Happy New Year to everyone. It has been a while since we last spoke, but alas we are back! We have a nice six-game slate in the association tonight and I have four of my NBA best bets ready to go. An eclectic mix as always, but hopefully we can stay hot and continue to crush the books.
NBA Best Bets – January 12th, 2023
Boston Celtics @ Brooklyn Nets 1st Half Under 117.5
I know taking an under is not fun, especially with two of the NBA’s best teams in action. Both teams rank in the middle as far as pace while also being top ten in defensive rating. Brooklyn will be without Kevin Durant for the next month and replacing 30 points per game is not going to be easy.
Boston is coming off of a back-to-back while Brooklyn has enjoyed a three-day break. These two variables lead me to think there will be some rust early on both sides. Add that to the level these two teams play defense and we are set up for a low-scoring first half.
Brooklyn is returning home from a 3 game road trip and has been playing at an extremely high level defensively. In their last five games, they have only allowed more than 110 points once.
Charlotte Hornets (+8) @ Toronto Raptors
These two teams played two nights ago and the final score seemed as if it was a non-competitive game. However, if you dig into the box score, you might get a different opinion. The Raptors are bottom five in effective field goal percentage and three-point percentage but shot 50% from the field and 46% from three in Tuesday’s matchup.
At the start of the 4th quarter, it was a two-point game and very competitive. The Raptors hit a season-high 20 threes which is highly unlikely to happen again. I thought the first matchup was an outlier of sorts for both teams but more so for the Raptors. The second leg of this back-to-back scenario usually favors the team that lost the first matchup, I see this being no different.
With both teams returning to form, I think a lower possession game that it favors the underdog. Luckily for us, we have potentially the best player on the floor with the ball in his hand (pun intended) and I think he will be the key to covering this number for us. I love Hornets to cover the spread as an NBA Best Bet tonight!
Jalen Williams Over 11.5 Points
One of my favorite teams to watch on a nightly basis is the Oklahoma City Thunder. One of the many reasons why is the play of Jalen Williams. Over the last few weeks, Jalen has been more involved in the offense and has taken advantage of it by going over this number in six of the last eight games.
He does face a tough matchup with a top-five defensive team but I think there is a pathway to success due to the attention SGA will garner. With added attention to SGA and Josh Giddey, there should be a lot of shots for Jalen. Would love to see him be a little more aggressive when he’s on the court without the top two guys, but that will come as he matures over the season.
Twelve points in a matchup where he should see north of fourteen shots seem a little short. Make sure when you put this bet slip in that you are putting in the right Jalen.
Thomas Bryant Over 27.5 Points+Rebounds
One of the more improved players of the season early on has to be Thomas Bryant. He has been a bright spot for the Lakers who by all means lack anything bright other than Lebron. Bryant is a matchup nightmare for defenders as he can score at all three levels and rebound with the best of them.
He has gone over this number in five of the last six games and has recorded a double-double in eight of the last thirteen games. He has been the most consistent player on the roster outside of the obvious (Lebron).
The Mavericks do not rebound well, specifically offensively where they rank 30th in rebounding. This sets up perfectly for Bryant to dominate the glass. The Mavericks also shoot the most threes in the NBA. There will be ample opportunity for Bryant to clean the glass.
Scoring-wise, it’s really simple. The Lakers are banged up and missing some key contributors so the volume for Bryant will be high. I love Thomas Bryant as my last NBA Best Bet!
If you’d like even more information that could help your NBA DFS lineups, be sure to check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. The guys are dropping episodes Monday through Friday every week giving out winners.
