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Free NBA Picks Today for Sunday, January 17th, 2021

Wrapping up the week with 12 teams taking the court! Who is going to take home the W today?

Free NBA Picks Today for Sunday, January 17th, 2021
Picks & Predictions
Sun 17th January 2021

We have six NBA games on the schedule for Sunday, January 17th, and these are our betting picks and predictions. Make sure you continue to have a read on below, you won’t miss a beat with our free NBA picks today!

New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics – 1PM ET

Following a bright start to the new NBA season, the New York Knicks suffered five consecutive defeats, and they are coming to TD Garden as underdogs. The offense was a problem for New York recently as they failed to score more than 109 points in any of those five losses.

Julius Randle led the team in a 106-103 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Immanuel Quickley dropped a career-high 23 points with five boards and four dimes, while RJ Barrett had 20 points and two blocks. 


The Boston Celtics are struggling with injuries and COVID-19, but that didn’t affect their results. They are at the top of the Eastern Conference with an 8-3 record, and they plan to stay there after Sunday’s encounter with the Knicks.

Unlike their rivals, the Celtics are on a five-game winning run. Jaylen Brown led them to a 124-97 victory over the Orlando Magic with 21 points and eight assists. Semi Ojeleye added 18 points and six boards, while Jeff Teague, Payton Pritchard, and Marcus Smart all contributed offensively. 

Another win for the Celtics looks like a real possibility as the Knicks lack the final touch.

NBA Pick – Boston Celtics (-331)
NBA Spread – New York Knicks +7.5 (-105)
Game Totals Pick – Over 212.5 (-110)

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Washington Wizards – 2PM ET

*This game was postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*

Chicago Bulls @ Dallas Mavericks – 3PM ET

The Chicago Bulls will be playing their sixth road game in a row, and are hoping to avoid the fifth straight defeat. The latest 127-125 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder came even though the Bulls had a +22-lead in the third quarter. OKC responded and secured a narrow win in overtime.

Zach LaVine was able to lead the team with 35 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Coby chipped in with 22 points, nine boards, and seven dishes, while Wendell Carter Jr. recorded a double-double of 16 points and game-high 11 rebounds, along with game-high three blocks. 

The Dallas Mavericks were on a four-game winning streak, but Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks stopped them from getting the fifth straight victory. As usual, Luka Doncic led the Mavs with a near triple-double display of 28 points, game-high 13 assists, and nine rebounds (later confirmed as ten rebounds).


However, that wasn’t enough to avoid a 112-109 loss. Tim Hardaway had 22 points and six boards, while Kristaps Porzingis posted a double-double of 15 points and ten rebounds, along with a couple of rejections. 

It should be a close game, but the Mavericks are looking like a more quality side at the moment.  

NBA Pick – Dallas Mavericks (-301)
NBA Spread – Chicago Bulls +7 (-105)
Game Totals Pick – Over 227 (-110)

Philadelphia 76ers @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 7PM ET

*This game has now been postponed due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, a new date has not been confirmed at this time*

The Philadelphia 76ers are playing the second of back-to-back games after losing to the Memphis Grizzlies 106-104 on Saturday. Although the result might sound narrow, the Grizzlies pretty much controlled the game for the entire second half and deservedly got a win.

Shake Milton led the Sixers with 28 points, Tobias Harris scored 21, while Ben Simmons needed one more assist to record a triple-double. He finished the tilt with 11 points, game-high 16 rebounds, and a game-high nine assists. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder snapped a two-game losing skid with an overtime 127-125 win over the Chicago Bulls. They came back into the game despite losing 22 at one point in the third quarter to force OT and book a victory in the end.


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a double-double of 33 points and game-high ten assists, along with five boards. Luguentz Dort contributed with 21 points, eight rebounds, and career-high six steals, while Kenrich Williams and Isaiah Roby scored 14 points apiece. 

We expect a close game that could be decided by a single possession, so it could go either way.

NBA Pick – Oklahoma City Thunder (+130)
NBA Spread – Oklahoma City Thunder +3 (105)
Game Totals Pick – Under 223 (-110)

Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets – 8PM ET

Probably the most exciting game of Sunday’s program will be played between the Northwest Division rivals. The Utah Jazz are on a four-game winning run and they didn’t allow more than 92 points in the last three.

They destroyed the Atlanta Hawks 116-92 in the most recent victory by dominating the boards (53-41) and limiting the Hawks to just five three-pointers made from 28 attempts. Donovan Mitchell led the team with 26 points, four dimes, and three steals.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 17, Jordan Clarkson had 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Rudy Gobert recorded a double-double of 15 points and game-high 13 boards, along with game-high four blocks. 


The Denver Nuggets are playing in hot and cold form after the opening 12 games (6-6). They returned from a three-game Atlantic Division road trip with two wins in their pocket and defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-104 at Ball Arena.

One of the most serious MVP candidates this season, Nikola Jokic, notched his fifth triple-double of the campaign with 23 points, game-high 14 rebounds, and game-high ten assists, along with three thefts. Jamal Murray added 17 points, nine boards, six dishes, and two steals, while Will Barton also scored 17. 

Another close game that could go either way, making it extremely hard for the bettors to predict. We’re giving an advantage to the home team, though.

NBA Pick – Denver Nuggets (-115)
NBA Spread – Denver Nuggets -1 (-105)
Game Totals Pick – Over 220.5 (-105)

New Orleans Pelicans @ Sacramento Kings – 9PM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans lost each of the last five games and dropped to a 4-7 record. They will stay in California for the third consecutive game as they take on the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.

The Pels didn’t have a chance against the reigning champions Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and lost 112-95. They committed even 20 turnovers opposite the Lakers’ eight, while they scored miserable 37 points in the second half.

Zion Williamson returned from a one-game absence to lead his team with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, while a former Laker Brandon Ingram posted 20 points, five assists, and a couple of steals.


The Sacramento Kings lost four of the previous five games, including the most recent one to the Los Angeles Clippers. That game was a blowout, as the Clips dismantled the Kings 138-100.

Scoring 138 points against the league’s weakest defense is not a hard thing to do these days. Marvin Bagley led Sacramento with 20 points and five rebounds, while Richaun Holmes followed him with 17 points and five boards.

With the two struggling teams facing each other, it’s going to be hard to predict the outcome. However, we’re going with the Pelicans, who have a more talented roster.

NBA Pick – New Orleans Pelicans (-125)
NBA Spread – New Orleans Pelicans -2 (-105)
Game Totals Pick – Over 229.5 (-105)

Indiana Pacers @ Los Angeles Clippers – 10PM ET

The final game on the schedule for Sunday is an inter-conference clash between the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers. Indiana responded to a couple of losses to the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings with a pair of big wins over the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers.

The Pacers’ defense was phenomenal in those victories as it allowed 95 and 87 points, respectively. In a 111-87 win over the Blazers, Malcolm Brogdon led the team with 25 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals.

Domantas Sabonis posted a double-double of 25 points and game-high 15 boards, along with five dimes and two thefts, while Myles Turned also recorded a double-double of 11 points and ten rebounds, along with game-high four rejections.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been in the right mood lately as they recorded three consecutive wins, including the latest blowout against the Sacramento Kings, 138-100. Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 27 points, six assists, and four rebounds, Paul George was right behind with 26 points and four boards, while Marcus Morris scored 18. 


Indiana will be short handed on Sunday, so we’re going with the clippers to win.

NBA Pick – Los Angeles Clippers (-240)
NBA Spread – Los Angeles Clippers -6 (-105)
Game Totals Pick – Under 222.5 (-110)

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.

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