Free NBA Picks Today for Friday, January 8th, 2021

Free NBA Picks Today for Friday, January 8th, 2021
Fri 8th January 2021

There are 20 teams in action with 10 games across the league starting with the Western Conference leading Phoenix Suns on the road in Detroit! Our NBA picks have the winners of all 10 games, plus the winners against the spread and whether each game is going over or under.

Can the Utah Jazz break their slump in Milwaukee or will the Bucks continue on their hot streak of double digit victories? We answer that and more below in our NBA picks!

Phoenix Suns @ Detroit Pistons – 7PM ET

Phoenix has started the season on fire, sitting with a 6-2 record and yet to lose a game to a non Pacific Divisional rival. They now start a three game east coast road trip in Detroit against a Piston side that has the worst record in the league, 1-7. 

After two impressive games against Boston, Detroit followed it up losing two games to Milwaukee by a combined 25 points. Jerami Grant had his first 30 point game of the season on Wednesday and is leading this Piston team with 24 points per game. Blake Griffin could only manage nine points and has really been struggling a lot this season. 

Phoenix on the other hand has looked great so far this season, with Devin Booker leading an even approach on offense. On Wednesday night, the Suns beat the Raptors at home by eight points with Booker scoring 24 points and Jae Crowder adding 21 points on 6/9 shooting from deep. 

The Suns had seven players score in double figures and should be too much for Detroit to handle.

NBA Pick – Phoenix Suns (-261)
NBA Spread – Phoenix Suns -6.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 218.5 (-115)

Washington Wizards @ Boston Celtics – 7:30PM ET

Well how many times can Bradley Beal have an incredible individual game but the Wizards still lose? Beal dropped 60 on the Sixers two nights ago but Washington still lost their sixth game of the season.

Things don’t get any easier, having to travel to Boston to take on the inform Celtics. A two point victory over the Heat moved Boston to 6-3 on the season, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both scoring over 20 points again. Tatum led the way with 27 while Brown had 21 and 12 boards with two steals and two blocks. The pair would be wanting more help with just one other player scoring in double figures, but they have been doing enough to win.

On top of Beal’s 60, the Wizards also got 17 off the bench from Davis Bertans and 20 points, 8 boards and 12 assists from Russell Westbrook, who is questionable to play in this one after dislocating his finger towards the end of the loss. 

Boston should be winning, but if Westbrook misses then they could get a big margin in this one. 

NBA Pick – Boston Celtics (-191)
NBA Spread – Boston Celtics -4.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 225 (-115)

Oklahoma City Thunder @ New York Knicks – 7:30PM ET

Knicks fans might be getting a bit ahead of themselves after just eight games so far, but they are playing some really impressive basketball. They now have an opportunity to move to 6-3 when they host the Thunder tonight. 

The Thunder come into this one after getting a payback win over the Pelicans on Wednesday. Last time they played the Pels beat OKC by 33 points but behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 21 points, 9 assists and five steals, the Thunder got up by one point. Darius Bazley contributed 20 points and 12 boards in the win and this young Thunder team continues to be exciting yet inconsistent. 

That is what the Knicks used to be, but they seem to be getting everything together now. After getting down by as many as 18 in the first half, they continually chipped away and ended up running over the top by 12.

Julius Randle continued his insanely good form yet again with 30 points, 16 boards and 7 assists while Austin Rivers had a breakout game off the bench with 23 points on 5/7 from deep and scored 14 straight for the Knicks in the fourth quarter to keep them ahead. 

This could seem like a danger game for the Knicks, facing a struggling side on the back of a massive come from behind win, but New York have some really good pieces that are working together nicely. 

NBA Pick – New York Knicks (-140)
NBA Spread – New York Knicks -2.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 208.5 (-105)

Charlotte Hornets @ New Orleans Pelicans – 7:30PM ET

Charlotte caused the upset two nights ago when defeating the Hawks in Atlanta and dominating the game from the start. They will need a similar defensive effort against a fast paced New Orleans side that has now lost two straight by a combined three points. 

