Top NBA Betting Picks for Friday, January 8

It’s finally Friday! If you’re looking to kick off your weekend with a few basketball bets, we’ve got some tips to help you cash in on tonight’s 10-game slate.

Here are the top NBA betting plays for Friday, January 8, provided by BettingPros experts James Bisson, Isaiah Sirois, and Vaughn Dalzell (Main game odds courtesy BettingPros Consensus; lock and prop odds sites may vary):

Check out our daily NBA consensus game odds here >>

Betting Locks of the Day

Bisson: Bucks -5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)

Utah’s jaunt through the Eastern Conference hasn’t gone so well; they’ve dropped back-to-back decisions to Brooklyn and New York while losing those contests by a combined 46 points. And now comes the toughest test of all: a Bucks team that leads the NBA in scoring by a wide margin and is 67-13 at home since the start of the 2018-19 season. Milwaukee should cruise here.

Sirois: Nets +1.5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)

Why aren’t the Nets favored? Yes, they’re on the wrong end of a back-to-back, but so are the Grizzlies. Worse, the Grizzlies haven’t scored triple-digit points in three-straight games. I suspect that this line is so close because the Grizzlies took down the KD and Kyrie-less Nets earlier in the year, but they had a rest advantage heading into that game, yet it still went to overtime. They also had Ja Morant (albeit for only 13 minutes). Since the Nets didn’t need to overwork anyone to beat the Sixers by 13 last night, they should be at high enough strength to take down the Grizzlies here. My efficiency-based model favors Brooklyn by a whopping nine points tonight, and even though it doesn’t adjust for player health, it does adjust for recent form, and the Nets have played well despite their personnel issues.

Dalzell: Kings +5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)

The Raptors’ downfall is something worth riding until they get out of this funk. The Kings are capable of shooting with Toronto, and if any of the Kings’ bigs step up, they should be able to keep this within a few possession at home. The Raptors are 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 trips to Sacramento, with the under hitting in eight of the previous 10. If it’s a low-scoring affair, you’d figure the Kings will hang around.

Best Team Props of the Day

Bisson: Golden State Under 110.5 Points (-108 at FD Sportsbook)

Steph Curry’s status will obviously have a major impact on what Golden State’s final team total will be – but you’d be wise to jump on this number now. Curry gutted his way through an ankle injury in Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers, and he was limited to just 13 points. Even if he plays Friday, he won’t be at 100 percent – and that will only make things easier for a Clippers team that boasts one of the best defenses in the NBA.

Sirois: Nets Fourth Quarter Over 26.5 Points (-135 at FD Sportsbook)

The Brooklyn Nets score the second-most fourth-quarter points per game (29.6). While they won’t have Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant tonight, they were fine without them last night, as they still posted 28 fourth-quarter points. Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies allow the fourth-most fourth-quarter points per game (28.6). They gave up 27 of them to the Cavs last night, and they’re averaging 28.3 fourth-quarter points allowed over their last three. This line sits about a point too low, and while there’s juice to compensate, it’s not enough to adjust for how safe this play actually is.

Dalzell: Bucks First Half -2.5 (-115 at FD Sportsbook)

The Bucks lead the league with 65 PPG in the first half, while Utah is way down the ranks with 52.9 PPG. Over the last three games, the Bucks have averaged over 70 PPG and are rolling offensively. They’ve played the Bulls and Pistons in the previous three games, so those numbers are a bit inflated, but at the same time, a one-possession spread in favor of Milwaukee is a solid bet.

Best Player Props of the Day

Bisson: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 1.5 Three-Pointers (+120 at FD Sportsbook)

This is an intriguing prop, which is a big reason why I chose it. SGA has been jacking three-point attempts at a ridiculous clip, with his 6.3 attempts per game well above his previous career-high of 3.6. And he has been abysmal at it: he’s making just 29.5 percent entering Friday’s meeting with a Knicks team that’s limited opponents to an NBA-low 29.8-percent success rate from deep. Volume alone puts this bet in jeopardy, but if any team can hold SGA below two three-pointers, it’s the Knicks.

Sirois: LaMelo Ball Over 1.5 Three-Pointers (+110 at FD Sportsbook)

Uh, why is this line in the plus money? LaMelo Ball is averaging 1.5 three-pointers made and 4.4 three-pointers attempted per game, so it’s set right around his averages. But what should have kept this line out of the plus money is that the Pelicans are giving up the most made three-pointers per game (15.9) on the most three-point attempts per game (44.1). This is a fantastic value play in the first matchup between the brothers Ball.

Dalzell: Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 Rebounds (-114 at FD Sportsbook)

There’s solid value here for Jayson Tatum with Grant Williams, Robert Williams, and Tristan Thompson all facing seven-day quarantines. Tatum has done it all this season, and I like his chances to double-double here. Westbrook may suit up for the Wizards even though this is the first of a back-to-back, but I still like Tatum to lead the Celtics in rebounding tonight.

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