The 2023-24 NBA season has begun and we’re excited over here at VSiN. As always, Jonathan Von Tobel will be providing you with his exceptional coverage of the greatest league in the world. Just click here for all of his content. However, all of my picks will be featured in this daily column, which will combine my best bets and player props. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the NBA slate on Monday, January 15. Also, check out our NBA Odds page for the latest line movement.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on January 15
2023 Record: 160-136-1 (+22.65 units)
NBA Best Bets Today – January 15
Indiana Pacers at Utah Jazz – 9:00 pm ET
I have been riding the Jazz throughout the course of this recent hot streak, and I have been wondering how long it would take for the oddsmakers to catch on and start respecting this team. Well, it seems like it might have finally happened, as Utah is laying a ton of points against an Indiana team that has been rather competitive lately. Even with Tyrese Haliburton out, the Pacers have been staying in games. They’re 9-2 straight-up and 10-1-1 against the spread over their last 12 games, and 2-1 SU and 2-0-1 ATS in the three games Haliburton hasn’t played. The latter leads me to believe that this team can hang around against a Utah team that is 14-4 both SU and ATS in its last 18 games.
The reality is that the Pacers might not play like a team with a league-best offensive rating (122.0) without Haliburton, but the team has been great defensively. Indiana has a defensive rating of 109.3 over the last three games, which is much better than its season-long number of 119.3. It would also be the second-best mark in the league if extrapolated over the course of the entire season. And part of that is that Andrew Nembhard is a much better defender than Haliburton. With that in mind, I like the Pacers to come out and give a red-hot Jazz offense some trouble.
Also, while this is the second night of a back-to-back for the Pacers, it’s the third game in four nights for the Jazz. So, I think there’s a chance Utah will be just as fatigued as Indiana.
Bet: Pacers +7.5 (-110 – 1.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – January 15
Orlando Magic at New York Knicks – 3:00 pm ET
I normally prefer being on Overs when it comes to player props, but I think there’s a good chance Jalen Brunson fails to exceed his scoring average today. The guard has been dealing with a sore calf, and he now has to take on Jalen Suggs and the Magic. This season, Suggs is third amongst all guards in Defensive EPM, and he has clearly been one of the better perimeter defenders in the league. I think he has the speed and quickness required to keep Brunson in front of him, and he’s also a lot bigger than the New York guard. On top of that, this game has a low total and the Under seems like a good play. So, it’s hard to envision Brunson going off here. It doesn’t hurt that it’s an early game, which throws these players out of rhythm.
Bet: Brunson Under 27.5 Points (-125)
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