Their most recent loss was by one point to the Thunder despite 29 points from Zion Williamson, a 24 point-11 rebound double double from Brandon Ingram and a 10 point, 11 board, 10 assist triple double from Steven Adams. The Pels have allowed their opponents to score over 110 points in three straight games and are just 1-2 in those games, so will be wanting a better defensive outing against the Hornets.

Charlotte got the eight point win thanks to a career high 44 points from Gordon Hayward. Shooting 15/25 from the field and 10/12 from the line, Hayward had it going all night while LaMelo Ball continued to impress off the bench with 13 points, 8 boards and 5 assists.

Despite their two game skid, the Pelicans are a very impressive side and should be picking up this win at home. 

NBA Pick – New Orleans Pelicans (-245)
NBA Spread – New Orleans Pelicans -6 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 217 (-115)

Orlando Magic @ Houston Rockets – 8PM ET

The Houston Rockets will be winning this one. 

Unfortunate news broke soon after Orlando’s win over the Cavs that Markelle Fultz tore his left ACL and will be out for the remainder of the season. Fultz is another name on a long injury list for Orlando, including starter Evan Fournier.

Despite the injury, Orlando still managed to get the 105-94 victory behind Terrance Ross’ team high 20 points off the bench. After losing two straight the Magic dialed in on defense, keeping the Cavs to an average of 88.5 over their two game series. 

They will need to be at a similar level in order to overcome James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Christian Wood missed their most recent loss to Indiana and is still just questionable for this one, but after starting the season with three games of 33 or more, James Harden has combined for 36 points in his last two on 10/31 shooting.

He will obviously need to fix that up for Houston to have any chance of winning, but John Wall has done an excently job of picking up the slack, scoring 28 points on 60% shooting in the loss. 

While we have highlighted how bad Harden has been in Houston’s last two losses, the Magic are so banged up right now and the Rockets have to eventually get their season going.

NBA Pick – Houston Rockets (-226)
NBA Spread – Orlando Magic +5.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 227 (-105)

Brooklyn Nets @ Memphis Grizzlies – 8PM ET

Brooklyn beat the best team in basketball last night without three starters in Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie is out for the season while Durant is out due to COVID-19 protocols, but Kyrie Irving missed last night due to ‘personal reasons’ and never spoke to coach Steven Nash before the game. He didn’t travel with the team to Memphis, leaving them shorthanded once again. 

The Grizzlies played last night as well, losing by four points to the Cavs, who had lost four of their last five. Memphis kept Cleveland to just 94 points but could only manage 90 themselves, with 18 turnovers not helping their cause. Jonas Valenciunas led the way with 17 and 10 but Dillon Brooks and Kyle Anderson combined for just 21 points on 8/25 shooting in the loss. 

Caris LeVert got the start for Irving and ended up with 22 points, 7 boards and 10 assists in the 13 point win over Philly, but Joe Harris was the hot hand with 28 points off the bench on 6/9 from three. Jarrett Allen had his second straight start for another big performance with 15 points and 11 boards and will be an important piece going up against Valenciunas. 

With both sides on the second leg of a back-to-back we are expecting a slow low scoring affair, but Brooklyn were a playoff team before Kyrie and Kevin came to town and they are proving it without them now.

NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-105)
NBA Spread – Brooklyn Nets +1 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 218 (-115)

Utah Jazz @ Milwaukee Bucks – 8PM ET

After starting 2-1, the Utah Jazz have gone just 1-4 over their last five, most recently losing to Brooklyn and New York in back to back nights. They now travel to Milwaukee to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. 

Milwaukee has won three on the trot by an average of 18.33 points and will be looking to continue their fine form against the struggling Jazz. Wednesday’s 15 point win over Milwaukee saw Giannis score 25 with Khris Middleton contributing 23 points and seven assists while the center rotation of Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis combined for 33 points, 14 boards and six threes. 

