The NBA regular season resumes with a relatively light slate this Sunday, with a total of only 6 matchups scheduled for today. However, our staff of basketball experts still dug into the latest odds and identified all the best betting value on the board for Sunday's contests.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 5 NBA picks for today's matchups. Continue below for our NBA best bets and predictions for Sunday, January 5.
NBA Best Bets Today, Predictions, Picks, Odds: Sunday, January 5
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 6 p.m. | |
| 6 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
| 8:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Pelicans vs. Wizards
By Alex Hinton
These teams played Friday night in New Orleans, resulting in a 132-120 Pelicans victory. CJ McCollum led the way with 50 points, which matched his career high. However, tonight, I am backing his teammate, Trey Murphy III.
Though this season has not gone expected at all for the Pelicans after making the playoffs last season, Murphy has stepped up with increased opportunities. The 24-year-old is averaging 20.6 points per game this season, nearly a six-point increase from his previous two seasons. He has scored 24 points in four of his past eight games, going for 28, 26, 35, and 34 points in the four overs.
Friday's game is not included on that list as he scored just 17 points on 5-of-19 from the field. However, I am betting on the bounce-back because of his volume. Murphy has attempted at least 16 field goals in seven of his past eight games. He also is averaging nearly 16 field goal attempts per game this season while shooting 44.6% from the field.
Washington is allowing the most points per game and the third-most 3s per game this season. If Murphy receives his regular volume of shots tonight, I would feel good about his chances of scoring 24 points in this rematch.
Pick: Trey Murphy Over 23.5 Points (-109)
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Hornets vs. Cavaliers
By Bill Marzano
The 7-26 Hornets are struggling to say the least. They travel to take on the Cavaliers today, who own a record of 30-4 on the season and are easily the best overall team right now in the NBA.
These two teams couldn't be playing more different basketball. The Hornets are riding a nine-game skid and have dropped 17 of their last 18 overall. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are riding a nine-game winning streak and have won 17 of 18 home games.
The Cavaliers have won both meetings this year, winning 128-114 on Nov. 17 at home, and then a 116-102 road victory on Dec. 7.
LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller are both nursing injuries for the Hornets, and unlikely to be on the court once again, hurting this team's depth and ability to matchup against the Cavaliers, who are one of the top scoring teams in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Hornets rank second-to-last in scoring, averaging just 105 points per game, only ahead of the Magic.
The Cavaliers are now 24-9 ATS this year; during their latest nine-game winning streak, they won all nine games by double-digits while averaging just under 129 points per.
The Cavaliers have way too much talent on this team, and a ton of depth, going up against a depleted and horrible Hornets squad. Lay the big number with Cleveland.
Pick: Cavaliers -15 (-110)
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Pelicans vs. Wizards
By Nick Parsons
This is just a great overall situational play in my opinion.
New Orleans just beat Washington by a score of 132-120 at home and got 50 points from CJ McCollum. Suffice it to say, I'm not expecting lightning to strike twice for the veteran here on Sunday night.
Following their latest victory, the Pelicans have now seen the total go over in six straight games. Nevertheless, New Orleans has still seen the total go under the number in nine of their last 12 after playing to five or more straight overs in a row.
Also note that Washington has seen the total dip below the posted number in eight of its last 12 instances when trying to avenge a SU/ATS road loss against an opponent.
With the majority likely quick to back the over expecting another high-scoring game, we're going full-on contrarian mode here and betting on these teams to play a much more defensive battle.
Pick: Under 234.5 (-110)
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Kings vs. Warriors
By Joe Dellera
The Warriors are on a back-to-back today and one player that should see some extra run is Dennis Schroder.
The Warriors indicated that Jonathan Kuminga suffered a “significant” ankle injury, so we can expect him to miss this game. Without Kuminga, Schroder scores 4.25 more points per 100 possessions than with him so far during his time with the Warriors.
Schroder can fill it up, and has seen his scoring rise as he’s gotten more comfortable in Golden State. He has now scored 11, 12, 15, and 17 in his last four games and should get expanded run tonight.
I’ll grab over 11.5 points.
Pick: Dennis Schroder Over 11.5 Points (-105)
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Kings vs. Warriors
Dennis Schroder has gone over this line in three straight outings, and has finished two games with exactly 11 points in his last six.
Schroder and the Warriors will most likely be without Jonathan Kuminga today after he sprained his ankle and it has been already described as "significant" prior to an MRI.
Schroder's creativity will be more essential in the offense. While he hasn't provided the offensive burst some may have envisioned given what he had been doing in Brooklyn leading up to this trade, a matchup against the Kings tonight with no Kuminga suggests the Warriors will need the ball in his hands more often.
Pick: Dennis Schroder Over 11.5 Points (-105)
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