NBA Prop Bets for Thursday, January 15 | Betting News

Danny Burke

Written by: Danny Burke

Published: Thu Jan 15, 2026, 3:51 pm ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Get yourself geared up for Thursday night hoops, as Danny Burke delivers his NBA prop bets for Thursday, January 15.

nba

What's going on, everyone? Hope your Thursday is off to a good start. Let's try to make it even better with a few winners on the hardwood tonight.

We're coming off a 3–0 sweep from Monday night, pushing our record to 95-68-1 and +18.37 units on the year. Let's keep it rolling and look for another clean sweep with my NBA prop bets for Thursday, January 15.

For additional information on picks, props, moneylines, and more on today's slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page.

You can also browse our recommendations for the best online sportsbooks available in the U.S.

NBA Prop Bets for Thursday, January 15

Jalen Duren Under 10.5 Rebounds (-125)

We begin in the Motor City, where the Detroit Pistons will play host to the Phoenix Suns. I'm targeting an under on Pistons big man Jalen Duren, banking on him to finish with fewer than 11 rebounds tonight.

On the season, Duren is averaging 10.6 rebounds per game, but that number dipped to 9.5 boards per contest throughout the month of December. He's also coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him for a couple of weeks, so there's a chance he's still working his way back into form. It wouldn't be surprising to see Detroit manage his minutes, which only helps this under.

When you factor in potential workload limitations, along with a matchup against a top-10 rebounding team in the league, this sets up as a favorable spot to fade Duren on the glass.

Jabari Smith Jr. Under 14.5 Points (-105)

Let's move on to the most exciting game on Thursday night's slate, which features the Houston Rockets hosting the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder (34-7) look every bit as dominant as they did a season ago, and their defensive metrics back that up. Oklahoma City ranks first in points per 100 possessions allowed and second in effective field-goal percentage.

Jabari Smith Jr.'s points prop is what stood out to me, as it feels a bit inflated given this matchup. Yes, he's coming off an 18-point outing and is averaging 15 points per game on the season, but those numbers shouldn't automatically translate against the NBA's top defense. Also, through seven games in January, Smith's scoring average has dipped to just 12 points per contest.

If Smith isn't knocking down shots from beyond the arc tonight, he could be in trouble. Outside of his three-point attempts, the area where he shoots most frequently is from mid-range – and that's a problem against an Oklahoma City defense that ranks first in opponent field goal percentage from that territory (39.2%).

Ryan Rollins Under 14.5 Points (-120)

Our third and final prop bet of the evening features another under on a player's scoring, this time with Ryan Rollins. I'm taking him to stay below 14.5 points tonight as the Milwaukee Bucks head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs.

Led by Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio boasts one of the league's strongest defensive units, ranking third in points per possession allowed and eighth in effective field goal percentage.

Rollins has a fairly balanced shot profile, with 41% of his attempts coming from beyond the arc and roughly 30% split between mid-range and shots at the rim. That versatility doesn't necessarily help him here, as the Spurs are well-equipped to defend all three levels. While Rollins is averaging around 16 points per game on the season, that mark has dipped to 13.3 points per contest across a six-game sample size in January.

Best Bets:

NBA Record: 95-68-1 (+18.37 units)

Still Didn't Get Your NBA Fix?

Follow me on X @dannyburke5 for all my picks, analysis and plenty more. Also be sure to follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch to catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day and check out our Free Expert Picks for every major sports league.

Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly

Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER

Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News

Danny Burke
Danny Burke

Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.

This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.