppel Over/Under 17.5 Points
- Chet Holmgren Over/Under 17.5 Points
Evan Mobley OVER 17.5 Points (-130, BetMGM)
BETMGMAccording to CourtIQ, Mobley has averaged 18.9 points per 36 minutes this season with Darius Garland off of the floor. He’s gone under this number in 6 of the last 7 games he’s played without Garland, but much of that has been due to a lack of volume rather than a lack of efficiency.
Frankly, it’s inexcusable for Mobley to average fewer than 20 points per game when Garland is unavailable. The absences of Sam Merrill and Max Strus only further increase the urgency tonight for Mobley to make an impact on the offensive end of the floor.
The Cavaliers spent the 3rd overall pick on Mobley in the 2021 NBA Draft and then fired JB Bickerstaff, in large part, due to his inability to unlock the next level of Mobley’s development. The Hornets are among the worst defenses in the NBA around the rim, which is where Mobley attempts a high percentage of his shots. He simply has to be aggressive looking to score in this matchup.
Kon Knueppel OVER 17.5 Points (-125, BetMGM)
BETMGMKnueppel scored only 14 points on Sunday against the Nuggets, which has his line slightly deflated here. However, it’s worth noting that Knueppel only played 27 minutes in that game due to a blowout – none of Charlotte’s other starters played more than 25 minutes.
Knueppel is averaging 18.3 points per game this month and gets a favorable matchup against a Cleveland team that has struggled defensively on the road this season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him clear 20 points.
Chet Holmgren OVER 17.5 Points (-117, DraftKings)
DRAFTKINGSAccording to CourtIQ, Holmgren has averaged 18.3 points per 30 minutes this season with Isaiah Hartenstein off of the floor. In 18 games with Hartenstein unavailable, Holmgren has cleared this number in 11 games (including 6 of the 8 road games).
Milwaukee ranks 23rd in defensive rating across their last 8 games. They don’t defend the restricted area or above the break well – two areas where Holmgren attempts a lot of his shots. There is value on the over here.
Image Credit: Imagn