NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (1/23)
It's another exciting day of NBA action on Friday night. There are eight games on the schedule and plenty of high-profile matchups. Let's take a look at some of the games for our favorite NBA picks & predictions.
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Friday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Houston Rockets at Detroit Pistons
A possible NBA Finals preview is taking place in Detroit on Friday night. The surging Pistons are coming into the game on a four-game win streak and are 6-4 against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games. The surprising Pistons, led by All-Star starter Cade Cunningham, won their last game despite Cunningham being ruled out. He's a game-time decision on Friday due to illness.
Houston has found itself coming out of a funk with four wins in their last five games, including against Minnesota and San Antonio. Since adding Kevin Durant in the offseason, Houston has cemented itself as one of the most talented and efficient teams in the league. The Rockets rank in the top four in both offensive and defensive efficiency and are the best rebounding team by almost any metric.
Houston is a tough matchup for Detroit. Their ability to defend rebounds negates one of Detroit's biggest offensive strengths. However, both teams are going to turn the ball over a lot, which gives both teams the ability to get out and run on offense. This likely won't be enough for a Detroit squad that isn't quite 100% healthy. I like the Rockets to get out of their ATS funk that has seen them cover only two of their last 10 and cover in Detroit.
Pick: Rockets +3.5 (-105)
Sacramento Kings at Cleveland Cavaliers
This is one of the biggest mismatches on the schedule. Sacramento, despite some talent, has been atrocious this season. It's reflected in both their ATS and straight up (SU) records. The Kings are especially bad on the road, where they are 3-17 SU and 7-13 ATS.
For Cleveland, this is a get-right game. The Cavaliers are about as healthy as they've been all season, which isn't saying much, but having Evan Mobley in the lineup provides them with some size that Sacramento just can't match. Cleveland should dominate the boards in this game against a Kings team that ranks in the bottom five of both offensive and defensive rebounding.
The spread for this game is large, and it can be scary to back a Cleveland team that hasn't covered often this season. However, Sacramento is going to struggle to score points in this game, and because of that, they'll struggle to keep it close. Trust the talent of the Cavaliers plays out here, and they get a home cover against an abysmal road team.
Pick: Cavaliers -12.5 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans at Memphis Grizzlies
This game on paper isn't one of the best matchups of the night, but it's a prime spot for a best bet. This is the third matchup of the season between these two Southwest Division rivals. Each of the first two matchups not only hit the over, but did so with ease. Both matchups ended up on a total of 236.5, but finished with 250 and 261 points. There is no reason to expect anything different here.
Both of these teams like to get out and run, averaging 14 seconds per offensive possession, which ranks both of them in the top 10. Even though neither of these teams shoots particularly well, there will be plenty of possessions, and both of these teams are prone to defensive lapses. New Orleans, in particular, has a poor defense that ranks near last in defensive rating. Memphis is around league average in that department, but after international travel, its defense suffered in a Wednesday matchup with the Hawks.
With the way these teams are going to run up and down the court, we can expect to see a lot of scoring. And with two games that have already well exceeded their point totals, we should see a similar result on Friday. I'll be capping off my betting card by taking the over in this matchup.
Pick: Over 235.5 Points (-110)