Best NBA Bets | Expert Picks, Predictions for Monday, Jan. 8
The NBA season rolls on with a relatively small six-game slate on Monday, Jan. 8 and our Buckets crew is back to preview all the action with their Best NBA Best Tonight: Expert Picks, Predictions for Monday including bets for Rockets vs. Heat, Suns vs. Clippers and more.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:00 p.m. | Bulls Team Total Over 111.5 |
  | 7:30 p.m. | Rockets +5 and Moneyline |
  | 10:30 p.m. | Clippers 1H -3 |
| 10:30 p.m. | Clippers -5.5 |
Bulls Team Total Over 111.5 at Hornets
7:00 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Matt Moore
No Gordon Hayward or PJ Washington for the Hornets tonight. The Hornets defense is terrible and their opponent team total differential average is 11 this season.
We have a Bulls team that has solid vibes and playing cohesively. I don't want to play the over in the game due to the possibility of the Hornets bottoming out offensively. The Hornets are really banged up right now. I think the Bulls should be able to put up a big number.
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Rockets +5 and Moneyline at Heat
7:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Jim Turvey
I don't have the number this high, but I am also targeting the moneyline here because I think this is a Rockets comeback spot. I could see Heat to take the first half and the Rockets will storm back.
The Heat's net rating by quarter goes like this, 1st +9.6, 2nd +5.7, 3rd +.7 and 4th -11.5. The Rockets are 20-14 against the spread in the fourth quarter. Keep an eye on a live bet opportunity if the Rockets trail or a reverse same game parlay of Heat to win the first half and Rockets to win the game.
Underdogs that cover this season have won outright 64% of the time, so depending on the spot, if you are going to take the spread inside a couple possessions, you might as well take the moneyline for long-term ROI.
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Clippers First Half -3 vs. Suns
10:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA TV
The line seems to me like they don't know if Kevin Durant is going to play the second night of this back-to-back. For me, it is more about how the Clippers have been playing.
The Clips are coming off a loss to the Lakers last night so I think they will come out fired up in the first half. They have been playing good ball of late, and without KD, I have this first half number up to -5.
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Clippers -5.5 vs. Suns
10:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA TV
By Jim Turvey
I figured this line would've opened around 4-4.5 and of course with the chance of KD out, I think this line could climb to as high as eight points.
I am with Andrew in a lot of this. The Clippers are really hitting their stride and have the best net rating over the last two weeks, according to Cleaning the Glass. Ever since James Harden has gotten comfortable in the offense, LA has turned a corner.
The Suns, because of the lineup construction, already lack depth and they have been missing some bench players of late like Nassir Little and Eric Gordon. I like how this Clippers team matches up against the Suns.
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