Free NBA Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (1/4/22)

This week, the schedule lines up nicely for this article, which I do every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday as we have a bunch of games on each of those nights, including 12 games in the association tonight. Monday was a mixed bag of results as the Cavs were my only team to cover (and it took an incredible comeback and overtime to get there), but both the teaser and parlay hit, allowing me to break even for the night.

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. Props have been hot lately, 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 Wednesday, January 4th. Let's take a look at the games that I am targeting with wagers tonight in the NBA!

Thunder Dan's NBA Best Bets

• 2022-2023 Overall Record: 81-92
• Against the Spread: 39-43
• Game/Team Totals: 11-23
• Moneyline Parlay: 11-17
• Teasers: 19-8

NBA Betting Picks: Against the Spread

Brooklyn Nets (-5) @ Chicago Bulls (228 total)

The Nets have won 12 straight games and 16 of their last 17. This run they are on has been simply incredible and it's proof, I suppose, that talent is going to win out in the end more often than not. Kyrie and KD are a formidable duo and no one has been able to keep both of them in check on any given night. The real key to their run, however, has been the excellent play of some of their role players, including Nicolas Claxton (an elite rim protector averaging 2.5 blocks per game), Ben Simmons (fits in perfectly alongside the other scorers and gives them solid defense, length, and play-making), and a resurgent T.J. Warren (anchoring their bench unit and scoring in bunches).

The Bulls beat the Nets earlier this year, but that feels almost like ancient history. In more recent history, they just lost a pair of games to Cleveland and allowed the Cavs to come back from down 18 points, giving up 71 points to Donovan Mitchell.

The Bulls' defense is atrocious. They have no one to stop people in the paint or anyone who can check a guard on the perimeter, either. DeMar DeRozan does everything he can, but he simply doesn't have enough help and Chicago feels pretty overmatched here. Five points aren't much for this Brooklyn team as they have been dispatching foes by double digits quite often during this streak. The Nets are also 7-3 as road favorites this year, covering the spread in five of those wins.

The Pick: Nets -5  (-110)

Portland Trail Blazers (+1) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (222.5 total)

It's no secret, I have liked the Blazers since the preseason and picked them as a dark horse team in the West to make the postseason and maybe even go on a little bit of a run into the later rounds. When this team is healthy, they are a very good offensive team and an above-average defensive unit. Damian Lillard is doing his usual Dame thing, but he has a better-supporting cast this year than in the past as the acquisitions of Josh Hart and Jerami Grant have finally solved Portland's long-standing issue on the wings. Nurkic is a beast in the paint and a skilled passer who can help get the ball to open shooters and Anfernee Simons can get buckets to help take the pressure off Dame.

Anyways, back to tonight's game specifically. Portland is 12-9 ATS on the road this year and they've been a strong team to bet on all season long. Going against the Wolves bit me the other night, but in a game that is basically a pick 'em, I still have a hard time not picking Portland as I simply view them as the better overall team, especially with Minnesota still missing their lifeblood, Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Pick: Blazers ML (-110)

Atlanta Hawks (+1) @ Sacramento Kings (244 total)

I was fortunate to have the Kings on the money line last night at plus odds and to survive as Utah big man Lauri Markkanen hit what looked like a game-winning three at the buzzer but it was later waved off and the Kings survived. Now, they host the Hawks here tonight and we have another pick 'em game where we are getting basically the same odds on either team.

The Hawks lost a heartbreaker in overtime on Monday to the Warriors, and I had them on the money line that night, too. They're still without Clint Capela but should have the rest of their regulars. I don't think I can go back to Atlanta, they haven't been a very good road team and I think the Kings present some tough matchups for them, especially Sabonis in the paint.

The Kings are playing their second game in two nights, but they're 3-2 this year in that situation so it's enough to really move the needle for me. I really like this Kings team and how they are gutting out some tough wins. They beat this Atlanta team earlier this season on the road pretty handily, and I think they can pull out a win here at home tonight, too.

The Pick: Kings ML (-115)

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NBA Betting Picks: Game and Team Totals

No Totals Bets today; in fact, a lot of these totals still weren't out as of 7:00 AM EST this morning!

NBA Betting Picks: Parlays and Teasers

MONEYLINE PARLAY

PHI + GSW + MEM + BKN = (+265 DK)

FAVORITE TEASER (buying 4 points)

NYK -5, BKN -1, MEM -3.5 = (+170 DK)

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