Another exciting night of NBA action is coming our way on Thursday, and we couldn’t be more excited. Today’s slate features a deep 8-game medley, headlined by a renewal of the Battle of Los Angeles. Bragging rights are on the line, but so are divisional implications. The Clippers will host their cross-town rivals, the Lakers, in Inglewood in an Amazon Prime Video nightcap scheduled for 10:00 pm ET, and that matchup is preceded by Warriors vs Mavericks at 7:30 pm ET. You can find our NBA picks for all of today’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 22.
Hornets vs Magic NBA best bet: Under 228 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Orlando has made a living at forcing opponents into uncomfortable offense. This is particularly the case at home. The Magic can switch, stay connected to shooters, and turn games into a “prove it” half-court environments where every bucket is earned. That profile is kryptonite for Charlotte — a team whose scoring swings wildly depending on whether they’re hitting early threes and creating clean transition looks. The market gives you a helpful clue too: Orlando is a solid favorite, which tends to shorten the game once a lead is established — they slow things down and grind it out. All of this plays right into the under’s wheelhouse.
Read our full Hornets vs Magic prediction
Nuggets vs Wizards NBA best bet: Wizards +5.5 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
This line invites bettors to trust Denver as the “reliable” road favorite; the number looks eerily soft. Washington’s value comes from how they will approach this game. The Wizards have nothing to manage or protect, so they can empty the tank and turn the game into spurts instead of structure. Washington is a free-wheeling underdog with nothing to lose, looking to make the most of the assignment. That profile is ideal with points in the back pocket, and the line all but says there will be a tight scoreboard deep into the game. The Wizards are live here.
Read our full Nuggets vs Wizards prediction
Rockets vs 76ers NBA best bet: 76ers ML (+110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
When teams are priced at near parity, why not get rid of the vig and take the dog at plus-money? That’s the academic move here. The total for this game is posted around 220, which suggests points will be at a premium and this will be a game of possessions. In other words, this is a coin-flip. This is a contest that can go either way, and in a 50/50 scenario, getting the home team at plus-money is value in itself. In this scenario, that lies with the Sixers. Philadelphia outright.
Warriors vs Mavericks NBA best bet: Under 232 (-110)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Unders cash when one side can’t contribute consistently, and Dallas is the team most likely to create that shape. The Mavericks have been marred by offensive inconsistency all season. Golden State also adds volatility the other way: they’ll shoot threes in volume, but if the Mavs stumble, they will have to convert at a high rate for four full quarters for the over to even have a chance. The recipe overall is inherently unstable. With Dallas prone to dry spells and Golden State dependent on three-point efficiency, the under fits the most realistic game script.
Read our full Warriors vs Mavericks prediction
Bulls vs Timberwolves NBA best bet: Timberwolves -9 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
The Bulls ended the Clippers winning streak with style on Tuesday. As a 2.5-point favorite, which was much to the market’s chargin, Chicago romped Los Angeles 138-110 in a rout of epic proportion. Naturally, the market’s inclination has been to zig-zag back on the Bulls here with what appears to be a mountain of points.
However, betting Chicago now is betting them a game too late. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped all takers, as Minnesota has rapidly descended from a 10-point choice to a 9-point favorite at the time of writing. We would urge those that are interested in the Bulls to pump the brakes. The oddsmakers are warning that a different outcome is expected in the Twin Cities tonight and as is the case conventionally, teams entering off a high-profile blowout win make a great target in their follow-up. We’re rolling with the Wolves.
Spurs vs Jazz NBA best bet: Spurs -13 (-110)
Odds available at bet365 at time of publishing.
Laying lumber is uncomfortable, but this is the type of matchup in which a big spread can be justified. Utah’s thin defense is vulnerable to what San Antonio does best: generate avalanche runs through rim pressure, length and transition scoring. Big numbers cover when the underdog can’t stop momentum swings, and Utah’s margin for error is tiny — especially if their offense stalls for even a few minutes. San Antonio can create separation quickly and wipeout any notion of a backdoor while they are at it. This has rout written all over it.
Read our full Spurs vs Jazz prediction
Lakers vs Clippers NBA best bet: Clippers -1 (-110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
It’s not just a Rage Against The Machine album, it’s the name of this series: The Battle of Los Angeles. The Lakers naturally are getting a lot of love here, as their 26-16 record is far more appetizing than the Clippers at 19-24. The Lakers are also riding a 2-game winning streak, capped off by a fresh victory of Denver on Tuesday. The Clippers? Their hot hand cooled off in infamy when they were clipped in Chicago in a 138-110 blowout. The result? The market is selling hard on the Clippers and in love with the Lakers. And yet, the Clippers are the favorite here. That’s all we need to see.
It is very possible that the Clippers were looking past the Bulls on Tuesday to this very game, and the pricing suggests that a different version of the Clippers is taking the floor in Inglewood. We play numbers and not teams, and the number on offer has Clippers written all over it.
Read our full Lakers vs Clippers prediction
Heat vs Trail Blazers NBA best bet: Under 240.5 (-110)
Odds available at Caesars Sportsbook at time of publishing.
This is the easiest total on the board to fade because the number itself is doing the work. This total requires near-constant efficiency, and even one normal scoring lull makes it extremely fragile. It’s not that both teams can’t score, it’s that NBA games rarely sustain the kind of shot-making needed to clear this number unless both teams are playing fast, clean, and fully-synced. That’s a big ask considering a track meet is not in Portland’s best interest.
The Blazers are favored here, and if they are expected to hold up their end of the bargain, playing in a low-scoring environment gives them a more definitive edge. The Blazers are undefeated in their last 6 contests when the total has stayed under 231. Expect them to repeat that recipe here if they want to find a win against a potent Miami squad who doesn’t play to their full potential in road settings. Take the under.
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