Now that the weekend is here, it’s time to simplify the grind. Instead of splitting sides/totals and player props into separate pieces, my weekend columns will bring everything under one roof — a streamlined look at my favorite bets for the day’s slate. Fewer words, hopefully the same results. Keep reading for my NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, January 17.
RELATED: Check out the Pro Picks page for more selections from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts!
NBA Best Bets Today (Sides/Totals)
PARLAY: Hawks Alt +10.5 vs. Celtics & Warriors ML vs. Hornets (-122)
Celtics at Hawks – 7:30 pm ET
Hornets at Warriors – 8:30 pm ET
I have a slight lean on the Hawks on the normal spread for tonight, but I don’t feel good enough about playing it. Instead, I’ll grab an alternate line of +10.5, using the Warriors moneyline to make the price a little more reasonable. The Celtics will be without Payton Pritchard this evening, meaning one of the few reliable shot creators for this team will be out against a good defensive squad. That said, at the very least, Atlanta should be able to find a way to keep this from getting out of hand. Then, with Golden State, I’m definitely taking a bit of a risk fading a Charlotte team that is playing some awesome basketball lately. However, over the last 10 games, the Warriors are 7-3 with a net rating of +4.8. They’re starting to click on both ends of the floor, even as some of the Jonathan Kuminga stuff gets out of hand. Overall, I trust Golden State’s defense to keep Charlotte from going crazy offensively, then I’m good with relying on Stephen Curry to get this one home with his late-game shotmaking.
NBA Player Props Today
Isaiah Collier Over 7.5 Assists (-125) vs. Mavericks
Jazz at Mavericks – 5:00 pm ET
Lauri Markkanen will be out for Utah tonight, which means Will Hardy could need some more offensive juice. That means we should see a little more Isaiah Collier this evening. While that might seem odd with the two playing completely different positions, Hardy has been able to make it work. And Collier averages 4.0 more minutes per game when Markkanen is out of action.
Not only does Collier play more without Markkanen, he also takes advantage of the increased playing time by averaging 2.1 more assists per game. In games without Markkanen, the fast, powerful guard is averaging 8.4 assists per game. He has also had at least nine dimes in six of the last seven games he has played without the Finnish superstar.
This is also going to be a fast-paced game, which really doesn’t hurt. These teams are both in the league’s top-10 in pace over the last 10 contests.
Devin Booker Over 6.5 Assists (-110) vs. Knicks
Suns at Knicks – 7:30 pm ET
It seems like Booker is going to play tonight, but this play will be voided if he doesn’t. That said, there’s really no harm in putting it in. Well, if Booker is out there, I really like him to finish with at least seven assists. In the 19 games that Booker has played with Grayson Allen this season, the Suns superstar is averaging 7.3 assists per game. He has also had at least eight assists in each of the last four of those contests.
The Knicks are also one of the weaker defensive teams in the league right now, so there should be some good shots to go around for Phoenix. New York is especially weak when defending above-the-break 3s, and Booker is usually surrounded by competent shooting.
2025-26 NBA Record: 270-247 (+14.62 units)
