The NBA regular season is back in full swing with a loaded slate of games this Saturday, with a total of eight matchups on the docket scheduled for today, featuring a trio of excellent nationally televised showdowns on NBA TV, as Timberwolves vs. Heat takes center stage at 5:00 p.m. ET, followed by 76ers vs. Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET, and then we'll close out the evening with Celtics vs. Clippers at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for five of today's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Saturday, January 3.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Saturday, January 3
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 10 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. | ||
Hornets vs. Bulls
By Joe Dellera
The Hornets play their second game in as many days tonight, now facing off against the Bulls.
One player that has thrived on back-to-backs is Hornets' rookie, Kon Kneuppel.
Kon is averaging 19.8 points per game in back-to-back sets, clearing this line in 5-of-6 games with a median output of 20.
The Bulls have been a favorable matchup for him too. He scored 12 in his first game against them but 33 in his most recent game.
The Bulls have a miserable defense and play at the second-fastest pace in the league.
The Bulls allow a top-10 rate of above the break three-pointers, and Kon is a sniper from long range, while also being able to attack the rim.
Kon is scorching hot of late, hitting this prop in eight of his last 10 games, and he’s been relatively unaffected by playing with Ball, Miller, and Bridges.
Pick: Kon Kneuppel Over 18.5 Points (-115)
| | | | |
Trail Blazers vs. Spurs
By Bet Labs
This NBA system focuses on identifying road teams that maintain strong performance despite a heavy schedule.
During the regular season, these teams play frequently — four or more times in the past six days — but still have at least one day of rest before their next game.
Facing travel fatigue and consistent competition, they are often undervalued by oddsmakers, particularly when the line moves slightly against them from open to close.
The market tends to overreact to perceived exhaustion and recent workload, inflating spreads and creating value on disciplined, well-conditioned teams that thrive with limited rest.
These situations reward squads with rhythm and continuity, especially on the road where focus and execution often outweigh fatigue narratives.
Pick: Trail Blazers +8.5 (-115)
| | | | |
Celtics vs. Clippers
By Jim Turvey
Zubac returns for the Clippers on Saturday, but I'll be on his under in what is a tough matchup for the big.
The Celtics allow the 3rd-fewest rebounds + assists per game this season, thanks in part to the 2nd-slowest pace in the league.
There's also the matter of Zubac returning from five games missed with an ankle injury.
That is not a massive amount of time, and ankle injuries are common, but I am projecting Zubac for 28 minutes in part because of how well Brook Lopez played without Zubac. The Clippers won all five games, and Lopez started to look a lot more like himself.
It would not surprise me to see Zubac sit around 30 minutes, even when fully healthy, with Lopez getting more minutes off the bench than he had been getting before Zubac's injury.
Add it all together, and I'll take the under on Zubac's rebounds + assists on Saturday.
Pick: Ivica Zubac Under 11.5 Rebounds & Assists (-105)
| | | | |
76ers vs. Knicks
By Bet Labs
This NBA system identifies value on the Under in division games where the total drops despite the public leaning Over (40% or less of bets).
The reverse movement of the line suggests sharp action is backing the Under.
Division familiarity often leads to tighter, lower-scoring games, enhancing the edge.
Pick: Under 232.5 (-115)
| | | | |
Jazz vs. Warriors
By Bet Labs
This NBA system focuses on regular season matchups where struggling road underdogs offer hidden value.
Teams on short losing streaks both straight up and against the spread often become undervalued in the market, as public sentiment turns sharply against them.
These spots tend to produce inflated lines that fail to reflect the small margins separating most teams, especially when the visiting side has already been in the role of the underdog for consecutive games.
Such teams frequently respond with higher energy and focus after a string of poor performances, particularly when traveling, where distractions are limited, and motivation is heightened to end a skid.
This system capitalizes on market overreaction to recent losses, finding edges where perception diverges from reality and resilient road teams quietly bounce back to outperform expectations.
Pick: Jazz +12.5 (-110)
| | | | |
