The NBA regular season is back in full swing with a loaded slate of games this Friday, with a total of 10 matchups on the docket scheduled for today, featuring an excellent nationally televised doubleheader on NBA TV, as Thunder vs. Grizzlies takes center stage at 8:00 p.m. ET, followed by Bucks vs Lakers at 10:00 p.m. ET.
Our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for six of tonight's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Friday, January 9.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Friday, January 9
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Pelicans vs. Wizards
By Joe Dellera
The Pelicans face off against the Wizards on Friday night, and I’m locking in on Zion Williamson.
The Wizards just traded away CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert for Trae Young, and I always expect that type of personnel change to impact the team’s rotations and defensive communication, even if they weren’t the best defensive players.
That’s even a slight knock to the worst defense in the league that plays at the sixth-fastest pace.
As for Zion, he’s had three rough games in a row, but still put up 22 last time out against Atlanta.
The key for me is that Zion absolutely dominates the interior, and this is a spot where the Wizards struggle. They cannot defend the hoop.
Other players like Giannis, Randle, and Jalen Johnson who can get to the rack also had very strong games against the Wizards.
This line is high compared to his full-season performance, but the matchup is excellent.
Pick: Zion Williamson Over 23.5 Points (-125)
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76ers vs. Magic
We’re getting to the point where the Magic have been so brutal against the spread that we’re going to start getting a bargain on this team on a routine basis.
This spread should be closer to Magic +1, in my opinion. I may add more to my position at a better price, depending on which way this line moves.
Pick: Magic +3 (-110)
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Knicks vs. Suns
By Bet Labs
This NBA spread betting system is built on the idea that strong home teams with consistent rebounding form and stable scoring patterns tend to deliver reliable spread performances when the market prices them within a reasonable moneyline range.
By focusing on home teams with solid ATS results in their own building, a sustained run of strong offensive rebounding across five games, and a recent scoring trend that sits just above league norms without being inflated, the system targets teams whose advantages are real rather than driven by short bursts of variance.
Limiting the sample to regular season games ensures predictable motivation and rotation patterns, while requiring the team to be at home captures the benefits of familiarity, rest structure, and crowd support.
When these factors align and the moneyline range stays between -130 and -250, the favorite tends to be priced fairly and capable of controlling the game through rebounding and steady offense, creating a profitable long term position.
Pick: Suns +1.5 (-110)
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Hawks vs. Nuggets
By Bet Labs
This NBA system focuses on games where visiting teams are slight underdogs. These matchups often feature public bias toward home favorites, especially when the spread is small and perceived as manageable.
When the road team draws little betting support and the overall betting volume is below the daily average, it signals that the market has tilted too far toward the home side.
These conditions frequently lead to inflated lines that undervalue competitive visiting teams capable of keeping games close or winning outright.
Midseason scheduling advantages, tighter rotations, and underdog motivation all contribute to the visitor’s ability to outperform expectations when public sentiment and pricing diverge.
Pick: Hawks +1 (-115)
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Kings vs. Warriors
By Bet Labs
This NBA system targets first half moneyline opportunities where strong teams often start slow against inferior opponents.
During the regular season, underdogs with modest Pythagorean ratings face elite opponents with high win records who may be pacing themselves or conserving energy early in games.
These matchups frequently occur when the superior team is in cruise control, relying on second half adjustments rather than urgency in the opening quarters.
Meanwhile, the underdog typically plays with early intensity and effort, creating value in short term situations before talent disparity takes over.
By isolating first halves against top competition, this system leverages motivational imbalance and situational focus to identify profitable early game edges.
Pick: Kings First Half Moneyline (+320)
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Bucks vs. Lakers
By Bet Labs
This NBA system targets road teams positioned for outright wins when undervalued by the market during regular season play.
Teams entering a road stretch after consecutive away games often build rhythm and cohesion that sharpens their focus, especially when facing opponents with modest win streaks.
When the opponent’s previous game came against a weaker team and they enter this matchup slightly overconfident, the road team benefits from a motivational edge.
Moneyline ranges in this zone capture underdogs or small favorites that have the talent to compete but are priced at a discount due to travel fatigue or perception bias.
Historically, these teams capitalize on opponents riding short winning runs by controlling tempo and playing with higher urgency, producing profitable upsets and solid returns over time.
Pick: Bucks Moneyline (+140)
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