NBA Best Bets For Tuesday, Jan. 7: Jaden McDaniels To Shine

Boston versus Denver headlines a seven-game slate for the NBA on Tuesday, Jan. 7. 

Keep reading for NBA best bets below, and bet with your favorite sportsbook apps. 

NBA Best Bets For Tuesday, Jan. 7

Check out five bets below for Tuesday’s NBA games.

Jaden McDaniels 10+ Points (-145 FanDuel) & First Timberwolves Basket (+440 FanDuel)

The Pelicans are a defensive mess, and their weaknesses align with Jaden McDaniels’ scoring. 

For example, opponents produce the second-most points per game at the rim and the third-most transition points per game against New Orleans. That bodes well for McDaniels because a considerable 40% of his total points this season have come at the rim. Whether it’s running the floor, cutting to the basket, or soaring in for a put-back, look for McDaniels to make his presence felt. 

The Pelicans also surrender the sixth-most corner attempts per game, and McDaniels leads the Wolves in corner shots. He’s a shaky perimeter shooter, but hopefully enough volume offsets a rough efficiency night. 

Overall, he has scored 10+ points in 17 of 35 games this season. 

Meanwhile, McDaniels has taken Minnesota’s first shot in 25.7% of his starts, which is tied with Anthony Edwards for the largest percentage on the team. Factor in the excellent matchup, and he likely owns plenty of first basket equity tonight. 

I recommend playing his points prop at one and a half units and his first Wolves basket prop at half of a unit. 

Nikola Jokic Over 38.5 Points + Assists (-115 DraftKings) & Triple-Double (+175 DraftKings)

Boston’s defense thrives at stopping perimeter scorers and drivers, but players who dominate from the post can shred them. Kristaps Porzingis lacks the strength to hold his ground against mammoths, while Al Horford’s diminishing athleticism and non-elite length make him vulnerable to finesse scorers around the basket. 

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Nikola Jokic is one of the best post players in NBA history who combines power, skill, and touch. He currently leads the league in post-up possessions and touches per game. 

In two matchups last season, Jokic posted 43 points plus assists both times. He’s somehow even better and getting more usage, so expect a monster night from the MVP candidate. 

I suggest playing one unit on this line and also sprinkling half of a unit on his triple-double prop. 

Alperen Sengun First Rockets Basket (+175 FanDuel)

Alperen Sengun has secured Houston’s first shot in 31.4% of his starts, which leads the team. He faces a Wizards defense that gives up the most points per game to centers and struggles mightily to handle interior scorers and glass-crashers. It’s a dream matchup for Sengun. 

I would play it at three quarters of a unit.