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After a smaller five-game slate yesterday, we have a larger 10-game slate tonight. There's a lot of opportunity on the board; let's capitalize on it.
In my last article on Monday, I was able to go 2-0 on my single-game picks. It improved my 2024 record to 8-3, and I'll try to continue the good start tonight.
In this article, I'll be providing my favorite picks against the spread, game totals, parlays, and teasers for the NBA slate that tips off at 7:00 PM EST on Wednesday, January 10. Follow me on Twitter/X, @Jwiesel13.
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NBA Betting Picks: Totals
Washington Wizards (+7.5) @ Indiana Pacers (251.1 total)
I'm rolling with the Pacers again in the first quarter. These Pacers have cashed the first quarter for me in the last two games. Now, I know what you're thinking, and yes, I'm aware Tyrese Haliburton is out. The oddsmakers are still fairly confident in Indiana, which is why we see this line at 7.5.
The Pacers shot 6-for-12 from three in the first quarter on Monday night against the Celtics. This is definitely repeatable, as Indiana hits a little over four three-pointers at home in the first quarter while also shooting 40.0 percent. Washington is oddly solid defending the three, but I'm taking Indiana's offense over Washington's defense all day.
Indiana lost the first quarter 34-33 to the Celtics Monday night. Jaylen Brown did have a really hot start, scoring 12 in the opening quarter. The Wizards leading first-quarter scorer this season is Kyle Kuzma, who is averaging 6.5 points. In two games against the Pacers this season, Kuzma has scored five and four points in the first quarter.
For the Pacers, Bennedict Mathurin was excellent in the first quarter on Monday night. The impressive second-year player came off the bench and scored 13 points in 5:42 of playing time. I assume Mathurin will have an increased role with Haliburton out and will look to be aggressive early against a not-great Wizards defense.
Both of these teams love to give up points on defense, so I'll take the team that has more offensive upside.
The Pick: Pacers First Quarter -2.5 (-115 PointsBet)
San Antonio Spurs (-3) @ Detroit Pistons (239 total)
Buckle up for this matchup. Both of these teams come into this game off of losses (shocker), but I like what I've seen from the Spurs. San Antonio dueled against Milwaukee last Thursday and lost a close one in Cleveland on Sunday night. I want no part of the final result in this game, so I'm targeting the Spurs in the first half.
In their last two games, SA has averaged 57.5 first-half points and shot 48.4 percent on field goal attempts. They also hit 8/18 (44.4%) of their first-half three-point attempts Sunday night in Cleveland. I also found it encouraging that they only had six turnovers when they've been averaging 7.7 turnovers in the opening 24 minutes of games this season.
The Spurs are certainly not good on defense, but there are still seven teams that give up more points than them in the first half. Cade Cunningham is Detroit's leading first-half scorer, averaging 10.4 points per game. He also generates 3.7 assists for a Pistons team that is in the bottom 12 in first-half assists. Detroit is without Cade Cunningham and on the second leg of a back-to-back.
The Pick: Spurs First Half -1.5 (-120 ESPN Bet)
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NBA Betting Picks: ML and Spreads
Houston Rockets (+3.5) @ Chicago Bulls (215.5 total)
I'm going to do something different and take a team total here. The Bulls have been very good defensively at home, and Houston has not been a good road team. Chicago is holding opponents to 107.6 points in the United Center this season. They do a great job limiting points in the paint, which is always a quick resource of points for teams.
Houston is averaging 110.6 points on the road this season, which is in the bottom eight in the NBA. They shoot a poor 45.7 percent on field goal attempts. From three, the Rockets are only hitting 34.2 percent of attempts, which is in the bottom three of the league. Teams are shooting the eighth-worst percentage from three against the Bulls among home teams this season.
Chicago is also forcing teams into 15.6 turnovers at home. I'm hoping this good defense continues and they can throw off Houston's rhythm.
The pick: Houston Rockets Team Total Under 106.5 (-105 PointsBet)
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