BetQL Editors' NBA Picks For Thursday, Jan. 5

Today's NBA Best Bets

Another day of NBA action means another day of tough decisions for bettors. To help you make the best bets today, the BetQL editors have picked a few of their favorite NBA bets below using key trends, data and picks from the BetQL NBA model.

One trend to note is that the BetQL NBA model is on fire, going 147-112 (58%) combined on spread and total picks rated ⭐⭐ and higher in the last 30 days for a total return of $2,164 on $100 bets! Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NBA bets, plus what the model is projecting for this week's NFL, NHL, and NCAA football and basketball games! Start your free trial today!

Dan Karpuc: Magic +6.5 vs. Grizzlies
The Magic have gone 10-11 SU at home, but have been very solid ATS, going 13-7-1, including 7-2 ATS in their last nine games in Orlando. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have gone 9-9 SU and 6-11-1 ATS on the road. The Magic have gone 9-1 ATS coming off an upset win as an underdog this season (they beat the Thunder as a one-point dog last night) and have also gone 16-8 ATS versus teams that make 46% or more of their shots. Both of these teams played last night and I think Orlando will keep this game close enough to cover at +6.5.

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Lucy Burdge: Grizzlies -6.5 at Magic
The Grizzlies have won and covered the spread in their last four games, while the Magic have failed to cover the spread in three of their last four games. Orlando has also not covered in two of their last three at home, while the Grizzlies have covered in their last two road games so I like the Grizzlies to cover the spread here.

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Kate Constable: Clippers-Nuggets Over 228.5
Denver Nuggets games have resulted in some pretty high totals recently with each of their last four games and five of their last seven going over this number. The last time these two teams met was in late November, and that game finished with only 218 points, but L.A. was without both Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers offense is significantly better with both of those players in the game. Denver also only shot 33% from 3, well below their season mark of 39%, which ranks first in the league.

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Brad Pinkerton: BetMGM NBA OGP Insurance Play of the Day

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Here is my play for today, using the strategy of "middling" the game total (can only lose a maximum of one leg there), and taking the most points on both teams (can only lose one leg here too); you can apply this strategy to any NBA game, any night:

LAC-DEN Over 221.5
LAC-DEN Under 238.5
Clippers +13.5
Nuggets +2.5
OGP odds: +400

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MORE NBA: TODAY’S BETTING GUIDE | PLAYER PROPS

Take advantage of BetQL's free trial and see all of today's best NBA bets, plus what the model is projecting for this week's NFL, NHL and NCAA football and basketball games! Start your free trial today!