Happy Monday! Tonight’s NBA slate features an 8-game treasure trove filled with drama and chaos. Headlining the schedule is a playoff rematch from last year’s first round when the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks square off in the Motor City. We’ll also see the renewal of divisional hostilities when the Los Angeles Clippers meet with their old rival, the Golden State Warriors, in the City of Angels. You can find our NBA picks for all of tonight’s matchups, along with EVERY GAME this season. But for now, here are our expert NBA best bets for each of today’s 8 games on Monday, January 5.
Knicks vs Pistons best bet: Pistons ML (+125)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Detroit has been the East’s best team all year and gets a chance to knock off the team that narrowly escaped them in the postseason last year from the comfort of their home. Needless to say, this is a game that can go in either direction as the series last year between both teams saw several games settled on the final possession. In a coin-flip matchup between the 2 top Eastern Conference teams, taking the home dog at plus-money odds feels like the sharp approach. For what it is worth, New York is only 7-8 SU away from Madison Square Garden. This is a game they can easily lose.
Read our full Knicks vs Pistons prediction, as well as our expert’s Knicks vs Pistons parlay at +418 odds for tonight’s game on Peacock
Bulls vs Celtics best bet: Bulls +11 (-110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This is about Boston’s home court mystique meeting Chicago’s sub .500 record. But Chicago’s recent form matters: they’re 7-3 SU and ATS in their last 10, and 5-0 ATS in their last 5 road games. Translation? They are still likely undervalued here. We know that Boston is the better team, but that is also baked into the price. The C’s can win here and the Bulls can still come in under the number — that’s the key. With Chicago’s improved road competitiveness, grabbing double digits with the Bulls is where the value lives.
Read our full Bulls vs Celtics prediction
Hawks vs Raptors best bet: Raptors -3.5 (-110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The Hawks have been struggling as of late. Teams are putting up points on them, as they have given up 126 or more in 5 of their last 7 contests. Add in that the Raps have owned this series with 5 straight head-to-head wins and the choice is pretty obvious here: back the Raptors. The Hawks are playing losing basketball. Toronto, meanwhile, looks like a bona fide playoff side. Lay the points and let the chips fall where they may. Toronto can easily cover this number, especially on their own court.
Hornets vs Thunder best bet: Hornets +15.5 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This is another ludicrous number on offer because we are dealing with OKC facing a perceived cupcake in the Hornets. However, in the modern NBA, covering a number of this length requires not only superiority, but also sustained intensity, limited garbage-time leakage and often hot shooting. Even weak teams like Charlotte can score enough to sneak inside a huge number, especially if OKC eases off late – which they have done many times previously this season. One can call this a “plug your nose” kind of play, but the Hornets with the points looks to be the right side.
Suns vs Rockets best bet: Rockets -8 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
This is more about the number than anything else. The Suns remain the best ATS team in the NBA with a polished 23-11 record against the spread on the season. Automatically, that makes them due for correction, which means in underdog spots they will be taking back a deflated number even if it appears otherwise. Dig a bit deeper, and this is a game that the Rockets can win by margin. Houston can match Phoenix’s defensive prowess and their physicality, and beat them at their own game. The price here all but confirms that it is likely how it unfolds in Space City while getting Houston at a discount to do so. Lay the points.
Read our full Suns vs Rockets prediction
Nuggets vs 76ers best bet: 76ers -12 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
The line seems a bit shocking to the naked eye. Let’s forget about logos or roster makeup for a moment. The notion of the Nuggets catching double-digit points seems to be a bit superfluous to the naked eye. Denver is the biggest public dog of the day, and that tells us that either the oddsmakers plan to hand out free money on the Nuggets or they are taking a strong position on Philadelphia. We are inclined to back the latter. The Nuggets have gone 1-2 SU since The Joker has gone off with an injury and his absence clearly will be instrumental in this tilt against the home side. This is about playing the number — the Sixers look to be the right side.
Read our full Nuggets vs 76ers prediction
Jazz vs Trail Blazers best bet: Jazz +6.5 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This isn’t an elite team laying points; it’s a slightly better, still-flawed Blazers group being asked to win by multiple possessions. Utah’s offense against Portland’s leaky defense gives them the potential to not only cover here but win outright. But we aren’t asking the Notes to do that. We just need them to be competitive. With both defenses being shaky, volatility favors the underdog along with the over (245) if anyone is interested in a correlated parlay. Another way to approach this is taking Utah outright, if one wishes to be adventurous. However, in assessing the multiple ways to attack this spot, the points with Utah looks to be the best move.
Warriors vs Clippers best bet: Clippers -1.5 (-110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Another line that makes no sense. The Clips are 10 games under .500 while the Warriors are sitting at 19-17. Los Angeles has been installed as the favorite. Interesting… add in that the Clippers just got blown out by Boston and it seems that much easier to pull the trigger on the Warriors here, but that’s the trap. Los Angeles is favored for a reason, and for what its worth, Golden State’s entire strategy relies solely on three-point volume and conversion. The Warriors are always a cold night away from mediocrity, and the signs point to that being the case here. Back the Clippers to get it done.
Read our full Warriors vs Clippers prediction
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