The NBA season rolls on today with six games on the schedule, starting with the Orlando Magic versus the Memphis Grizzlies at noon ET and ending with the Raptors taking on the Lakers at 9:30 p.m. ET. While the schedule is relatively small, bettors will have plenty of options. But what are the best NBA picks & predictions of the day?
After carefully studying the data and information available for each, the following are our best NBA bets for Sunday, January 18th.
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Sunday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
Orlando Magic vs. Memphis Grizzlies
These two just played in Berlin on Thursday, with the Magic holding on to beat the Grizzlies, 118-111. With injury concerns, defensive adjustments made since the Berlin game and residual jet lag, it is unlikely either team will explode on the offensive end of the court. It is more likely that defensive adjustments will keep the final score low.
Pick: Under 231.5 Points (-115 at BetMGM)
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Houston Rockets
Houston comes into the game fresh off a win over Minnesota on Friday, their second in three games. New Orleans last played on Friday in Indianapolis, losing 127-119 to a dreadful Indiana Pacers team. The Rockets are as healthy as they've been all season, while the Pelicans are down Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado and Dejounte Murray.
Houston's home record is 13-3, and the Pelicans' road mark is 3-16. The spread is a large one at 13 points, which makes me nervous with the Rockets, but the Pelicans are a poor team dealing with too many injuries against one of the best home teams in the NBA. Houston will cover.
Pick: Rockets -13 (-110 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Brooklyn Nets vs Chicago Bulls
Friday's 112-109 win over the Bulls brought an end to Brooklyn's five-game losing streak and improved their record to 12-27. The loss dropped the Bulls to 19-22. But this time the game is in Chicago, where the Bulls have won four of their last five. Chicago struggled on the offensive end in Friday's game against the Nets. However, they woke up in the second half and nearly pulled out the win.
The Bulls will not get off to such a slow start against the Nets at home. Brooklyn giving Michael Porter Jr. the night off will certainly help.
Pick: Bulls -6 (-115 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
Toronto Raptors vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Toronto comes into this game having lost three of its last five, including its last game on Friday night to the Clippers, 121-117 in overtime. But the Lakers have lost five of their last six, and this will be their fifth game in the last week. Toronto is dealing with a few injuries, but they'll have the upper hand against an exhausted Lakers squad playing in the second half of a back-to-back.
Pick: Toronto Moneyline (+108 at FanDuel Sportsbook)
