Our free NBA picks continue to pick winners and we have another batch of games from all of tonight’s action. We keep filling up bank accounts by picking spread, money line and game totals winners for every game, every night!
Philadelphia 76ers @ Detroit Pistons – 8PM ET
Another game in which both teams are playing the second game of B2B. The Philadelphia 76ers responded to a three-game losing run with four wins in the last five games, including the Atlantic Division battle over the Boston Celtics, 122-110 on Friday.
The game was pretty balanced in the first half, but Philadelphia scored 73 points in the second 24 minutes and deservedly secured a victory. Joel Embiid recorded a double-double of 38 points and game-high 11 rebounds. Tobias Harris chipped in with 23 points and eight boards, while Ben Simmons posted a double-double of 15 points and game-high 11 assists.
Turn the corner and fight ↪️💪😤 pic.twitter.com/UxbCWMmhqT
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 23, 2021
The Detroit Pistons remained at the bottom of the East with the third consecutive loss, this time to the Houston Rockets at home. It was a narrow 103-102 defeat, but a deserved one, considering the Pistons shot 37.9% from the floor.
Jerian Grant led the team with 21 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Wayne Ellington scored 18, while Delon Wright added season-high 18 points with six boards, and game-high three thefts.
Philadelphia is a clear favorite here, and we’re backing them to win.
NBA Pick – Philadelphia 76ers (-357)
NBA Spread – Philadelphia 76ers -8.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 220.5 (-110)
Miami Heat @ Brooklyn Nets – 8PM ET
The Miami Heat snapped a three game losing skid with two wins over the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors, but lost the second of B2B games to Toronto on Friday. They shot only 22.2% from downtown and scored season-low 81 points in a 101-81 loss.
Kendrick Nunn led the Heat with 22 points, five assists, four rebounds, and game-high three steals. Bam Adebayo had 14 points, eight boards, and four dishes, while Goran Dragic added 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
The Brooklyn Nets were on a four-game winning streak, but lost B2B games to the Cleveland Cavaliers, to the surprise of many. Brooklyn’s Big 3 lost the opening game in double overtime, while the Nets weren’t even close in Friday’s defeat; 125-113.
Steve Nash’s side lost the game in the third quarter, when they allowed even 37 points. Kyrie Irving led them with season-high 38 points and five assists, while James Harden posted a double-double of 19 points and game-high 11 dimes, along with five rebounds.
Brooklyn will have Kevin Durant back for this one, so we’re giving an edge to the Nets here.
NBA Pick – Brooklyn Nets (-227)
NBA Spread – Brooklyn Nets -5.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 228.5 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans @ Minnesota Timberwolves – 8PM ET
The New Orleans Pelicans are in a disastrous form of seven losses in the last eight games. Despite having enough talent to be a rightful playoff contender, the Pels are struggling right now and are at a 5-9 record, with only the Timberwolves below them in the Western Conference standings.
New Orleans lost both B2B games to the Utah Jazz, and allowed a season-high 129 in the latest one. Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 27 points, Brandon Ingram followed him with 23, while Lonzo Ball ended the tilt with 14 points and five assists.
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) January 23, 2021
The Minnesota Timberwolves are at the bottom of the WC with a 3-11 record, but that was expected from them in the offseason. They are on a four-game losing skid, and it seems that this negative streak will continue on Saturday.
Malik Beasley led the Wolves in a 116-98 loss to the Atlanta Hawks with 17 points, four assists, and two steals. Jarrett Culver scored 15, while Naz Reid had 13 points, team-high eight rebounds, and team-high four blocks.
One negative streak will have to stop on Saturday, and we believe it’s going to be New Orleans’. Minnesota is 2-10 when playing as an underdog.
NBA Pick – New Orleans Pelicans (-294)
NBA Spread – New Orleans Pelicans -8 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 223.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Lakers @ Chicago Bulls – 9PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers are the team with the best record (12-4) in the entire NBA, and will be looking to stay that way after Saturday’s clash with the Chicago Bulls.
The Lakers were on a five-game winning streak before a shocking loss to the Golden State Warriors. However, they returned to winning ways against one of the potential rivals in the NBA finals – the Milwaukee Bucks.
LeBron James displayed another commanding performance with 34 points, game-high eight assists, and six rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 23 (7-10 from beyond the arc), while Anthony Davis contributed with 18 points, team-high nine boards, six dishes, and two blocks.
