X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Free NBA Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (1/2/22)

Trae Young - Atlanta Hawks

Thunder Dan's top NBA betting picks and best bets for today's NBA games on 1/2/22. His free picks against the spread, teasers, parlays, and NBA player props.

It was a forgettable slate of picks last Friday as I went 0-5 and even dropped the parlay and teaser. Oof! But it's a new year and a rather large slate of games for a Monday night (11) and I'm anxious to turn things around and start off the year with a bang!

I'm only picking sides and totals in this article three days a week, so consider subscribing to my sports betting substack here as I put out some DFS stuff and props on most evenings from Monday through Friday, too.

In this article, I'll be providing my favorite picks against the spread, game totals, parlays, and teasers for NBA games that tip-off at 7:00 PM EST on Monday, January 2nd. Let's take a look at the games that I am targeting with wagers tonight in the NBA!

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 30% off using code NEW. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

 

Thunder Dan's NBA Best Bets

  • 2022-2023 Overall Record: 78-88
  • Against the Spread: 38-40
  • Game/Team Totals: 11-22
  • Moneyline Parlay: 10-17
  • Teasers: 18-8

 

NBA Betting Picks: Against the Spread

New Orleans Pelicans (+4) @ Philadelphia 76ers (228 total)

The Pelicans just beat this Sixers team last week and survived a huge Embiid game to do it. Now Embiid is questionable tonight and I want to jump on this spread before it moves any further. The Pels are playing some great basketball right now and if the Sixers end up without Embiid, they (the Pelicans) will surely move to favorites in this game. I am putting a half unit on the NOP money-line, too, and even if Embiid does end up playing this game should be close and competitive with the Pelicans having a great shot at pulling off a tough road win.

The Pick: NOP +4  (-110), NOP ML (half unit at +145)

 

Chicago Bulls (+4.5) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (222.5 total)

Ugh, I said I wouldn't pick the Cavs anymore but here we are again! They're only 4.5-point favorites here in a rematch of Saturday's matchup with the Bulls. They held on for a one-point win on Saturday night, despite not having Darius Garland or Evan Mobley. While Garland is doubtful, it's looking like Mobley should return for this one and the Cavs have been phenomenal at home. I look for them to win this one a little more convincingly and move to 3-0 against the Bulls this season.

The Pick: Cavs -4.5 (-110)

 

Denver Nuggets (-2) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (233.5 total)

Denver has won 10 of their last 12 games and the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, continues to play at an elite level every night. Jamal Murray was rested last night and the Nuggets still dispatched a good Celtics team without him. Denver is really rounding into form and getting great production from Aaron Gordon and they got Michael Porter Jr. (a huge difference-maker when healthy) back in the mix, too. Minnesota continues to underwhelm this season and without KAT, I don't give them much of a chance here in this one. This spread is far low for how well Denver is playing, I think they cover here with ease.

The Pick: Nuggets -2 (-110)

 

Atlanta Hawks (+1.5) @ Golden State Warriors (237 total)

I already mentioned the Pelicans as underdogs worth a money-line bet and I'm still undecided on whether or not I want to back the Lakers at +100 against Charlotte as it would be purely be a bet on LeBron carrying the rest of that sad roster against a poor opponent.

But I do like the Hawks here at +100 quite a bit. The Warriors' bench is very depleted and they are still without Curry and Wiggins in their starting lineup. That leaves a lot of pressure on Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson to carry this offense and while they are both very capable of doing it, they're going to need to shoot the lights out.

The Hawks should have an advantage on the interior as the Dubs have almost no one left to help Draymond Green and Kevon Looney, while the Hawks can deploy John Collins, Onyeka Okongwu, and Jalen Johnson. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are a formidable combo and Bodgan Bogdanovic is starting to play well as their third scorer, too. Give the Hawks here as road dogs!

The Pick: Hawks ML (+100)

 

Sports Betting Promo Offers

Featured Promo: Get any Betting Premium Pass for 30% off using code NEW. Win more with exclusive betting picks from proven winners across 9 sports! Find optimal bets with our Betting Picks Tool and Bet Weighting Tool and follow along in our VIP chat rooms! Go Premium, Win More!

 

NBA Betting Picks: Game and Team Totals

Phoenix Suns (+1.5) @ New York Knicks (217.5 total)

No more betting on the Suns, BUT they do get two important pieces back today in Landry Shamet and Cameron Payne. That should help their offense tremendously and take some of the pressure off Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton, and Mikal Bridges. The Knicks could also get Jalen Brunson back here, too, which would improve their offense as well as really help their depth by allowing them to shift Immanuel Quickley back the bench. This is the lowest total on the slate (even lower than Miami-LAC) and I just don't get it because both of these teams can score and I don't view either team as elite defensively.

The Pick: OVER  217.5 (-110)

 

NBA Betting Picks: Parlays and Teasers

MONEYLINE PARLAY (ultra-conservative today)

POR + BKN + DAL = (-118 DK)

UNDERDOG TEASER (buying 5 points)

LAL +6.5, MIA +7.5, NOP +9, ATL +6.5 = (+190 DK)

I usually post all my favorite props in our RotoBaller Discord on a nightly basis - if you're not a premium member for NBA content you can change that by signing up here!

We just added a new player prop tool that is available to our NBA premium and betting premium members, too!



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!

NBA DFS News and Injury Alerts




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Freddie Freeman

Hits 350th Career Home Run Monday
Cole Ragans

Fans 11 In Dominant Start Monday
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Injures Hamstring On Monday
MLB

Nationals-Guardians Postponed On Monday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Will Begin Rehab Assignment In May
Jackson Merrill

Now Set To Return On Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Placed On Injured List
Shota Imanaga

Goes On 15-Day Injured List
Royce Lewis

Reinstated From 10-Day Injured List
Willy Adames

Goes Yard Twice In Win
Nolan McLean

Promoted To Triple-A
Trey Sweeney

Has A Career Day At The Plate
Austin Riley

Blasts Two Home Runs On Sunday
Kerry Carpenter

Tallies Four Hits, Drives In Five
Masyn Winn

Exits With Ankle Sprain
Maikel Garcia

Homers Twice In Victory
Jackson Holliday

Blasts Two Homers
Randy Arozarena

Exits Early On Sunday
Shota Imanaga

Suffers Hamstring Strain
Tanner Bibee

Makes Early Exit On Sunday Due To Cramping
Shota Imanaga

Exits Early On Sunday
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP
10
11
11
18
12
19
13
20
14
23
15
25
16
33
17
36
18
39
19
Max Fried NYY
42

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF