The NBA has another excellent slate of basketball this Friday. So, our staff of basketball betting experts has looked over the latest odds and made six NBA picks for today's slate.
Continue below for our NBA predictions for Friday night, provided by the Buckets Podcast crew.
NBA Picks, Predictions, Expert Bets for Friday, January 17
Magic vs. Celtics
For how strong the Boston Celtics have looked in their quest to defend their NBA title, it comes as a surprise that their home ATS record is a meager 7-14. This 33.3% cover rate is good (or should we say bad?) for fourth-worst in the league this season.
This line just seems way too high for a scrappy Magic team that has been successful limiting three point attempts, something Boston wants to do a lot of. The Magic don't defend the interior at the same clip, but Boston is 29th in paint scoring this season. On paper, the Magic match up pretty well with Boston.
It could be a bounce-back spot for a Celtics team that got worked against a lowly Raptors team a couple nights ago, but Boston has not been great at covering these larger spreads at TD Garden.
Look for Orlando to keep it close.
Pick: Magic +12.5 or Better (-108)
Timberwolves vs. Knicks
Julius Randle will want to put on a show in his return to Madison Square Garden. Once his tribute video ends and he gets a standing ovation, he'll look to score early and often. We're banking on him to take a good amount of shots in this one, and he scored 24 points in his first meeting against his former team this season.
Take the over on Randle's points tonight.
Pick: Julius Randle Over 19.5 Points (-110)
The Knicks are 58.5% to the over on games this season, and 55% at the Garden. They also boast the league's second-best offensive rating. While both of these teams rank toward the bottom of the league in pace, both teams should be able to get up enough three pointers where this line is very reachable. In their previous meeting in Minnesota, they combined to score 240 points.
Pick: Over 220.5 Points (-112)
Nuggets vs. Heat
The Miami Heat return home from a six-game West Coast road trip not only to face the team that defeated them in the 2023 NBA Finals, but to the looming situation surrounding star wing Jimmy Butler.
Butler served a seven-game suspension that is set to come to a conclusion tonight as he is not on the injury report.
Who knows what will happen when Butler arrives at the Kaseya Center, but it will sure be worth a watch.
For the Nuggets, it is unclear whether Nikola Jokic will be available, as he'll be testing an elbow sprain out in pregame warmups.
If Jokic is a go, Denver should hand a reeling Heat squad another loss. He is the perfect antidote to Coach Erik Spoelstra's zone defense, and the Nuggets have won a ridiculous 14 out of the last 15 matchups against Miami.
Pick: Nuggets ML (-105)
Grizzlies vs. Spurs
Victor Wembanyama recorded eight blocks against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Eight. It was his fifth game with eight or more blocks this season.
The Grizzlies lead the league in shot attempts between four and 14 feet from the rim, the exact range where Wembanyama's massive wingspan seems to affect opposing shots whether or not he gets a hand on them.
The French phenom should exceed this total once again tonight.
Pick: Victor Wembanyama Over 3.5 Blocks (-165)
Nets vs. Lakers
The Lakers come into this tilt with a 58% cover rate at home following a good comeback win against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night after losing three straight. The Nets are the kind of team that the Lakers beat up on when they're playing connected basketball.
The second half of their last game was evident of how well they can play when the five on the floor play together.
It's a steep number, but the Lakers should be able to cover it against a 14-27 Brooklyn squad.
Pick: Lakers -11.5 (-105)