The Chicago Bulls are playing their best basketball of the season as they won the last three games, including the most recent one over the Charlotte Hornets, 123-110. They scored 15 triples opposite Charlotte’s seven and recorded even 11 more assists (33-22).
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 25 points, game-high nine assists, and six rebounds. Lauri Markkanen followed him with 23 points, while Coby White had 18 points, eight dimes, and two thefts.
The Bulls are playing well, but their little positive run will end on Saturday.
NBA Pick – Los Angeles Lakers (-400)
NBA Spread – Chicago Bulls +9 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 227 (-110)
Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks – 8:30PM ET
The derby of the Southwest Division and state of Texas is coming for the Houston Rockets after they snapped a three-game losing run with a tight 103-102 road victory over the Detroit Pistons.
It was an ugly game to watch, with both teams shooting below 40.0% from the floor, but Houston managed to get an edge. Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 20 points. P.J.
Tucker had 15 points, seven rebounds, and two rejections, Sterling Brown added 14 points and eight boards, while David Nwaba ended the clash with 13 points, seven rebounds, four dimes, two blocks, and two steals.
Sterling Brown was clutch tonight!
🏀 14 PTS pic.twitter.com/hRpKKr9I7H
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 23, 2021
The Dallas Mavericks ended a three-game losing skid with a pair of victories over the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs. Luka Doncic posted a near triple-double in a 122-117 win over San Antonio with 36 points, nine rebounds, and game-high nine assists.
His fellow All-Star Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points, eight boards, and two blocks, Tim Hardaway scored 21, while Jalen Brunson contributed with 16 points, six dishes, and four rebounds.
We like Dallas the better in this one, and they should exploit the fact that Houston is playing the second of B2B with an already shorthanded roster.
NBA Pick – Dallas Mavericks (-500)
NBA Spread – Dallas Mavericks -10 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Under 22.5 (-110)
Denver Nuggets @ Phoenix Suns – 9PM ET
The second of B2B H2H duels will be played on Saturday, and the Nuggets will look to take this one as well following a 130-126 overtime victory on Friday. Denver trailed for three quarters, but returned in the final 12 minutes and forced the OT, despite hitting only six three-pointers opposite Phoenix’s 17.
The Nuggets kept the turnovers to single digits (16-9), which proved to be decisive in this one. Nikola Jokic led his team with a double-double of 31 points and team-high ten rebounds, along with eight assists and three steals.
Gary Harris scored 19, Jamal Murray had 18 points, team-high nine dishes, seven boards, and three thefts, while Monte Morris and Will Barton scored 17 points apiece.
The Phoenix Suns controlled most of the game but left empty-handed in the end, and will be motivated to close this mini-series with a win. Devin Booker led the Suns with 31 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
DeAndre Ayton posted a double-double of 27 points and game-high 13 boards, Mikal Bridges recorded a double-double of 24 points and ten rebounds, while Chris Paul chipped in with 11 points and game-high 15 dimes.
Probably the closest game of Saturday’s program, but we’re going with the Suns this time around.
NBA Pick – Phoenix Suns (-105)
NBA Spread – Phoenix Suns -1 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 218.5 (-110)
Golden State Warriors @ Utah Jazz – 9PM ET
The Golden State Warriors were looking to record the third straight win but they disappointingly lost to the New York Knicks. That result came as a shock given they beat the Spurs and Lakers prior to that clash. Golden State was woeful from beyond the arc (23.7%) and from the floor in general (38.4%).
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 30 points, four assists, and two steals. Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and team-high seven rebounds, while James Wiseman put 15 points and eight boards.
The Utah Jazz are in the hottest form of all 30 teams at the moment as they won each of the last seven games. They are currently at an 11-4 record and are hoping to climb up to the top of the Western Conference by the end of the month.
.@epaschall has had a whole lot of highlight slams on his way to 1,000+ career points.
💪 || #DubNation pic.twitter.com/mf1cM7KcB5
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 22, 2021
Utah was quite efficient in the latest 129-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, making 17 triples and scoring even 70 points in the opening half. Donovan Mitchell has been able to lead the Jazz with 36 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Mike Conley added 20 points, six dishes, and game-high three thefts, Jordan Clarkson scored 19, while Rudy Gobert posted a double-double of 12 points and team-high 11 boards, along with game-high four blocks.
Utah seems unstoppable at the moment, and we don’t think the Warriors have the quality to stop them on Saturday.
NBA Pick – Utah Jazz (-250)
NBA Spread – Utah Jazz -6.5 (-110)
Game Totals Pick – Over 225 (-110)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of Bet365.
