A busy Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday leads to a slow Tuesday in the NBA. We only get three games on Tuesday, but they all are bangers – Kings vs Suns, Nuggets vs Sixers, Thunder vs Clippers. Here are my NBA picks for January 16th. Go here for the latest NBA odds.
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NBA Picks January 16th
Denver Nuggets vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Tipoff – 7:30 pm EST
Spread: 76ers -4.5
Total: 227
Joel Embiid made his return on MLK Day, helping the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Houston Rockets at home. So this is a back-to-back for them. The big issue with handicapping this game is that all five of the Denver Nuggets’ starters are listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game.
But with only three games on the slate – and only two with odds currently available – we have to make do. The Sixers at home to cover is the play, but if Jokic and company suit up tomorrow, I do like the Nuggets to cover. No play on the total.
Best Bet: 76ers -4.5 (-110)
Sacramento Kings vs. Phoenix Suns
Tipoff – 9:00 pm EST
Spread: Suns -4.5
Total: 243
I believe this is the third straight column where I gave out plays on Sacramento Kings games. I also believe they’ve burnt me each time. Third time’s a charm, right?! I don’t want to jinx anything since I’m a Phoenix Suns fan, but maybe, just maybe, this team is putting it together now that their whole squad is healthy.
The Suns have won two straight, both at home, by 18 and 11 points, while Sacramento has dropped their last two games, both on the road. They also just got done an East Coast road trip before popping into Phoenix.
I think the Suns cover tomorrow. As for the total, it’s higher than my projection, so I’m taking the Under.
Best Bet: Suns -4.5 (-110), Kings/Suns Under 243 (-110)
If you’d like even more info to help make your NBA bets for January 16th, check out the NBA Gambling Podcast. They’re dropping episodes five days a week to make you the smartest guy/gal at the bar.
