The NBA tips off the weekend with six games on tap for Monday night. Plenty of the league’s best teams are in action tonight, including the Bucks hosting of the Jazz and the Clippers on the second leg of a back-to-back. The Pacers and Celtics will battle for the second straight game, and the Heat return to Miami after a rocky road trip. There’s still one more team with plenty of value to tail, so let’s look at the best NBA bets today, choosing one side and one total for Monday, Jan. 8.
Best NBA Bets Today: Picks, Side Bets & More
Best NBA Side Bet: Rockets-Heat
There’s nothing quite like returning home to South Beach after a road trip, no matter what line of work. The Heat return to Miami after dropping three of their last five on the road, the most recent loss to the Suns in blowout fashion. Meanwhile, the Rockets are staying alive on the right side of the playoff divider, but still struggling to win on the road. The line was at 4.5 but has since moved, down to 3.5 at some books. Thanks to OddsShopper, we found +4 still alive at BetRivers.
The best reason to take the Rockets to at least cover this tight spread is their comfort with the pacing. Both of these teams are playing down tempo — bottom third of the league for each. For a worse-off team that’s used to playing fast, a game like this might confound opponents. The Rockets are comfortable with a more methodical approach, taking time with each possession. That’s where the Heat not having Jimmy Butler hurts them. They are without a closer, not just at the end of games but at the end of possessions. The Rockets are live to win this outright, but take the 4 with their shaky road record.
Best NBA Side Bet: Rockets +4 at BetRivers Sportsbook
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Best NBA Total Bet: Thunder-Wizards O/U 247.5
There is panic in the air after the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder dropped their second game in a row. It’s mostly overreaction for two reasons: They’ve still won seven of 10, and they face a repulsive Wizards team in Washington. If anyone is expecting some offensive breakout because the Wizards are so bad and disinterested in playing defense, hold on. Oklahoma City definitely needs a win and should get that as double-digit road favorites, but two concrete outcomes heavily favor the under in this game.
The Wizards aren’t talented enough to not turn over the basketball, and the Thunder thrive on points off turnovers. It’s going to be suffocating at times for Washington, limiting the Wizards ability to score. Oklahoma City comes off a 115-point output in a loss to the Nets in Brooklyn and has the Heat coming up after tonight’s game. It’s easy to get lost in this one facing an awful opponent. Even if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren try to bury the Wizards in the first half, things should slow down just to get out with a win.
The total is high even if the Wizards pull out the impossible. The Thunder can struggle from the floor and still win in a lower-scoring game too. All signs point to the under. Thanks to OddsShopper, we get a nice break at ESPNBet where other books are already at 246.5 for this total.
Best NBA Total Bet: Thunder-Wizards Under 247.5 (-110 at ESPNBet)
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