Ja Morant and LeBron James take center stage in our NBA player props for January 30th, bringing plenty of star power to tonight’s matchups.
Below, we break down DFS insights for both players and analyze Zach Edey’s recent defensive surge.
NBA Player Props for January 30
Ja Morant Over 20.5 Points (-110) – DraftKings
Ja Morant has had an up-and-down season, averaging just 20.3 points per game while shooting 44.5% from the field and 30.6% from three.
Injuries have played a role in his inconsistency, as has his adjustment to a new offensive system under assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo, who was brought in last offseason.
Memphis has embraced a high-tempo style, leading the NBA in pace and using its depth to wear down opponents over 48 minutes. This approach has resulted in the league’s highest scoring average.
Yet, against the Rockets, the Grizzlies have struggled to impose their preferred style of play. Houston’s defense, led by Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Amen Thompson, has limited Memphis’ scoring output by clogging passing lanes and applying relentless pressure.
As a result, Morant has had to take on a more aggressive scoring role in these matchups. In three games against Houston this season, he has exceeded this line (20.5 points) each time, averaging 26.7 points on 21 shot attempts per game.
Expect Morant to stay aggressive tonight.
LeBron James Over 26.5 Points (-120) – DraftKings
With Anthony Davis sidelined due to an abdominal injury, LeBron James will once again be tasked with carrying the Lakers’ offensive load.
Davis has remained relatively healthy this season, meaning LeBron has played without him only three times. However, in those games, he has been dominant, averaging 35.3 points per game while shooting 63.6% from the field and 63% from deep.
Tonight, he faces the Washington Wizards—the worst team in the NBA. While there’s always a risk of a blowout, the Lakers don’t have many other high-volume scorers outside of James and Austin Reaves.
Expect another big night from LeBron.
One Last Thought
Zach Edey has shown signs of improvement on the defensive end, including a strong 19-point, 7-rebound, and 4-block performance against the Utah Jazz.
While his shot-blocking numbers have been lower than expected this season, his recent three-game stretch has been encouraging, averaging 3 blocks per game.
At +170 on bet365, taking a chance on Edey recording at least two blocks against a physical Rockets squad could be a worthwhile bet.
