NBA Betting Guide: NBA Best Bets for January 13, 2022

NBA has a short slate of five games but those five games include two national games that are sure to excite. 

Here's our daily NBA betting guide for January 13, 2022.

Golden State Warriors @ Milwaukee Bucks (7:30 p.m., TNT)

Favored Team and Spread: MIL -1.5

Total Points: 223.5

This starts off the NBA Thursday slate with a bang! Two of the contenders for the NBA Championship will square off in Milwaukee on TNT. Golden State took an L to Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. Warriors are going to be without Draymond Green (calf) and James Wiseman (knee), Jonathan Kuminga is probable for tonight.

For the Bucks, they took not one L but two in Charlotte as they lost 114-106 in game one and 103-99 in the second game of the Charlotte back to back. This is a game I would go out on a limb to say the Bucks NEED to win. Yes, to stop their two game skid but also to avoid falling closer to the play in tournament in the East. The next closest team is the 76ers, and they are 1.5 games behind in the conference standings. Milwaukee's inactives are George Hill (COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols), Jrue Holiday (ankle), and Brook Lopez (back surgery).

Minnesota Timberwolves @ Memphis Grizzlies (8 p.m.)

Favored Team and Spread: MEM -4.5

Total Points: 231

The Memphis Grizzlies are at home taking on the Minnesota Timberwolves and this one is something I take over on points which for me is very rare. The total has gone over in 5 of Memphis' last 6 games against Minnesota so that's something I tend to look at. Not to mention that the offense for Memphis has absolutely blown up in the past ten games (all of which they were winners of). In their past ten games, the Grizzlies are averaging 117.5 points scored as a team per game. This is more than enough evidence on its own for me to pick Memphis in this game.

Los Angeles Clippers @ New Orleans Pelicans (8 p.m.)

Favored Team and Spread: NO -3.5

Total Points: 215

The Clippers are without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George which for all intents and purposes makes that team click. So that hurts big time, the Clippers are also traveling to New Orleans for this game so that's something as well to keep in mind. The Clippers are 7-9 on the road. So this is all stacking New Orleans favor, so it seems. This is a game where I'll take LA to win here and cover (LAC +3.5 is what that would look like in a sportsbook) and I will also take the under on points.

Oklahoma City Thunder @ Brooklyn Nets (8:30 p.m.)

Favored Team and Spread: BKN -7

Total Points: 218.5

This is a game where Brooklyn will miss Kyrie Irving (vaccine rules in New York City) his story this season is very well documented to this point. However an inactive Kyrie shouldn't mean much of anything against an Oklahoma City squad who has had an awful season to this point. So, for Brooklyn, I'll take them and with the points here. Not a hard choice to make given their roster. For the point total, I'll take the under on that due the fact that Brooklyn is without Kyrie.

Portland Trail Blazers @ Denver Nuggets (10 p.m., TNT)

Favored Team and Spread: DEN -10.5

Total Points: 212

As it stands, this is a match up of two playoff teams, that's if the playoffs started today. However, there's still a lot of games left to be played this season, so count on that to change. Portland is still missing a lot of firepower, I mean A LOT. Lillard, Nance Jr., and McCollum are all out. Plus, the fact that this game is in Denver, fatigue does come into play because of the altitude of the arena. It's no wonder Denver is a 10.5 point favorite to win this game. I'll take Denver, give me the points and the over on points.