The NBA regular season is back in action with a loaded slate of games this Thursday, with a total of nine matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for seven of tonight's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Thursday, January 15.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Thursday, January 15
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 2 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
Grizzlies vs. Magic
This is going to play out like a movie.
The Wagner brothers are back on the court together in Germany this afternoon, where they grew up watching basketball as kids.
This is going to be a heavyMagic crowd. It should basically be a home game for Orlando.
Never mind the Desmond Bane revenge angle and all of the injuries to the Grizzlies stars, this is an absolute smash spot for the Magic.
Pick: Magic -4.5 (-120)
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Suns vs. Pistons
By Kyle Murray
Fading Cade Cunningham is never a fun thing to do, but this is a brutal spot for him to return after missing a few games due to injury.
Cade will have his hands full against a Suns team that has a tough perimeter defense.
I project Cade for 33.5 points + assists tonight.
Pick: Cade Cunningham Under 36.5 Points & Assists (-115)
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Thunder vs. Rockets
By Bet Labs
This NBA totals betting system is built on the idea that strong traveling teams can drive pace and scoring in matchups where the market leans too heavily toward the under.
By focusing on regular season games outside of division play, the system avoids slower rivalry environments and taps into contests that tend to be more open and less physical.
It targets overs specifically when the betting public and money trends show a clear lean toward the under, creating a contrarian opportunity where expectations are suppressed but conditions for scoring remain strong.
The away team must be early enough in its season to still carry energy and identity, and it must also be coming off a decisive win, a signal that its offense and confidence are functioning at a high level.
When these elements align, strong road teams often set the tone, push pace, and elevate scoring beyond market expectations, making the over more attractive precisely when it is being overlooked.
Pick: Over 222.5 (-115)
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Celtics vs. Heat
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: Heat +2 (-110)
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Bucks vs. Spurs
By Bet Labs
This NBA system focuses on games where struggling road teams face stronger home opponents in non-conference matchups, creating favorable conditions for high scoring results.
When a poor road team with a low win rate meets a winning home team, defensive effort and intensity often dip for the visitor while the home side pushes the pace and controls offensive rhythm.
Non-conference games tend to feature looser defensive schemes and unfamiliar matchups, leading to faster scoring runs and less resistance in transition.
The data shows that when totals close above the 220 range and the line movement slightly favors the Over, the market correctly anticipates offensive efficiency rather than defensive pressure.
These situations consistently produce games where both teams exceed expectations, with the stronger home team dictating tempo and the weaker visitor contributing enough to push the total past the number.
Pick: Over 224.5 (-110)
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Knicks vs. Warriors
By Kyle Murray
Jalen Brunson suffered an ankle injury last night and didn't return.
It would be pretty surprising to see him play in this game due to that injury, and that should lead to a nice minutes and usage bump for Deuce McBride.
I project McBride for 16 points tonight.
Pick: Miles McBride Over 11.5 Points (-120)
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Hornets vs. Lakers
By Kyle Murray
Brandon Miller is coming off of a few rough games, but that gives us a bit of a buying window here, as we are getting a discount due to that recent play.
This is a good matchup, as the Lakers are a bottom-8 defense.
Miller projects for 22 points alone, while also adding 3.8 assists.
Pick: Brandon Miller Over 22.5 Points & Assists (-110)
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