Top 3 NBA Betting Picks for Sunday, January 23rd (2022)
With plenty of NBA action this Sunday, bettors don’t have to look far for value. I’ve identified a handful of picks I like on this card, including a pair of player props, to help you build your bankroll.
Here are my top NBA betting picks for Sunday’s action.
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Written Picks YTD: 76-78-0 (+10.8u)
Model ATS Picks YTD: 87-68-2 (+11.2u)*
Model ML Picks YTD: 19-31 (+9.4u)*
*Follow me @is_sirois for the model’s picks.
1. Hornets -3.5 | -108 at FD Sportsbook
The Hornets lead the NBA in defensive efficiency over the last three games. They have allowed just 96.6 baskets per 100 possessions, a marked improvement from their regular-season average of 109.1 baskets allowed. Those three games may not have come against the world’s best opponents, but the Knicks, Celtics, and Thunder certainly aren’t the easiest three teams to do that against.
Charlotte will play Atlanta tonight, and although the Hawks rank second in offensive efficiency by scoring 110.8 baskets per 100 possessions, they rank dead last in defensive efficiency. The Hawks give up a whopping 111.8 baskets per 100 possessions, and things have only gotten worse lately. Through their last three games, opposing offenses have scored 113.3 baskets per 100 possessions, which isn’t far from what Sacramento’s historically bad defense gave up last year.
We’re also backing the Hornets because of the trends. Charlotte has gone 15-4 ATS at home this year, an NBA-best. In contrast, the Hawks have gone just 8-15 ATS on the road, which ranks fourth-worst in the association.
2. Ayo Dosunmu Over 11.5 Points | -120 at FD Sportsbook
This number feels a bit low. The Bulls have lost basically their entire backcourt, so Dosunmu and Coby White have had to step up. Both players have seen at least 31 minutes of run in their last four games, and aside from Chicago’s trip to Memphis, the Bulls have left both of them on the floor for at least 37.
Dosunmu averaged 14.8 points through that stretch, while White got just 14.5. But you wouldn’t know that by looking at their current prop totals. Books have White’s number set at 17.5 and Dosunmu’s at only 11.5. Given how the Bulls have been using him lately, I’m taking Dosunmu to go over this number easily.
In case you aren’t sold on Ayo, the rookie has played 36-plus minutes just five times in his career. His totals in those games? 21, 18, 15, 11, and 5. Both the average (14) and median (15) point to solid value here, so I’m surprised that the books haven’t raised this number by much.
3. Kevon Looney Under 8.5 Rebounds | -110 at FD Sportsbook
With both Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside questionable, it may seem dangerous to bet against Looney. He has gone over this number in each of his last five games, too. But we’re throwing caution to the wind here because the 6-foot-9 Looney is in trouble if either of Utah’s centers play, which I suspect they will.
Looney leads the Warriors in rebound rate by a wide margin. But at 19.2%, Looney’s rebound rate also trails both Gobert (25.1%) and Whiteside (22.7%) by a similarly wide margin. Looney compiled just seven rebounds when Golden State last played the Jazz, and Utah didn’t even have Whiteside for that one. But Gobert dominated the glass without him, racking up 19 rebounds and a rebound rate of 30.7%. Meanwhile, Looney recorded a measly 12.8% rebound rate.
This number should tick down before tip if either Whiteside or Gobert are announced as active. While it’s no guarantee that either big man will play, I’d still get this one in sooner rather than later. There’s the added bonus that the Warriors may pivot away from Looney if both Whiteside and Gobert sit because of how small Utah’s lineup would have to be in that scenario.
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Isaiah Sirois is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Isaiah, check out his archive and follow him @is_sirois.