NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (1/7)
The Chicago Bulls have not been playing well offensively since the loss of Josh Giddey. Will they manage to score against the Detroit Pistons' great defense? In Boston, the Celtics continue their string of good luck as they take on the Denver Nuggets, who will be missing Nikola Jokic. The Los Angeles Lakers look to score at least 115 against the San Antonio Spurs for the third time this season. Below are the best NBA picks & predictions for Wednesday, January 7th.
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Wednesday’s Best NBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Chicago Bulls @ Detroit Pistons
The Bulls have scored at least 113 points in each of their games against the Pistons, but those performances came with a much healthier team than the one that will take the court tonight. The team's leading scorer, Josh Giddey, is still out. He not only leads the Bulls with 19.2 points per game, but he also averages 8.9 rebounds and nine assists.
The Bulls are averaging 118.3 points per game this season, but they've managed just 99 and 101 in their last two contests. While the 101-point performance came against the Celtics, who have the second-ranked scoring defense, the 99-point game was against the Hornets, who rank 21st in scoring defense.
The Pistons are allowing just 112.1 points per game, which ranks fourth-best in the league. They've held back-to-back opponents to 110 points or fewer, and they haven't allowed more than 118 points in five games.
Pick: Chicago Bulls Team Total Under 110.5 Points (-115)
Denver Nuggets @ Boston Celtics
The Celtics have won four consecutive games, winning each contest by at least 10 points. While they've benefitted from key players like Josh Giddey and Domantas Sabonis being out of those games, their good fortune continues tonight.
Nikola Jokic and his 29.6 points per game production are going to miss tonight's game, as he continues to deal with a hyperextended knee. On top of being their top points scorer, Jokic is also the league leader in rebounds (12.2) and assists (11).
The Nuggets are 2-2 without Jokic, but one of their losses is to the 11-22 Nets. The Celtics are great defensively, allowing just 110.5 points per game. I expect the defense to suffocate an offense that has scored fewer than 110 points twice without Jokic. And with the Celtics scoring at least 120 points in three of their last four games, I just don't see how the Nuggets keep this close.
Pick: Celtics -9.5 (-105)
Los Angeles Lakers @ San Antonio Spurs
It's very surprising to see the Lakers' team total under is favored in this matchup. The Spurs are only allowing 114.2 points per game, which is eighth-best in the league. However, the Lakers have scored at least 118 points against them in both matchups this season.
While both of those games were played in Los Angeles, the Lakers are still averaging 113.8 points per game on the road this season. They've also scored at least 120 points in two of their last three games.
It may be tempting to take the over for this game in general, but the Spurs have been part of some low-scoring games of late. Their last three games have featured 236 points or fewer. Yesterday, they combined for just 211 points with the Grizzlies. Therefore, I'll back the value in taking the Lakers to reach 115 points against the Spurs for the third time this season.
Pick: Lakers Team Total Over 114.5 Points (-105)
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Phil Wood is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Phil, check out his archive and follow him @Phil_Wood_Jr.