The NBA regular season is back in action with an excellent slate of games this Sunday, with a total of six matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for five of today's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Sunday, January 18.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Sunday, January 18
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 9:30 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. Rockets
By Joe Dellera
The Rockets face off against the Pelicans on Sunday as double-digit favorites.
This is a highly favorable matchup for Amen Thompson against a super-soft Pelicans defense.
The Pelicans are bottom of the league in paint defense, especially at the rim. Additionally, they struggle in transition, another area where Amen crushes.
The key here is that Thompson still gets run in blowouts.
When the Rockets win by 15+ points, he still averages 19.8 points per game, and has gone over this line on nine of those 13 occasions this season.
This line of 17.5 is one he’s cleared in 59% of games overall, and he averages 18.5 per game regardless.
Pick: Amen Thompson Over 17.5 Points (-114)
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Nets vs. Bulls
By Bet Labs
This NBA system identifies value conference games where favorites are struggling but still favored by the market.
When a team has recently underperformed yet remains favored, it suggests the betting line reflects long term strength rather than short term results.
These situations often create buying opportunities on quality teams that are due for positive regression after a rough stretch.
Facing familiar conference opponents adds familiarity and stability to performance expectations, while moderate spreads and balanced totals keep volatility in check.
This approach capitalizes on the overreaction to recent form, betting on strong teams to rebound once market sentiment has dipped too far against them.
Pick: Bulls -6.5 (-110)
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Hornets vs. Nuggets
By Bet Labs
This system builds on the idea that Denver’s altitude creates a natural fatigue advantage when opponents arrive with limited rest and a recent stretch of road games.
In both the regular season and postseason, teams coming into Denver with only one day off and a multi-game road streak often struggle to maintain pace and efficiency in the second half, where the physical impact of playing in elevation becomes most visible.
By isolating situations where the Nuggets face opponents who are both travel-worn and unable to reset between games, the system targets a consistent performance edge rooted in fatigue, environment and the difficulty of adjusting quickly to Denver’s style and conditioning demands.
Pick: Nuggets -1.5 (-110)
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Trail Blazers vs. Kings
By Bet Labs
This NBA moneyline system assumes that the betting market and casual bettors slightly overvalue home court in tightly lined games, creating quiet value on the visiting team when it is a small underdog.
By requiring that the team we back is on the road and that the game is in the regular season, the system focuses on meaningful contests where both teams are motivated and talent levels are close.
Limiting the spread percentage and the point spread itself to a narrow band between zero and roughly 6.5 points targets matchups where the road side is clearly competitive but still priced as the less likely winner, largely because the public prefers the perceived safety of a short home favorite.
In these situations, the visiting underdog often has comparable talent, fresher legs in certain schedule spots, or matchup advantages that are not fully captured in the line, so consistently siding with that road team aims to exploit these small but repeatable inefficiencies in how the market prices home advantage.
Pick: Trail Blazers Moneyline (+125)
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Raptors vs. Lakers
By Bet Labs
This NBA system captures regular season games where visiting teams show renewed energy and focus after a disappointing home loss.
When a team transitions from playing at home to the road following a poor result, motivation and effort tend to rise, particularly in non-conference matchups where travel can reset rhythm and concentration.
Teams with a solid overall record often channel frustration from a narrow defeat into improved play away from home, benefiting from reduced pressure and sharper preparation.
By targeting quality teams coming off home losses in unfamiliar settings, this approach leverages the psychological edge of redemption and the tendency for capable squads to perform better when seeking to rebound on the road.
Pick: Raptors Moneyline (-125)
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