Jontay Porter, a center with the Toronto Raptors, was reportedly left out of the starting lineup for Monday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets after the NBA announced that he was the focus of a gambling investigation.
The NBA is investigating “irregularities on prop betting involving” Porter, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, David Purdum, and Brian Windhorst. These reports come from recent months.
The league reported prop bets featuring Porter from games on January 26 and March 20, according to multiple people who spoke with ESPN. This season, Porter has made 26 appearances, five of which have been starts. In 13.8 minutes of play, Porter averages 4.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.
Wojnarowski offered additional information about the anomalies in the betting:
Betting limits on NBA player props vary by sportsbook and customer, but are typically around $1,000 to $2,000. “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…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 26, 2024
More reporting, per ESPN’s @DavidPurdum: At least one other U.S. sportsbook detected unusual betting interest on Porter props in games in question. A sportsbook industry source told ESPN that multiple betting accounts attempted to bet large amounts, upwards of $10K and $20K, on…
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 26, 2024
NBA spokesman tells ESPN: “We’re looking into it.” https://t.co/xD5XWtAZ8M
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 25, 2024
Jontay Porter’s Game against The Clippers is what caught attention
There was allegedly “increased betting interest on the under for Porter props,” which were set at 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, in Toronto’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 26. A 0.5 over/under was also established for Porter’s made three-pointers.
The under was hit on every prop bet since Porter only played four minutes in that game before leaving due to what the Raptors claimed was a re-aggravation of an eye injury he had sustained four days prior. The under on Porter’s three-pointer was the greatest money winner of any NBA player prop from games that night, according to a report from DraftKings Sportsbook the next day.
Full statement from DraftKings on investigation into unusual betting interest on Jontay Porter player props: pic.twitter.com/wKtxFoKDf2
— David Payne Purdum (@DavidPurdum) March 25, 2024
On March 20, the night before, Porter played just three minutes before leaving the game due to what the team described as an illness, making his prop bets the biggest moneymaker once again. He didn’t score and only grabbed two rebounds, falling short of his over/unders, which were roughly 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.
In December, Porter, the brother of Denver Nuggets player Michael Porter Jr., agreed to a two-way deal with the Raptors. The Washington Wizards game on Saturday was postponed by him for “personal reasons,” according to the team. For Monday’s matchup with the Nets, he was classified as out with the same injury.
It is forbidden for NBA players and any other league personnel to bet on league games in any way.
