NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (1/9)
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a total of eight games on the schedule, including a nationally televised game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic at 7:00 p.m. ET. We will avoid that game and won’t make a pick for the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers 10:30 p.m. ET contest either.
With the terrible wildfire situation in Southern California, Wednesday’s NHL game between the Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena was canceled. That’s the same venue the Lakers play, so word later today could come down that Thursday’s game is postponed.
Let’s build a bankroll as we continue into the New Year with our best NBA picks for Thursday, January 9th.
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Thursday’s Best NBA Picks
NBA odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All NBA picks are for 1 unit
Toronto Raptors (+810) at Cleveland Cavaliers (-1350) | O/U 234.5 (-110/-110)
The Raptors (8-29) hit the road for Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Thursday night against the Cavaliers (32-4).
Cleveland is 19-1 straight up (SU) in 20 home games and has picked up 11 straight victories since December 13th. That includes a 129-122 victory on Wednesday night as a 3-point favorite as the over (231.5) cashed in a highly-anticipated and marquee game versus the Thunder. Can the Cavaliers bring the heat with no rest against an opponent in a non-marquee game?
The Cavaliers are 6-1 SU and 5-2 against the spreads (ATS) in seven games this season when playing on no rest. The over is 5-2 in seven games on no rest, including 4-0 in the past four instances. As a double-digit favorite, the Cavs have failed to cash in the past two tries, including Sunday’s 115-105 win over the Charlotte Hornets as a 16-point favorite. Cleveland is 1-3 ATS in the past four games when favored by 10+ or more points.
The Raptors are coming off a 112-98 setback at New York as a 12.5-point underdog as the under (232.5) cashed. They have failed to win or cover in three in a row. Toronto has dropped 14 of their past 15 games since December 5th, while going just 1-7 ATS in their past eight outings.
Cleveland has dominated this series with three straight wins and covers since February 10th, 2024, while the under is 6-3 in the past nine meetings in the series. In Cleveland, the Cavs have won three straight meetings, while going 2-0-1 ATS in those games, with Toronto’s last win at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse coming on December 23rd, 2022. The under has cashed in three straight meetings in Cleveland.
However, let’s back the Raptors catching double digits on the road against a Cavaliers team that will have trouble bringing the intensity after a super fun and exciting game against Oklahoma City. Cleveland will win, but this is an awfully big number. We’ll go low, too, based on the series trends.
Picks: Raptors +15.5 (-112) & Under 234.5 Points (-110)
Atlanta Hawks (+215) at Phoenix Suns (-260) | O/U 238 (-108/-112)
The Hawks (19-18) and the Suns (16-19) tangle at Footprint Center in Phoenix in what might be the nightcap in the NBA depending on the status of the Lakers game.
Atlanta has won four of the past five meetings in this series, while also going 4-1 ATS in those outings. Phoenix won the most recent meeting in the Valley of the Sun on March 21st, 2024, as the Suns won 128-115 as a 9-point favorite as the over (227) cashed.
The Hawks are coming off a 124-121 victory in Utah on Tuesday, but they missed as a 5.5-point favorite as the over (239.5) cashed. The win halted a three-game losing streak, but Atlanta is 0-4 ATS. The Hawks have been an over machine lately, going 5-1-1 in the past seven games, while cashing at a 7-2-1 clip in the past 10 games.
Atlanta has rolled up 117.3 points per game (PPG) to rank sixth in The Association while hitting at a 46.4% clip from the field. Defensively, the Hawks do not offer very much resistance, allowing 119.8 PPG, while teams are hitting 47.4% from the field and 38.4% from behind the three-point line. The latter ranks 30th in the NBA.
The Suns are coming off a disappointing 115-104 loss at Charlotte as a 4.5-point favorite as the under (225.5) cashed. Phoenix is in the midst of a 2-8 SU slide while going 4-11 ATS in the past 15 contests, while the under has cashed at a 7-0-1 clip in the past eight outings.
The Suns are at least healthy again, with only SF Royce O’Neale (ankle) out for Thursday’s game. While the Hawks have a slew of players listed on the injury report, including F Jalen Johnson (shoulder), who is out, PG Trae Young (Achilles) is probable and expected to go.
Take Atlanta catching the points. The number is a little high for the total here, especially based on the trends for Phoenix lately. Also take the under, as sportsbooks have adjusted the number too high.
Picks: Atlanta Hawks +6.5 (-108) & Under 238 Points (-112)
Daniel E. Dobish is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Daniel, check out his archive and follow him @danieledobish.