The NBA has a packed slate of games for Martin Luther King Day, including some early starts. Here are three spread, moneyline, and OVER/UNDER bets to consider for all of the action taking place on Monday, January 15, 2024:
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Recent Picks: January 12, 2024 (1-2)
| Game | Bet | Result | W or L | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento Kings vs. Philadelphia 76ers | Kings ML (-102) | 112-93 76ers | L | -1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets | Pelicans ATS (+8.5) | 125-113 Nuggets | L | -1 |
| Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks | UNDER 252 Total (-110) | 234 Total | W | 0.90 |
| Overall | -1.1 |
Season Pick Results: As Of January 8, 2024
| Market | Record | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | 1-1 | -0.02 |
| Spread | 3-1 | 1.69 |
| OVER/UNDER | 1-2 | -1.1 |
| Overall | 5-4 | 0.57 |
Oklahoma City Thunder Vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder | +1 (-112) | -104 | O 238 (-110) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | -1 (-108) | -112 | U 238 (-110) |
Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder, ATS +1
Even by a single point, it's weird seeing the Oklahoma City Thunder as the underdogs here against a Los Angeles Lakers squad that's lost two in a row and seven of their last 10.
This could be a result of their last meeting days before Christmas when Los Angeles prevailed 129-120 on Oklahoma City's home floor. That feels like an eternity ago, though, because the Thunder are 9-2 since then and just half a game out of the top seed in the Western Conference.
It also likely stems from MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being listed as questionable with a right knee sprain after playing 35 minutes on Saturday against the Orlando Magic.
Whether you decide to go moneyline or spread here is arbitrary due to the spread being one point and the odds being as tight as they are. SGA's status could swing the odds further in the Lakers' direction, but the Thunder's depth and loaded starting lineup should still compensate for what would be Gilgeous-Alexander's second absence of the season.
Miami Heat vs. Brooklyn Nets
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami Heat | +2 (-110) | +110 | O 220.5 (-110) |
| Brooklyn Nets | -2 (-110) | -130 | U 220.5 (-110) |
Pick: Brooklyn Nets ML
A trip to Paris, France for the NBA's latest Global Game didn't cure what ails the Brooklyn Nets, but perhaps home is where the heart is when the Miami Heat come to town.
Brooklyn has dropped two games in a row and seven of its last eight for an overall record of 16-24 SU, which ranks 10th in the Eastern Conference by the narrowest of margins. A little bit of scheduling luck is on the Nets' side, though, as Miami is playing on the second night of a back-to-back slate after beating the Charlotte Hornets at the Kaseya Center.
The Heat are 1-3 this season on no rest, and that includes a loss to Brooklyn by 15 points on Nov. 25 after playing against the New York Knicks the night prior. They're 1-2 overall against the Nets in three meetings, and without the services of rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr. due to an injured groin, on top of already missing Jimmy Butler (toe), there's enough reason to like the rested Nets' chances to get back in the win column.
Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies
| Team | Spread | Money | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | -7.5 (-110) | -310 | O 227 (-108) |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +7.5 (-110) | +250 | U 227 (-112) |
Pick: UNDER 227 Points
Not that it wasn't already blatantly obvious, but the 2023-24 season for the Memphis Grizzlies is officially snake-bitten after Desmond Bane was ruled out for at least six weeks with a left-ankle sprain.
Look away if you're squeamish, but the Grizzlies' ever-growing injury list of Bane, Ja Morant (shoulder, out for season), Steven Adams (knee, out for season), Marcus Smart (finger, out for at least six weeks), Derrick Rose (thigh, considered week-to-week), Brandon Clarke (achilles, yet to play), and Jake LaRavia (ankle, out for at least three weeks) is the stuff of nightmares. Even Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Santi Aldama (knee) are questionable for Monday's tilt with the Golden State Warriors.
Memphis mustered up 94 points against the Knicks on Saturday after being led by the likes of GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. They need bodies badly, and having gone UNDER in six of their last nine games and 10 of 13 in the month of January, the Grizzlies should be an easy UNDER bet for the foreseeable future.
