NBA player prop picks and King of the Court predictions, 1/29

Wednesday’s NBA slate is headlined by the Denver Nuggets taking on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in a game with the highest point total of the night at 240. This kind of game sets the stage for big stat lines, making it an ideal opportunity to take advantage of DraftKings’ King of the Court promotion. Every Wednesday, users who place a player prop bet (any market) can win a share of $1 million in bonus bets if their selected player records the most combined points, rebounds, and assists (P+R+A) of the night.

Last week, we had a perfect day, cashing picks on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker and Malik Monk. This time, we’re looking to keep the momentum going with three plays that align with our key criteria – matchups with high totals, well-rested stars and players with a legitimate shot at leading the night in P+R+A.

NBA Player Prop Predictions

Jalen Brunson Over 33.5 Points + Assists (-110)

Malik Monk Over 28.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-110)

Nikola Vucevic to Record 10+ Rebounds (-120)

Jalen Brunson Over 33.5 Points + Assists (-110)

Jalen Brunson has been on fire in January, averaging 27.2 points and 6.6 assists per game. He’s coming off a blowout win against Memphis in which he only played 25 minutes, partly due to foul trouble, and during a five-game homestand, he should have plenty of energy for this matchup. The Knicks have won four straight and remain at home, where Brunson has exceeded this line in four of his last five games.

Denver’s defense is a key factor here. The Nuggets rank 24th in opponent three-pointers allowed, which is trouble against Brunson, who is finding his groove from beyond the arc, knocking down 8 of his last 12 from deep. Denver also ranks dead last in opponent assists allowed, which bolsters Brunson’s case to rack up dimes.

The last time these teams met, the Knicks put up 143 points, with Brunson contributing 40 points + assists. Given that history and the fact Brunson has recorded 33+ points 11 times this year and double-digit assists nine times this year, Brunson is in a prime position to hit this over – and potentially make a run at the King of the Court leaderboard.

Malik Monk Over 28.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-110)

The Kings face the 76ers on the second night of a back-to-back, who are still missing Joel Embiid. Sacramento, meanwhile, has an extra night of rest and should be ready to attack a Sixers defense that ranks 29th in opponent effective FG% and last in REB%.

Malik Monk has been thriving since moving into the starting lineup. He’s averaging 22.6 points, 7.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds in January, good for a 33.9 PRA average – well above this 28.5 line. Monk also played seven fewer minutes than other key starters like Domantas Sabonis on Monday. As Monk continues to make the most of his touches, especially with trade rumors swirling around backcourt mate De’Aaron Fox, he should be relied upon for plenty of usage tonight.

With the Sixers’ defense worn down after a big win over the Lakers Tuesday night, plus Monk’s ability to contribute across multiple stat categories, this is a great spot to back him again. If he gets hot, he could be a dark-horse candidate for King of the Court.

Nikola Vucevic to Record 10+ Rebounds (-120)

Boston hosts Chicago in their fourth and final matchup of the season, and while the Celtics are a dominant team in many aspects, they are just an average rebounding squad. That opens the door for Nikola Vucevic to continue his strong play on the glass.

Vucevic is averaging 11.1 rebounds per game in January, his highest mark of the season. He’s also grabbed 10+ boards in all three meetings with the Celtics this year (10, 14 and 11). With Zach LaVine out and Coby White questionable, the Bulls will need Vucevic to shoulder an even bigger role.

Boston may be struggling lately, but their offensive rebounding ranks in the bottom half of the NBA, giving Vucevic ample opportunities to clean up missed shots. Given his track record against the Celtics and his recent rebounding surge, this line looks very manageable.

While Vucevic isn’t likely to contend for King of the Court, his consistency on the boards makes this one of the strongest value plays on the slate.