The NBA regular season rolls on with another excellent slate this Tuesday, with a total of 8 matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified all the best value on the board for tonight.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 7 NBA picks for today's matchups. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Tuesday, January 14.
NBA Best Bets Today, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Tuesday, January 14
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 p.m. | |
| 8 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Bulls vs. Pelicans
By Joe Dellera
The Bulls take on the Pelicans today and one matchup to watch is on the interior with Nikola Vucevic.
The Pelicans have had some growth from rookie Yves Missi this season, but they are still highly susceptible to scoring on the interior.
The Pelicans are allowing the highest-frequency of shots at the Rim and from Midrange, and their opponents are shooting the sixth-best Rim% in the league, per Dunks and Threes.
Vucevic can really score from anywhere, and in his last two matchups against the Pelicans, he scored 22 and 21 points.
Vucevic is averaging 20.2 points per game this season and has hit this line in 74% of games.
In a game that should be played with some Pace, I’ll back Vucevic to score.
Pick: Nikola Vucevic Over 17.5 Points (-125)
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Thunder vs. 76ers
By Bill Marzano
The Thunder come into this contest with a 32-7 record, the best record in the West, and take on a 15-22 Philadelphia 76ers squad that is struggling to say the least.
The Thunder have been fantastic on the road with a 15-4 record, while Sixers are only 6-11 at home.
The Thunder have won 12 of their last 13 games overall, they are 26-9-3 ATS this year, which is easily the best mark in NBA. They are second in NBA scoring defense, allowing just over 103 points per game, while putting up just over 116 per contest.
This Sixers squad has lost five of its last seven games. Joel Embiid has also been ruled out for this contest, missing his fifth straight game. Philly is averaging just over 107 per contest, fourth-worst in NBA overall.
The Thunder are relatively healthy and their depth off their bench is as good as it gets.
The Thunder are averaging 59 first-half points and 60 points per half on the road, and they've been even better in their last three games, averaging 65 per half.
Meanwhile, the Sixers are averaging just 52 first half points on the season, and 51 in their last three games, and that number is even lower at home with just 50 first-half points on average this year.
Look for the Thunder to get out to fast start and cruise to another victory tonight.
Pick: Thunder First Half Spread -6.5 (-120)
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Nuggets vs. Mavericks
I'd prefer if this line remained at 16.5, where I played the Under on DraftKings. Everywhere else is at 15.5 as of this writing. It makes sense, though.
Klay Thompson went under 16.5 points in 10 straight games before breaking out for 25 last time out against this same Nuggets team.
He hasn't gone over this tally in back to back games since mid-December, and maybe he's due, but I'll bet on 25 being the anomaly.
The 25-point performance doesn't make him a Denver Killer either.
Klay has shot a combined 4-for-21 against the Nuggets across two other games this season, including an 0- for-8 donut on November 22.
Pick: Klay Thompson Under 16.5 Points (-125)
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Bulls vs. Pelicans
By Alex Hinton
I am not sure if Zach LaVine is someone who is big on New Year's resolutions. If so, his may have been to score 30 points every game.
LaVine has scored 30 points in six straight games since the start of the New Year and seven of eight games overall. Tonight, his matchup is good as any of his recent games.
The Pelicans are 25th in scoring defense, allowing 117.1 points per game. Of that average, they are surrendering 45.3 PPG to shooting guards and small forwards.
Much of that damage comes from the perimeter where they are giving up 14 three-pointers per game, six of them being to shooting guards and small forwards.
Additionally, New Orleans is without top defender Herb Jones for the foreseeable future.
LaVine already scored 27 points in New Orleans this season back in October. That cleared his scoring line for that game, and tonight we will need another point.
He has also scored 25 points in four of his last five games against New Orleans, including games of 32 and 39 points.
Another one tonight will extend his 30-point streak and cash this prop as well.
Pick: Zach LaVine Over 27.5 Points (-115)
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Suns vs. Hawks
These two teams met five days ago in Phoenix. The Suns shot 58% from the floor to win by a score of 123-115, and the Hawks haven't played since.
So Atlanta will be well rested and motivated to get revenge tonight. Hawks coach Quin Snyder has had ample time to adjust to the Suns' hot-shooting. Phoenix has made 47% of its field goals on the season.
This marks the Suns' third game in four days, and their sixth game in the last nine days.
It's their first away contest in a week. Phoenix has lost 10 of its past dozen road games.
The Suns also haven't won in Atlanta in more than 10 years.
Pick: Hawks +3.5 (-110)
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Cavaliers vs. Pacers
By Nick Parsons
I'm expecting a high-scoring battle in this one, and the No. 1 reason for that is because Cleveland is looking to avenge a 108-93 home loss to the Pacers in their last time out.
The Cavs have seen the total go Over the number in eight of their last 10 games when trying to avenge a SU/ATS home loss as a favorite against a divisional opponent in which they were held to 95 or fewer points in.
Indiana is 22-18 and has won six in a row. The Pacers have seen the total go Under in five straight, but note that looking back at the trends, Indiana has seen the total go Over the posted number in four of its last five after playing to three or more straight Unders in a row.
With both teams likely to push the pace like I believe they will, the Over is my top play for tonight's contest.
Pick: Over 232.5 (-110)
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Kings vs. Bucks
The Sacramento Kings seek to close out an unbeaten road trip and extend the league's longest winning streak when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.
The Kings have won seven games in a row, including at Boston and Chicago, to start their current three-game trip.
The Kings are a totally different team under Doug Christie."When I was with the Kings, we played a similar style: super fast," he explained, "So you as a coach have to be cognizant of how to approach practice. I just try to observe, keep my ear to the street, get a good feel for who they are and what they need more than anything, and get myself out of the way."
The Kings are well-rested and healthy with Fox back in the lineup. Take the points with Sacramento.
Pick: Kings +2.5 (-115)
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