The work week opens with an eight-game slate featuring the best team in the NBA. Boston owns the top record and is in Dallas taking on a healthy Mavericks team. The surging 76ers look for their sixth straight win as they host the 8-34 Spurs with Greg Popovich still somehow coaching this team. Not to be outdone, the Cleveland Cavaliers look to continue their amazing run with an eighth consecutive win, taking on the Magic. Yes, it’s Monday, but there’s money to be made! Here are the best NBA side and total bets for Jan. 22.
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Best NBA Side Bet: Cavaliers-Magic
The Cavaliers certainly didn’t live up to preseason expectations as they stumbled out of the gate. Things have changed, to say the least, and they look to mount an eighth straight win when they head to Orlando. With the improved performance comes improved numbers against the spread, sitting 10-3-1 against the number heading into tonight. This stretch has seen improved play on both sides, with an emphasis on defense. That’s been the key for a top-5 unit on every given night, combined with any offensive explosion usually led by Donovan Mitchell.
It’s important to focus on the turnaround because during that rough stretch the Cavs lost to the Magic by 10. Now a different team, it’s safe to say Cleveland is out for same season revenge. The Cavaliers have fared well in these spots, covering six of seven spots when seeking revenge from a loss earlier in the year. They are undefeated against teams with a 55% winning percentage or less — the Magic are 53% at 23-20.
Orlando comes in after hammering the Heat — also a revenge game for the Magic — and saw Franz Wagner return in shining fashion. There’s some uncertainty about whether he will play on the second leg of a back-to-back, hurting the Magic’s chances even further. Cleveland is waiting on Caris LeVert but is generally healthy outside of preexisting injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley. We ride the league’s No. 2 scoring defense as the Cavs win this outright.
Best NBA Side Bet: Cleveland Cavaliers -1.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
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Best NBA Total Bet: Bulls-Suns O/U 229.5
The Suns come in scorching following their fifth straight win last night, holding off the Pacers in a low-scoring affair. Things shouldn’t change much on the second leg playing back-to-back games as the Chicago Bulls are in town. The trends would indicate the over since the Bulls are 5-0 to the over in the last five against the Suns and the same number when Chicago has a day’s rest but its opponent does not. Even the Suns come in 4-1 to the over in their last five home games against teams with a below-.500 record, again trending towards the over.
The total is still a tad too high to jump on that many points, mainly expecting the Bulls to carry their share. Under normal circumstances, mainly rest, these games have gone over a lower total. Those games were not all played in Phoenix either with the Suns taking on a much faster team like the Pacers. That’s enough to warrant the under play, especially since OddsShopper found us a rare hook at under 229.5 — every other book is 229 or less. The Suns can win this game without needing to put up 130, as the Bulls aren’t going to make it easy with the ninth-best scoring defense in the NBA. Go under.
Best NBA Total Bet: Under 229.5 (-120 at DraftKings)
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