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 NBA best bets and NBA player props. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the NBA slate on Thursday, January 18. 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 18
2023 Record: 160-139-1 (+17.79 units)
NBA Best Bets Today – January 18
Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 pm ET
I was badly wrong on my read of last night’s Raptors game, as I liked the Miami Heat to handle their business. But I’m going right back to fading Toronto tonight with my NBA best bets tonight, as this is the second night of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights for this group. The Raptors also happen to be hosting a Bulls team that has had two full days to sit on a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Chicago should be well rested and fired up here, and the on-court match-up also happens to be good for the Bulls.
Immanuel Quickley is very important to what the Raptors are doing offensively right now, and the Bulls will likely throw Alex Caruso on him. There aren’t many players in the league that defend the perimeter like him. So, Caruso can really throw the Raptors off by making Quickley uncomfortable. Also, Jakob Poeltl’s absence should matter here. Chicago won’t hesitate to play through Nikola Vucevic in this spot, as he’s a highly-skilled big man. The Raptors don’t have many players that can body him up, so this is somewhere the Bulls will have a big edge. I also think Chicago has more firepower on the perimeter, making it hard to envision Toronto coming away with this win.
On top of all of that, the Bulls are 22-11 against the spread when avenging a loss by 10 or more points since the start of last season. That’s hard to ignore when you consider that the Raptors beat them by 13 in Toronto on November 24
Bet: Bulls -2 (-110 – 2 units)
NBA Player Props Today – January 18
Indiana Pacers at Sacramento Kings – 10:00 pm ET
Over the last two games, De’Aaron Fox is averaging 32.5 points, 5.5 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game. That’s good for 40.0 points, rebounds and assists per game. That’s not something that can be expected every night, as he is averaging 28.0 points, 5.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game this season. However, I’d be surprised if we don’t see big numbers out of the All-Star tonight, making him a prime target for NBA player props. Fox is facing a Pacers team that is 27th in the league in adjusted defensive rating. They’re also first in the league in pace of play. That makes this as good of a match-up as Fox can possibly ask for. Keep an eye on the status of Tyrese Haliburton here. If he plays, I’d up this to a 1.5-unit play. Haliburton is a tremendous player, but he neglects the defensive end of the floor.
Bet: Fox Over 38.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-118)
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