As predicted, Joel Embiid went on a rampage last night, but we fell short with the Clippers total. The Wednesday slate provides plenty of value, including a team getting points at home — pending it doesn’t trade its best player. The Boston Celtics host the lowly Spurs, the Knicks are hoping to get back Jalen Brunson and a primetime matchup between the Lakers and Mavericks — all part of nine NBA games. Here are the best NBA side and total bets for Wednesday, Jan. 17!
Best NBA Bets Today: Picks, Side Bets & More
Best NBA Side Bet: Heat-Raptors
This is a massive letdown game for the Miami Heat. They are as healthy as they’ve been in a while, Jimmy Butler‘s return solidifying that, and are a menace with a healthy Bam Adebayo. Looking at the other side, there’s been a drop with the Raptors after they lost some players, be it to trade or injury. Not having Jakob Poeltl in the middle is a clear pathway for Adebayo to do whatever he wants, rebounding and scoring. Toronto hasn’t won since its starting center went down, losing its last four games.
Bettors are racing to the window to take this short Heat line because it doesn’t make any sense on paper. Not much translates from paper to court in the NBA, especially at this point of the season. If Pascal Siakam isn’t traded today, this line will be even more favorable for the Raptors, but even if he does, we see bench and role players stepping up in stints.
Miami is facing a Raptors team that’s found a way to cover six of the last eight meetings and still gets the benefit of a Heat team allowing over 48% shooting from the floor. Miami will sleepwalk through most of this game thinking it can run over a banged-up team missing pieces. Take the Raptors with the 2 points.
Update: Siakam has been traded to the Pacers.
Best NBA Side Bet: Raptors +2 at PointsBet
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Best NBA Total Bet: Bucks-Cavaliers O/U 237
Milwaukee is clearly OK with outscoring and out gunning teams while putting less emphasis on defense, at least this year with the addition of Damian Lillard. It’s like the team morphed into its newest star’s identity, along with having one of the best players in the league in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks are in Cleveland for one of the few teams equipped to slow down Milwaukee. This is an offensive letdown for the Bucks as they feed into the Cavaliers defensive prowess.
Cleveland is on a four-game win streak fueled by its D. Jarrett Allen is a monster in the middle, and the Cavs are doing great in limiting outside shooting. Milwaukee is certainly going to get some buckets tonight, but it won’t be easy — not nearly as easy against most other teams. Cleveland has been on a tear limiting their opponents during this stretch, better than anyone else in the league over this short time. It’s likely to continue tonight at home.
The Cavaliers also won’t be blown out of this game, allowing for more tempo control and playing to the under. Donovan Mitchell leads the offensive attack as the Bucks have no answer for his recent bursts on offense. Take the under here. Every book has the line at 236.5 except for DraftKings and FanDuel, which sit at 237. Thanks to OddsShopper, if it hits 237, we push and everyone else loses.
Best NBA Total Bet: Bucks-Cavaliers Under 237 (-110 at FanDuel)
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