NBA investigation into Porter’s betting irregularities involves Kings vs. Raptors game
One of the games at the center of the NBA’s investigation into Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter’s betting irregularities involved the Sacramento Kings.
ESPN reported the league is investigating Porter after discovering irregularities regarding his own prop bets. An NBA spokesperson told ESPN the league is “looking into” bets made during Raptors games against the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 26 and the Kings on March 20.
The over/under odds on Porter’s player props against the Clippers were set at 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.5 3-point goals. Porter played only four minutes before aggravating a previous eye injury, finishing with zero points, three rebounds and one assist with no 3-point attempts. The under on made 3-pointers for Porter that night was reportedly the biggest money winner in the DraftKings Sportsbook’s daily report of betting results.
In last week’s game against the Kings, Porter’s over/unders were set at 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He missed his only shot and grabbed two rebounds in three minutes before leaving the game due to illness. The following day, DraftKings Sportsbook reported Porter’s prop bets were the top moneymaker from that night’s NBA games.
At least one other U.S. sportsbook detected unusual betting interest on Porter props in the games in question, according to ESPN. One sportsbook industry source told ESPN multiple betting accounts attempted to bet upward of $10,000 and $20,000 on Porter unders in the game against the Clippers. Betting limits on NBA player props are typically capped at $1,000 to $2,000.
NBA players and league employees are prohibited from betting on NBA games. Violations of the policy could result in fines, suspensions and termination of contracts.
“People were trying to do whatever they could to bet Jontay Porter props (against the Clippers),” the source said. “And then, just a few days ago, the same thing. We had a bunch of people trying to bet under for more.”
Kings coach Mike Brown was surprised to learn his team’s game against the Raptors was part of the NBA’s investigation when asked about it Tuesday.
“I know kind of what’s going on, but I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about that his situation came up in our game because I don’t follow it like that,” Brown said. “I kind of know he’s involved in some gambling stuff, but specific to our game, I couldn’t answer that.
“I do know that the NBA has somebody from our front office — it happened during the course of this year — come give a speech on the gambling stuff. I don’t know if they talk about it in Players Association meetings and stuff like that because they have a lot of meetings that I’m not a part of, but I know I was a part of one where our players and our coaches all heard — it was either from (Kings general manager Monte McNair or assistant general manager Wes Wilcox) — about the rules on the gambling issue. But, again, I can’t speak on our Toronto Raptors game because I don’t follow it that closely.”
This story was originally published March 26, 2024 at 6:07 PM.
