I’ve got three NBA prop bets to kick off 2025.
The pregame narrative: Bam Adebayo is the most notable name that I’m betting on today, as the big man has a promising matchup in front of him. I also have props on Spencer Dinwiddie and Alexandre Sarr.
Check out the best NBA prop bets for Jan. 1.
NBA prop bets
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Best bet: Dinwiddie over 15.5 points (-125)
With injuries riddling the Dallas Mavericks’ roster, Dinwiddie has earned a more important role in the offence.
Luka Doncic is set to miss at least a month with an injury. Dallas coach Jason Kidd recently decided to give more minutes to Dinwiddie, and the results are encouraging.
Here are Dinwiddie’s stats as a starter this season:
- 20.3 points per game
- 3-1 against this line
He played 35-plus minutes in three of those games and most notably scored 30 points against the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
Kyrie Irving was out on Monday. But keep in mind that Dinwiddie scored 17 points on Dec. 28 in a game where Irving had 46.
As a secondary scoring option, Dinwiddie has proven he can still clear this modest line.
Key stat: The Rockets allow the 11th-most points per game (24.9) to point guards, per Fantasy Pros.
Quick picks
Adebayo over 27.5 points/rebounds (-125): Adebayo has been inconsistent this season but he can still dominate the right matchup.
The Pelicans allow the second-most points/rebounds to opposing centres per game (41.2).
They are currently relying on rookie centre Yves Missi to play 30-plus minutes every night. Missi has played well, but talented big men have been able to take advantage of his youth.
Adebayo is averaging 27 PR per game this season, so a slightly above-average performance would do the trick here.
Sarr over 12.5 points (-120): This is a play for all the basketball heads.
The second-overall pick is heating up for the Washington Wizards and I want in.
- Sarr has cleared this line in eight of the past 13 games.
- He scored less than 10 points just once in that span.
Sarr’s floor as a scorer is improving as he becomes more confident at the NBA level. Also, the Chicago Bulls struggle to contain opposing centres.
Chicago allows the fourth-most points per game (24.6) to the position, per Fantasy Pros.
Picks made at 1:14 p.m. ET on 01/01/2025.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.