NBA Predictions Immediately: Finest Bets and Participant Props

The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. I will be providing my greatest bets and props to the gamers right here within the NBA every time attainable, and I will additionally sometimes write options about large information shaking up the league. So, be sure you take a look at my work all through the season. With that, let’s get into a number of the greatest NBA bets and NBA participant provides for Thursday, January 2. Additionally be sure you take a look at the Picks web page (linked under) earlier than beginning the video games. I generally add pictures all through the day.

MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on January 2nd

Immediately’s NBA Finest Bets – January 2

Los Angeles Clippers & Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder – 8:00 PM EST

I thought-about taking the Below on this matchup, as each groups are wonderful defensively. Oklahoma Metropolis is first within the league in adjusted defensive ranking (105.0) and Los Angeles is sixth (109.5). Nonetheless, I had a nasty feeling in regards to the complete this yr, so I really feel slightly higher about getting factors with the Clippers. The reality is that there’s a relationship between the performs. If this recreation finally ends up being down-scoring, Los Angeles ought to have the ability to keep away from defeat by 10 or extra factors.

Dealing with Oklahoma Metropolis is unquestionably slightly scary. This workforce is stressed defensively. And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is totally unguardable within the half court docket. However the Clippers have some nice defenders, to allow them to not less than make the star work for his buckets. They have to have the ability to do job defending everybody. One match to observe is Ivica Zubac vs. Isaiah Hartenstein. The Thunder large man is a menace as an offensive participant, however Zubac usually does job of cleansing up the glass when Los Angeles is on protection. He has an enormous physique and may have the ability to forestall second possibilities.

The Clippers are additionally 19-16-1 towards the unfold as a 6.5 to 12 level underdog on the street below Ty Lue. They’re additionally 41-29 ATS when coming off a recreation by which they scored 100 or fewer factors, which occurred in a street loss to the Spurs. Nonetheless, I will be shocked if Regulation cannot get his guys again on monitor. Los Angeles can be 5-4 ATS when going through groups that permit capturing percentages of 43.0% or worse below Lue, so his workforce covers after they get right into a defensive battle. And nearly as good as Oklahoma Metropolis is with regards to protection, the workforce is simply 12-12 ATS below Mark Daigneault when going through groups that common 9.0 or extra per recreation. The Thunder can endure from intense strain on the ball.

Betting: Clippers +9.5 (-110)

Immediately’s NBA Participant Props – January 2

Brooklyn Nets & Milwaukee Bucks – 8:00 PM ET

I have been to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s play just a few instances this season, however the worth hasn’t been proper recently. Effectively, Antetokounmpo’s 2.5 steals and mixed blocks are again at +140 odds. So, I lit it once more. Antetokounmpo could have had two steals and no blocks on Tuesday, however he averaged 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per recreation in December. He additionally had three blocks and one steal when going through the identical Nets workforce on December eighth. Antetokounmpo additionally had not less than three “arrows” in 5 straight video games earlier than failing to take action towards Indiana. He has simply joined as a defender this season, as his 3.9% block price is the third highest he has recorded in his 12-year profession. Though his steal price is not as excessive as you want, he nonetheless poses a menace to take the ball away at any second. Opponents are additionally blocking extra Brooklyn pictures than all however three different groups this yr, and the workforce additionally has a really excessive turnover price. After all, the Nets have made modifications to their workforce, so these stats may very well be resulting from some large modifications. However I would nonetheless like Antetokounmpo to fill out the defensive stat sheet.

Guess: Antetokounmpo Over 2.5 Steals + Blocks (+140)

Portland Path Blazers & Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 p.m. ET

Over the past two video games, Anfernee Simmons is averaging 23.5 factors, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds per recreation. Simmons additionally averaged 18.6 factors, 5.7 assists and a couple of.8 rebounds per recreation within the month of December. He did so regardless of two video games by which he struggled, scoring lower than 10 factors in every (towards the Clippers on December 3 and towards the Jazz on December 26). Nonetheless, Simmons has largely been lighting up groups recently, and he is profiting from Portland being with out Jerami Grant. The Blazers want some gamers to be aggressive and chase their very own pictures, and Simmons has by no means been shy about that. Effectively, Simmons will now face a Lakers workforce which will wrestle to defend the perimeter. So, Los Angeles is a matchup available between rival level guards.

I do know Simmons solely had 14 factors, 4 assists and one rebound when he final performed for the Lakers, however he ought to be extra engaged and aggressive this time round. This has been a troublesome season for Simmons, however he’s doing properly now. He has to really feel assured, and a assured participant tends to be harmful below the brilliant lights of the Crypto.com Area.

Guess: Simmons over 27.5 factors + rebounds + assists (-105)

Parlays, Teasers, Late Added Performs, In-Season Futures

6-Level Teaser – Pacers +7.5 vs. Warmth and Timberwolves +10.5 vs. Celtics (-125 – 2 models) – The Pacers face the Warmth, who performed final evening. I believe they will win this recreation outright, however I am simply asking them to remain shut. Contemplating what we have seen out of Indiana recently, the workforce ought to have the ability to do exactly that. Miami has loads of issues, and Rick Carlisle will make the most of them. Within the second recreation, I’ll attain +10.5. The Celtics have by no means been dependable with regards to profitable by double digits, and the Timberwolves have all the time tended to play elite groups properly below Chris Finch. That is very true at residence. Minnesota is a significantly better workforce than individuals assume, and it is a likelihood for the group to show that. The Celtics is also with out Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Each are questionable.

Warriors ML (-148 – 1.5 models) vs. 76ers -Joel Embiid is more likely to be with the Sixers, however will Paul George play on the second evening of a back-to-back? Philadelphia performed an intense recreation towards Sacramento final evening, so the workforce may select to be cautious with its injury-prone star. General, I anticipate all non-Embiid Sixers gamers to be very drained right here. So, we simply want some luck right here, as this play may have little likelihood if Stephen Curry is absent. He is questionable tonight. However it seems to be like it is going to be there, and that is the place Golden State ought to have the ability to get again into the win column.

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2024-25 NBA report: 142-142-1 (-0.37 models)