Jordan Clarkson led the Jazz in scoring with 19 in their 12 point loss, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 18 points on just 34.8% shooting. The issue for Utah on the second night of a back-to-back was a 44-68 second half and they now have to play their fourth straight game on the road, third in four nights, against a Milwaukee side that is firing on all cylinders.

Milwaukee is just six point favorites in this one but they could be on for another double digit victory here. 

NBA Pick – Milwaukee Bucks (-236)
NBA Spread – Milwaukee Bucks -6 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 231.5 (-105)

Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors – 10PM ET

A rematch of Wednesday night sees the Golden State Warriors try to bounce back against the Los Angeles Clippers. 

The Warriors came into the game on a two game winning streak but no player could get to 20 points and just four scored in double figures. After scoring 92 in his previous two games, Steph Curry was hounded by the Clippers and could only manage 13 points on 29.4% shooting, continuing the streak of the Warriors unable to win unless Curry scores 30. 

The Clippers welcomed Paul George back after an ankle injury kept him out the night before. George and Kawhi Leonard each scored 21 points in the seven point win, while Marcus Morris Sr. played his first game of the season to score 12 off the bench. 

The Clippers won the rebound battle by 13 while shooting 25/25 from the line and there is no reason why they can’t have a similar performance in this one. 

NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (-265)
NBA Spread – Golden State Warriors +6.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 229 (-115)

Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers – 10PM ET

The Lakers lost their third home game of the season last night to be just 2-3 at Staples Center and have to back it up again tonight against the Chicago Bulls. 

Chicago had won two in a row over playoff teams from last season but fell four points short of Sacramento on Wednesday. The Bulls had things tied up heading into the fourth quarter but being on the second night of a back to back showed as they fell by four. Coby White had a big game for Chicago with 36 points on 65.2% shooting and 7 assists while Zach LaVine had 32 and 7 boards.

The issue for Chicago was giving up 128 points and they won’t be able to do that against the Lakers. It will be interesting to see who is on the injury report throughout the day for LA as they are on the second night of a back to back. They would be very disappointed in giving up 118 points to the Spurs and will be looking to put the clamps on in this one.

Dennis Schroder managed just six points in the loss, his lowest total of the season but despite LeBron James and Anthony Davis both having 20+ point double doubles they still fell short. 

The Lakers should be winning this, but there is the worry of players being rested. 

NBA Pick – Los Angeles Lakers (-470)
NBA Spread – Chicago Bulls +9.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 223.5 (-105)

Toronto Raptors @ Sacramento Kings – 10PM ET

The Toronto Raptors dropped to 1-6 on the season following a road loss to the Phoenix Suns and continue their road trip in Sacramento this evening.

The Kings had lost three straight heading into a matchup with Chicago on Wednesday night but managed to get back on the winner’s list with a four point home win. Richuan Holmes had a monster game inside with 24 points on 10/11 shooting, 8 rebounds and 5 assists while both Harrison Barnes and Marvin Bagley scored at least 20. 

The big news for the Kings was that De’Aaron Fox lasted just five minutes before leaving with a hamstring injury and is questionable to play in this one. If he does miss, rookie Tyrese Halliburton will have to shoulder the load against Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet.

In their most recent loss, Lowry had 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists and in the game before VanVleet had 35 points and 8 rebounds, with the two seeming to take turns in who has the better game. Pascal Siakim had his best game of the season with 32 points and nine rebounds in the eight point loss. 

This is a contest between two struggling sides but this feels like the game where Toronto pieces things back together, especially if Fox is to miss. 

NBA Pick – Toronto Raptors (-216)
NBA Spread – Sacramento Kings +5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 225 (-115)

If you are need more news, information and predictions, head over to our NBA hub page for all your basketball needs.

*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of PointsBet.

Tim is a keen follower of all American sports, in particular the NBA and NFL. He has followed both sports for over a decade and would happily sit down and watch every game, regardless of who is playing! No matter the sport, whether it be NFL and NBA or even MLB, NHL, UFC and all sports, Tim covers it from every angle, staying in the loop to bring you the most up-to-date information and the best picks and predictions on the market.