We’ve just cleared Wednesday and now the weekend is straight ahead. Before then, let’s enjoy some basketball. Thursday’s NBA slate features a robust 9-game menu, headlined by the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic squaring off in Berlin, Germany when the NBA goes international. We’ll also see the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets clash for Western Conference supremacy. 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 9 games on Thursday, January 15.
Grizzlies vs Magic best bet: Under 229 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
The big one in Berlin. The question here is not which side to pick, but instead focus on the total. With international travel across multiple time zones and the possibility of all the jetlag that accompanies, both teams can easily find themselves out of rhythm. Defending is easier in such a scenario and playing slower also helps. Both of these ingredients lead towards the under being the best bet in this contest.
Read our full Grizzlies vs Magic prediction
Suns vs Pistons best bet: Pistons -6.5 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
The Suns are below .500 outside the Desert, while the Pistons play at an elite level. Detroit’s current market profile is top-tier (28–10), and the spread reflects real control edges at home—not hype. The Pistons have the wherewithal and capacity to bottle up Phoenix’s offensive efforts, out-physical them on the glass and drag them into a defensive-oriented game. The thing is, if that happens, this allows Detroit to create separation. There is no reason to believe that the Pistons cannot do that. Laying the points is the best option.
Read our full Suns vs Pistons prediction
Celtics vs Heat best bet: Celtics -2 (-110)
Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing.
At a near pick’em price, this essentially boils down to who is better at closing. Boston’s defense rises up in key moments, and its offensive blueprint tends to be more repeatable possession-to-possession. The Celtics love to shoot the three with their sharpshooters. Miami relies solely on pace and explosivity in its offense. In this spot, we are not being asked to win at margin. We just need Boston to do Boston things and grind out a way down the backstretch. Laying just a basket, we’ll take our shot with the C’s.
Read our full Celtics vs Heat prediction
Thunder vs Rockets best bet: Thunder -4.5 (-110)
Odds available at Fliff Sportsbook at time of publishing.
The Thunder have seemingly fallen back down to Earth in recent times and that’s big because finally the numbers next to their name may not as inflated as they once were. If OKC’s stock is diminished that is a great notion because this team can win any game by 20-plus points on a given night, Houston included. Game control; that’s the Thunder’s hallmark.
OKC has the physicality to match Houston in the paint and the Thunder can also smother Space City with clean transition defense, complementing that with stable shot quality. When the Thunder get a lead, they don’t need to gamble; they grind out possessions and force opponents to beat them with a string of tough shots. We have to like those prospects here in a favorable matchup we are likely getting at a reduced price.
Bucks vs Spurs best bet: Bucks +7.5 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
If you’re going to bet this game, the most substantiated angle is taking the points. Why? Because it’s proven to be a long swim back for the Spurs in particular. San Antonio is only 3-5-1 ATS when favored by more than seven points this season. That’s the key: big spreads require consistent margin creation, not just winning. San Antonio may be able to do that against teams like New Orleans or Utah, but the Deer have proven to be able to hang around. Milwaukee is 4-2 ATS in games where they’re significant underdogs at similar prices. This is a matter of taking the side that is better than the optics entail, and that is Bucks plus the points.
Read our full Bucks vs Spurs prediction
Jazz vs Mavericks best bet: Jazz -1 (-110)
Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing.
We’ve seen this movie before. It was only a week ago when the Notes edged out the Mavericks by a basket in Salt Lake City. Now, both teams are meeting again in Dallas, and the Jazz are favored here. This is significant considering the Jazz at one point were a 7.5-point pooch last week against the Mavericks before the sharps hammered them down to +4.5. The question here is can the Jazz win again? Yes, their offense has proven to make the play it needs to against a wide range of opponents, and their defense is finally starting to tighten up. Rinse, wash, repeat. Back the Jazz to get it done.
Knicks vs Warriors best bet: Warriors -7 (-110)
Odds available at BetMGM at time of publishing.
Who wouldn’t bet the Knicks here? This is a quintessential bounce-back spot, and one could argue they were looking ahead to it, thus why New York lost to Sacramento two nights ago. That’s all hyperbole, however. Jalen Brunson remains a big uncertainty after nursing an ankle injury, and the fact that the Knicks are taking back this many points tells us that the oddsmakers don’t trust them in this spot. New York, given its record and talent, shouldn’t be a significant dog to anyone, and yet they are here. That’s the biggest clue that this is a spot where Golden State makes a statement.
Read our full Knicks vs Warriors prediction
Hawks vs Blazers best bet: Over 228.5 (-110)
Odds available at Fliff Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This is a totals game, not a side. Both teams have repeatedly thrived in high-scoring settings: Atlanta has had 26 of 42 games go over 228.5, and Portland has had 24 of 41 go over 228.5. That’s not a tiny lean—that’s consistent “high-total” behavior from both profiles. Combined, both teams average 237.8 points per game, which is well above the posted total. That suggests defensive efficiency (or lack thereof) is contributing to elevated scoring beyond just one hot shooting night. Both teams like to run the floor and lean into their offense first. That makes the over the academic move in this spot.
Hornets vs Lakers best bet: Hornets +5.5 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
The market hasn’t caught up to this Hornets team, so we are going to stick with them. Charlotte is clearly playing better basketball than it was in November, and the Lakers are favored here exclusively because of namesake, venue, and overall market standing. Remove all of those biases and Charlotte is a dog that sits inside a three-point price in this spot. Translation – Charlotte is actually live here. Grab the points in a game that Charlotte can win outright.
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