Best NBA Bets Tonight | Expert Picks, Predictions for Wednesday
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | Wizards Team Total Under 114.5 |
  | 7:30 p.m. | Hawks +2 |
  | 8 p.m. | Timberwolves -6 |
The NBA season rolls on with a full 12-game slate on Wednesday, Jan. 3, and our Buckets crew is back to preview all the excitement with the Best NBA Best Tonight: Expert Picks, Predictions for Wednesday.
The action tips off at 7 p.m. ET with Wizards at Cavaliers and concludes at 10 p.m. ET with Magic at Kings.
Yesterday's NBA slate featured a 36-point performance by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander en route to a Thunder win, another 36-point performance by Stephen Curry to close out Orlando, and an epic duel between Ja Morant and Victor Wembanyama as the Grizzlies dispatched the Spurs.
Will today's games feature even more compelling action? It's the NBA: Bet on it.
Wizards Team Total Under 114.5 at Cavaliers
7 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Jay Money
The Wizards are 24th in offensive rating in their last five games, facing a top tier defense in the league. While they have been No. 1 in pace over that stretch, it could be a long day in a halfcourt game. So unless they hit a lot of 3s, I don't see them being productive offensively.
The Cavs have plenty of capable defenders including Isaac Okoro, Jarrett Allen and collectively they put it together in every five-man rotation. As long as the Cavs focus on defense instead of trying to run with Washington, then the Cavs might keep them under 100 points.
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Hawks +2 vs. Thunder
7:30 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
Let me start with this: OKC is one of the best teams in the NBA and one of the hottest, taking eight in their last nine games. They have done it beating elite teams as well: Denver (twice), Boston, New York, Minnesota and LAC. People are sleeping on them but this hits every signal for me.
OKC is on the second night of a back-to-back and traveling on the road to play Atlanta. They have a two-day rest advantage, while the Hawks are an inferior team and are 13-20 on the season. The Thunder are coming off an outright win as a four-point underdog. It may seem gross but this is a perfect play to fade the hot team.
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Timberwolves -6 vs. Pelicans
8 p.m. ET ⋅ NBA League Pass
By Sean Little
This is the fourth time these teams have played this year, Minnesota leads 2-1. The Timberwolves haven't lost back-to-back games all year. They are coming off a loss against the Knicks and after a loss their next win averages a point differential of 10.7 points per game.
The Pelicans have only played one team with a winning record in their last 10 games, against the Rockets, and they lost. The Wolves have played eight teams with a winning record over their last 10 and are 7-3. Minnesota is the better team, in a matchup they are familiar with and coming off a loss, I like the Timberwolves to handle business at home.
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