Top NBA Betting Picks for Tuesday, January 26
A 36-year-old LeBron James turned back the clock and exploded for 46 points in a revenge game against the Cavaliers last night, and while tonight’s three-game slate doesn’t promise that kind of action, getting skin in the game is a good way to make things more interesting. If you’re looking for some lines to target, our experts have put together the ones that they’re going after this evening.
Here are the top NBA betting plays for Tuesday, January 26, provided by BettingPros experts James Bisson, Raju Byfield, and Isaiah Sirois (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: Hawks -5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
In fairness, it must be difficult to set a line for a team missing its top two players. But oddsmakers are giving the Clippers far too much credit in a road game against a Hawks team that has been competitive for most of the early part of the season, especially at home. The loss of both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George is a massive absence on both ends of the court for the Clippers, and the added pressure of playing three time zones from Staples Center will be too much to overcome here.
Sirois: Knicks +11.5 (-110 at DK Sportsbook)
I know the Knicks aren’t great, but they shouldn’t be 11.5-point underdogs against the Jazz. New York may score the fewest points per game (101.9), but they’re averaging a bit more over their last three (108.7), and they’re allowing the fewest points per game (103.6). That said, the better reason to target this line is the pace, as the Knicks rank last in possessions per game (99) and the Jazz rank third-last (102), which should keep the scoring down. Add in the fact that the Knicks took down the Jazz by 12 points earlier this month, and I just don’t see how Utah takes this game by 12.
Best Team Props of the Day
Bisson: Hawks Over 113.5 (-108 at FD Sportsbook)
The Hawks would be wise to push the pace here, since they’re much more likely to beat the undermanned Clippers in a track meet. And fortunately for Atlanta, they’re pretty good at that, as they rank 10th in the NBA in pace while boasting a slightly-above-average offensive efficiency despite having had to deal with a litany of absences themselves. The Hawks should be able to dictate play, and that’s a good sign for over bettors.
Sirois: Clippers Under 108.5 (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
The Clippers are going to struggle without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Hawks give up the 12th-fewest points per game (110.1) and rank sixth in defensive efficiency, which is great, as is the fact that Los Angeles ranks second-last in possessions per game (100.3). All of that said, the main argument for this line is how bad Los Angeles has looked without Leonard. They managed just 73 points against the Mavericks! Sure, they bounced back from that game by dropping 124 points on the KAT-less Timberwolves, but Paul George and Patrick Beverley accounted for almost a quarter of their offensive production in that game. They won’t have either of them tonight.
Best Player Props of the Day
Bisson: John Wall Under 21.5 Points (-106 at FD Sportsbook)
Wall is no longer the player you can count on to score 20-plus points per night. He’s averaging just over 11 points in his past four games, and he played 29-plus minutes in three of them. Getting to the line was what drove Wall’s scoring average higher in the past – but he’s shooting just 3.5 foul shots per game, so don’t expect any padding there. This is an easy under choice.
Sirois: Donovan Mitchell Under 25.5 Points (-110 at FD Sportsbook)
Mitchell scored only 18 points against the Knicks earlier this month. That wasn’t for a lack of volume; he played in 36 minutes and attempted 23 shots. The Knicks just have been rock-solid against opposing shooting guards this season — they give up the second-fewest points per game to the position. You should be safe betting against Mitchell in what’s likely to be a low-scoring matchup.
View our daily NBA matchups pages here >>
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