There have six NBA games on the schedule for Saturday, January 16th, with one game postponed due to COVID-19. We’ve got the NBA picks you’ve been craving, so sit back, relax and enjoy!
Houston Rockets @ San Antonio Spurs – 5PM ET
The two Southwest Division and in-state rivals will open Saturday’s NBA program in a second of back-to-back meetings. The Houston Rockets won that game, which was the first since James Harden’s blockbuster trade to the Brooklyn Nets.
Thank you, @JHarden13. pic.twitter.com/kcrSTts9GE
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 14, 2021
Christian Wood with a double-double of 27 points and game-high 15 rebounds impressed for the Rockets, while he also added game-high three blocks in a 109-105 victory.
Sterling Brown followed him with 23 points, seven boards, and two steals, while Jae’Sean Tate posted the first double-double of his young career as he finished the tilt with 16 points and ten assists, along with five rebounds.
On the other hand, the San Antonio Spurs had a lead for most of the second half, but without a single three-pointer in the final 12 minutes (four attempts), they couldn’t get a win. Keldon Johnson dropped a career-high 29 points and added six rebounds.
Lonnie Walker had 16, but the Spurs lost as their All-Star duo DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge combined for just 24 points. Also, San Antonio shot a miserable 29.0% from beyond the arc, while they trailed Houston in rebounds (49-41).
Still, we think Gregg Popovich’s side will bounce back in this one and make amends for a pale display on Thursday.
NBA Pick – San Antonio Spurs (-270)
NBA Spread – San Antonio Spurs -6.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 219.5 (-110)
Orlando Magic @ Brooklyn Nets – 6PM ET
The Orlando Magic are on a three-game losing streak, and they failed to reach a 100-point mark in all three defeats. In the most recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, they scored just 17 points and allowed 35 in the final 12 minutes, so the big 121-99 loss was inevitable.
Nikola Vucevic continued with his All-Star displays as he recorded a double-double of 28 points and game-high 13 rebounds, while he added five assists. Aaron Gordon contributed with 21 points and game-high eight dishes, along with five boards and two steals.
After the James Harden blockbuster trade on Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets are looking like the most serious contenders in the East. They did lose Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen, and their bench is not as strong as it was before the trade, but it seems they are going all-in to win the ring this season.
THE BEARD IS A BROOKLYN NET.
WELCOME TO BROOKLYN, JAMES HARDEN. pic.twitter.com/kFgVEd8qtU
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 14, 2021
Brooklyn won the last two games over the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks, which perhaps came as a surprise given they were seriously shorthanded. Kevin Durant led the team in a 116-109 victory over the city rivals Knicks with 26 points, six dimes, and two blocks.
Joe Harris added 15 points, while Bruce Brown recorded a double-double of 15 points and career-high 14 rebounds. The Nets kept the turnovers to a minimum (only six), had seven assists more (29-22), and hit 16 triples opposite New York’s 11.
We’re backing the Nets to win, but this one could be closer than the bookies expect.
NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-450)
NBA Spread – Orlando Magic +9.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 231 (-110)
Charlotte Hornets @ Toronto Raptors – 7:30PM ET
Another second of B2B games. The Charlotte Hornets are looking for revenge after losing the opening clash 111-108, but once again, James Borrego’s team will be an underdog.
Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 23 points, five assists, and two steals. P.J. Washington posted a double-double of 20 points and game-high 11 rebounds, while LaMelo Ball also recorded a double-double of 14 points and 11 dimes, along with six boards, and three thefts.
The Toronto Raptors are perhaps the biggest disappointment in the NBA early in the season, and with a 3-8 record at the moment, they must improve quickly if they want to compete for the playoffs.
Elite company.
Congrats, @Klow7! #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/b6gl3YoVEd
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 15, 2021
Chris Boucher impressed with a double-double of a career-high 25 points and ten rebounds. Fred VanVleet had 17 points and eight assists, while Kyle Lowry contributed with a double-double of 16 points and game-high 12 dimes, along with six boards and two steals.
Another win for the Raptors is on the cards, and it should get them back on track.
