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. I’ll be doing this every single day of the week — although it’ll be a little shorter on the weekends. So, keep reading to find out how I’m playing the NBA slate on Wednesday, January 10. 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 10
NBA Best Bets Today – January 10
San Antonio Spurs at Detroit Pistons – 7:00 pm ET
These are two of the worst teams in the league, but the Pistons are playing the second night of a back-to-back. They also happened to lose in ridiculous fashion last night, as they had a 47-29 lead over the Sacramento Kings after the first quarter and still lost by 21. They’re just absolutely miserable on both ends of the floor, and I’m not sure that playing with fatigue is going to help matters. Meanwhile, the Spurs haven’t played since Sunday, so they’re going to have fresh legs. That makes this a tremendous spot for San Antonio.
San Antonio is also going to be in a much better shape defensively here, as the team won’t have to deal with Cade Cunningham. The Spurs defense has been porous on the perimeter this year, but the Pistons won’t have anybody that can consistently create offense for themselves. San Antonio will just need to smother Bojan Bogdanovic in this game. If the Spurs do that, they should win this one rather comfortably.
Bet: Spurs -2.5 (-115 – 2 units)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Boston Celtics – 7:00 pm ET
The Under has hit in five of the last six games that the Timberwolves have played, and it has also hit in three of the Celtics’ last five. These teams also happened to combine to score only 223 points when they met in November, and it isn’t all that surprising when you think about it. The Timberwolves are first in the league in adjusted defensive rating this season, and the Celtics are second. These are two of the best defensive teams in the league, and neither one plays at a fast pace offensively. With that in mind, I’m expecting a low-scoring affair here.
I would have been somewhat nervous about this total if the injury report was really messy, but it seems like most of the stars will be out there here. The only thing I’d keep an eye on is the status of both Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. The two Boston bigs are listed as questionable. As long as one of the two plays tonight, this is a go for me.
Bet: Under 223.5 (-108)
Denver Nuggets at Utah Jazz – 10:00 pm ET
The Nuggets are playing really well right now, as the defending champions have won 11 of their last 14 games. The only issue is that Denver hasn’t really beaten any impressive opponents. I know Utah might not qualify as that, but the Jazz are 11-3 both straight up and against the spread in their last 14 games. They’re a really confident group right now, playing good basketball on both ends of the floor. That said, this feels like a lot of points for Utah to be getting at home.
The Jazz are 11-5 SU and 12-3-1 ATS when playing at home this season, and the team also happens to be 21-9 ATS when playing at home against a team it lost to earlier in the season since Will Hardy became Utah’s head coach. On top of that, the Jazz are 21-5 ATS as home underdogs under Hardy. That said, this is a team that is very tough to beat at home, at least without a fight.
Bet: Jazz +7 (-108)
NBA Player Props Today – January 10
Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks – 7:30 pm ET
Joel Embiid is not playing for Philadelphia tonight, so a lot of people will be expecting a big game from Tyrese Maxey. The star guard is facing a Hawks team that is miserable when it comes to defending the perimeter, and Maxey should have the green light to do whatever he wants with Embiid out. However, Maxey has scored 27 or fewer in each of his last four games, and he is shooting just 2 for 15 from 3 over the last two contests. He’s not exactly lighting it up at the moment, so I think it’s unfair to expect 33 points from him. Maxey is also averaging only 24.5 points per game in two meetings with the Hawks this year, so it’s not like he has gone crazy in this matchup. And it should only be harder for him now that he will be the focal point of the scouting report.
Bet: Maxey Under 32.5 Points (-135)
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