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 Sunday, January 11.
RELATED: Check out the Pro Picks page for more selections from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts!
NBA Best Bets Today (Sides/Totals)
Blazers +5 (-110 – 1.5 units) & Blazers ML (+160 – 0.5 units) vs. Knicks
Knicks at Blazers – 6:00 pm ET
Josh Hart is listed as questionable for the Knicks tonight, and they have been miserable without him this year. That said, if he does return to the lineup, New York should have a little more juice. However, the Knicks are 2-6 straight-up and 0-8 against the spread as road favorites of 6 or fewer this year. They’re also just 7-10 SU and 4-13 ATS on the road overall. Meanwhile, the Blazers are 6-5 SU and 8-3 ATS as home underdogs under Tiago Splitter. They’re also 7-5 SU and 10-2 ATS as underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 overall. On top of that, Portland has won seven of its last eight games — both SU and ATS — and is coming off back-to-back wins over an awesome Houston team. The Rockets are on a roll right now, while the Knicks are struggling. There’s also a decent chance Jrue Holiday returns for the Blazers, giving Portland a point-of-attack option to throw on Jalen Brunson. Given the way these teams are playing, I just like Portland to hang around — and potentially win.
Bucks ML (-124) vs. Nuggets
Bucks at Nuggets – 8:00 pm ET
The Bucks are 14-10 in the games they’ve played with Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup this year, so this is a better basketball team than people seem to think. They’re also going up against a Nuggets team that is without Nikola Jokic, Cameron Johnson, and Jonas Valanciunas, and Jamal Murray is questionable this evening. I’m just not sure Denver will have enough out there to beat a solid team, even with this game being played at Ball Arena. Antetokounmpo should really dominate this game, and Milwaukee’s mediocre defense should hold up against a Denver team that is missing a lot of firepower.
NBA Player Props Today
Cam Spencer Over 20.5 Points + Assists (-115) vs. Nets
Nets at Grizzlies – 3:30 pm ET
With Ja Morant out for the Grizzlies — and potentially on his way out of town — Spencer will have another big role for Memphis. That should mean a good day in the box score, even if it is tough to bet on Grizzlies players with Tuomas Iisalo’s substitution patterns. In the last 10 games Spencer has played without Morant, he’s averaging 22.5 combined points and assists. Spencer has done a lot of good work as a passer. In the last seven games he has played without Morant, he’s averaging 9.3 assists per game. However, it might be harder for Spencer to dish against a Nets team that has been good defensively later. So, I’m expecting him to need to score a little more here. He’s plenty capable of doing that, especially as an off-the-dribble shooter.
Joel Embiid Over 3.5 Assists (-117) vs. Raptors
76ers at Raptors – 6:00 pm ET
There’s no guarantee Embiid will be out there tonight, as he’s listed as questionable with that left knee the Sixers are managing. However, if Embiid plays, I think he’s going to have a productive day as a passer. Back on November 8, Embiid had four assists on seven potential assists in a meeting with Toronto, and four dimes is all we’ll need from him this evening. The reality is that the Raptors are in a bad spot at the center position without Jakob Poeltl. With that in mind, they could be forced to send some extra help at Embiid, and he’s more than willing to quickly move the ball to the other Sixers scorers — and there are plenty of those this season.
Additional Plays (Late Adds, Parlays, Teasers)
PARLAY: Magic ML vs. Pelicans & Spurs Alt +10.5 vs. Timberwolves (-137 – 1.5 units)
2025-26 NBA Record: 253-235 (+10.42 units)
