Normally I break down the NBA slate with two separate articles, but I’m doing it all in one today. So, instead of splitting sides/totals and player props into two pieces, I’m bringing everything under one roof — a streamlined look at my favorite bets for the day’s slate. Keep reading for my NBA picks and predictions for Friday, January 30.
RELATED: Check out the Pro Picks page for more selections from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts!
NBA Best Bets Today (Sides/Totals)
Blazers +7.5 (-107) vs. Knicks
Blazers at Knicks – 7:30 pm ET
The Blazers have had two full days of rest, so they should be fresh for a meeting with a Knicks team that is playing a third game in four nights. However, the injury report needs to be monitored here. I grabbed +7.5 with Portland, but Deni Avdija being questionable is the reason this isn’t a bigger play for me. If he’s healthy, this is a game I expect to be very close. If not, I’m stuck with a bad number.
Assuming Avdija is out there, Portland should feel good about this matchup. While New York is scorching hot over the last four games, how about a bigger sample size? Well, over the last 15 games, the Blazers are 9-6 with a +1.2 net rating, while the Knicks are 6-9 with a +0.6 net rating.
Portland also has Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara to throw on Jalen Brunson, while Donovan Clingan is going to be sitting behind the defense as a rim protector. I like the Blazers to defend at a high level, and their offense should be aided by a meeting with a mediocre Knicks defense.
Portland is also 12-4 against the spread as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 under Tiago Splitter. The team is also 10-4 ATS in January.
Warriors-Pistons Under 224.5 (-110)
Pistons at Warriors – 10:00 pm ET
Detroit is coming off a blowout loss to Phoenix last night, but the Pistons starters didn’t play crazy minutes. That should allow them to come out and play a strong defensive game against the Warriors.
This is a meeting between two teams that sit outside of the league’s top 10 in pace of play, while both of these groups take pride in their defense. This season, the Pistons are second in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating (110.1), while the Warriors are fourth (112.1). Well, a slow meeting between two top-five defenses certainly calls for an Under.
The Under is also 35-27-1 in Detroit’s meetings with winning teams under JB Bickerstaff.
NBA Player Props Today
Alex Sarr Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds (-120) vs. Lakers
Lakers at Wizards – 7:00 pm ET
Over the last three games, Sarr is averaging 23.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. He genuinely looks like a guy that is finally starting to realize how good he is, and he’s providing his Wizards team with some stellar two-way play. Well, I don’t think he’s going to slow down tonight. Sarr is going up against a weak center rotation of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, which is partly responsible for the Lakers being a bottom-10 defense at the rim. Considering Sarr scores 50% of his points at the basket, he should do some work in the paint. He’s also a threat to knock down some jumpers — and even some 3s — and he should continue to clean the glass.
Anthony Black Over 4.5 Assists (+115) vs. Raptors
Raptors at Magic – 7:30 pm ET
The Raptors are a top-10 defensive team this season, so this isn’t the greatest matchup for the Magic. However, Franz Wagner remains out for Orlando, meaning more on-ball opportunities for Black. In the seven seven games that Black has played with Wagner out and Jalen Suggs in, the big, talented guard is averaging 5.4 assists per game. He has also had at least five assists in six of the games. That said, while Black will have to work hard for this, I do think he’s worth a shot to go Over his assist total at plus-money odds. The heavy role will be there.
Cam Spencer Over 8.5 Assists (-118 – 1.5 units) & Alt Assists 10+ (+155 – 0.5 units) & Alt Assists 11+ (+250 – 0.25 units) vs. Pelicans
Grizzlies at Pelicans – 7:30 pm ET
Spencer is coming off a six-assist performance in a blowout loss against the Hornets, so his assist total has come down a little. However, I’m not sure it should be sitting there at 8.5. He’s averaging 10.0 assists per game in the last 10 games he has played without Ja Morant, who will be out again tonight. It also looks like Ty Jerome will be out tonight, even though his return does appear to be on the horizon.
This is also an awesome matchup for Spencer. The Pelicans are 24th in the NBA defending spot-up jumpers and 29th defending both the rim and transition. This is just a game in which Memphis should get a ton of quality looks, and it’ll be Spencer generating most of those shots for his teammates. That’s why I’m playing Spencer to have nine assists and laddering it up to 11.
Oso Ighodaro Over 12.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-130) vs. Cavaliers
Cavaliers at Suns – 9:00 pm ET
Ighodaro is averaging 16.7 combined points, rebounds, and assists in back-to-backs this year. He has also had at least 19 combined points, rebounds, and assists in four straight back-to-backs — and five of the last six. The reason Ighodaro puts up bigger numbers in these situations is that Mark Williams plays less when Phoenix plays two nights in a row. The Suns are trying to manage his minutes, looking to avoid some of the injury problems that have plagued him in the past. Well, Ighodaro has made that a lot easier with his two-way play at the five, and I see him filling up the stat sheet again tonight.
Additional Plays (Late Adds, Parlays, Teasers, Futures)
PARLAY: Clippers ML vs. Nuggets & Jazz Alt +7.5 vs. Nets (-118)
2025-26 NBA Record: 303-286 (+4.62 units)