NBA Pick – Toronto Raptors (-350)
NBA Spread – Charlotte Hornets +8 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 219.5 (-110)
Detroit Pistons @ Miami Heat – 8PM ET
The weakest team in the entire NBA are traveling to Florida to take on the injury-plagued Miami Heat, with a chance to perhaps make an upset. Still, the Pistons have the worst 2-9 record in the league and lost five of the previous six games.
They scored just 13 points in the opening quarter in the latest 110-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks and shot below 40.0% from the floor. Once again, Jerian Grant led Detroit with 22 points, Svi Mykhailiuk scored 18, while Blake Griffin chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
…with a smile on our faces 😁 pic.twitter.com/KqDIjygxsn
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 14, 2021
The Miami Heat are going through a rough period, as they have been missing a lot of their key players, including Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Goran Dragic. After suffering three losses in four games, the Heat dropped to a 4-6 record and are desperate to get a win on Saturday.
Duncan Robinson led the team in a 125-108 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers, Gabe Vincent was excellent with 21 points and career-high eight assists, while Tyler Herro ended the tilt with 17 points and six rebounds.
Some of Miami’s injured players will be back for this clash, so we’re backing the Heat to win here.
NBA Pick – Miami Heat (-198)
NBA Spread – Detroit Pistons +2.5 (-103)
Game Totals Pick – Over 217.5 (-103)
Philadelphia 76ers @ Memphis Grizzlies – 8PM ET
The Philadelphia 76ers responded to a three-game losing skid with a pair of B2B victories over the Miami Heat, but we should mention that the Heat had a lot of troubles with injuries. Shake Milton scored a season-high 31 points, seven assists, and two steals in a 125-108 win. Tobias Harris added 18, Tyrese Maxey had 15, while Ben Simmons recorded a triple-double of ten points, 12 assists, and ten rebounds.
The Memphis Grizzlies are going through the best period of the season as they are on a three-game winning run, defeating the Nets, Cavs, and Timberwolves. They destroyed Minnesota in the last quarter and scored 38 points (allowed just 17) to secure a 118-107 comeback win.
Goin’ for a 3-0 road trip 🐻
🆚 @Timberwolves
⏰: 7pm
📺: @GrizzliesOnFSSE
📻: @929espn @FDSportsbook | #GrzNxtGen pic.twitter.com/mI0NEIfGwW— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 15, 2021
Jonas Valanciunas dominated the paint in a win with a double-double of 24 points and game-high 16 rebounds, along with two blocks. Grayson Allen scored 20, while Brandon Clarke contributed with 19 points, seven boards, and game-high three steals.
Memphis’ Friday game vs. Minnesota is postponed, so the Grizzlies will have enough time to prepare for this encounter with Philly, and we think they can get a win.
NBA Pick – Memphis Grizzlies (+124)
NBA Spread – Memphis Grizzlies +3 (-109)
Game Totals Pick – Under 221.5 (-110)
Indiana Pacers @ Phoenix Suns – 9PM ET
*This game was postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*
Atlanta Hawks @ Portland Trail Blazers – 10PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks have been in hot and cold form since the start of the season. They currently stand at 5-5 after losing four consecutive games but managed to bounce back with a big 112-94 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
It was Atlanta’s best defensive display of the campaign as they allowed just 33 points in the second and third quarters combined. Trae Young led the Hawks with 26 points and game-high eight assists, Brandon Goodwin and De’Andre Hunter scored 15 points apiece, while Cint Capela posted a double-double of 12 points and game-high 11 boards.
The Portland Trail Blazers were in a positive run of four straight wins, but they displayed the worst performance of the season in a 111-87 defeat to the Indiana Pacers.
29.3 points per game
5.5 assists per game
50% from the field@CJMcCollum‘s amazing play continues 🙌@Carmax | Player of the Week pic.twitter.com/zucbFHyLV3— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 15, 2021
They shot just 36.8% from the floor and scored a miserable ten points in the second quarter. CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard were the only ones in the right mood offensively as they scored 22 points each.
We’re backing Portland to respond in this one and get a win as they proved to be more consistent than the young Atalanta’s team.
NBA Pick – Portland Trail Blazers (-194)
NBA Spread – Portland Trail Blazers -4.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 235.5 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
