NBA Player Props Tonight for Knicks vs Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Headlines My +465 SGP (Jan 3)

The Oklahoma City Thunder look to be a menacing opponent on Friday, taking a 15-2 home record and eight-game winning streak into their first game of the season against the New York Knicks.

(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

New York's won nine in a row in its own right, however, and at least one of its offensive weapons should find a way in against a premier defense here. We'll highlight why Mikal Bridges should be active from the arc, and lay out two lines on Thunder players who can exploit the Knicks's struggles in the frontcourt.

Let's build a same-game parlay for Knicks vs Thunder on Friday, January 3 and lay out a few props that will work well as standalone straight bets as well.

NBA Parlay Predictions for Knicks vs Thunder

DraftKings NBA Odds for Knicks vs Thunder SGP: +465

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ Points
• Isaiah Hartenstein Double-Double
• Mikal Bridges 3+ Made Threes

Our best betting promotions list has even more options for you to profit from if you are looking for more offers!

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 30+ Points

While Jalen Williams has emerged as one of the most complete players in the NBA, there's little question about who the top dog is on offense for Oklahoma City after the month which Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has had.

• The star guard averaged more than 33 points in December, hitting the 30-point mark in nine of his 12 games.
• His first game of 2025 would have likely continued his run, too, if not for a blowout win over the Clippers ending his night after just 30 minutes -- in which he poured in 29 points.

The Knicks have had a very tumultuous season defensively, fluctuating wildly with their rim defense and continuing to let opponents get by their men to launch high-percentage shots.

While their 3-point defense has improved dramatically, things inside have once again swung back the other way as they've ranked just 16th in rim defense over the last two weeks and allowed the ninth-highest volume in that zone.

That's where I'm going to look for scoring, and there's no better bet than Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA has been one of the most active players inside for the Thunder, sitting in the top 32% of point guards in shot frequency at the rim and cashing in at an impressive 73% clip.

He should find plenty of ways in offensively, and even though he'll shoot on a team that's been one of the best at defending the mid-range it's worth noting that New York's ranked near the top of the league in the last 14 days in long mid-range shots allowed.

Isaiah Hartenstein Double-Double

I always love to play a revenge spot, and I'm just as infatuated with betting on Isaiah Hartenstein in general.

• We should be able to have double the fun on Friday as a result, when Hartenstein seeks his 10th double-double in the past 13 games against his former team.

The talented bigman has averaged better than 12 points and 12 rebounds over his last 12 games, and even in some tough matchups he's still been able to fill the rebounding column. That's what he'll have ahead of him on Friday, but there could be an opportunity on the offensive glass.

Hartenstein grabbed over 9% of available offensive rebounds in December to rank among the best in the league -- something that's always been one of his strong suits -- and while the Knicks have done a good job overall on the glass they're a bit lower, in 11th, when it comes to defensive rebounding over the 10 games.

In chorus with a somewhat soft matchup in the offensive frontcourt, I think this is a very worthy leg.

Mikal Bridges 3+ Made Threes

We'll round things out by hyper-focusing on the corner of the floor, which has been a rare spot of bother for a strong Thunder defense this season.

Oklahoma City has given up the second-most corner 3s on average this season and the most over the last two weeks, which should come in handy for Mikal Bridges.

• The corner-3 specialist has led this team in volume and accuracy in this zone, which is no surprise given his career shot chart, and while he'll be afforded more looks he should have a much better shot at knocking them down given the matchup.
• Oklahoma City has owned the 20th-ranked corner 3 defense in the last two weeks with a near-four point drop in defense from its season average.

Bridges is shooting 44% from deep over his last 11 games and has hit this number in six of those contests. While he's failed to do so in his last three, he's at least taken almost seven shots per game from outside and should see sustained volume here.

If you want to know what's fresh, go no further than our Betting News Section.