The 2024-25 NBA season is in full swing. I’ll be giving out NBA best bets and player props here as often as possible, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on big news that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work throughout the season. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Wednesday, January 15th. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on January 15th
NBA Best Bets Today – January 15th
Memphis Grizzlies at San Antonio Spurs – 8:00 pm ET
The Grizzlies are an incredible basketball team, which is why I’m in on them to win the Western Conference at 20-1. However, the team has lost four of its last six games, and it’s also playing its third road game on a four-game road trip. It’s a difficult spot for Memphis, especially with another meeting with this same San Antonio team coming on Friday. This Spurs team is also coming off a three-game road trip, and it’s one that ended with a 126-102 win over the Lakers. They have a little momentum after picking up that victory, and they’re going to be fired up to be returning home. And at home, San Antonio is 12-8 straight-up on the season. The team is also 3-1 SU when playing only its second game in five days this year. On top of that, the Spurs are 5-0 SU when facing teams that average 9.0 or more steals per game this year, so they like teams that come with ball pressure. That’s where the big brain of Chris Paul allows San Antonio to create advantages.
The elephant in the room here is that Memphis has a net rating of +6.9 on the season. San Antonio’s is just -0.3. But the Grizzlies have a road net rating of just +2.2. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ home net rating is +2.0. So, things should be pretty close to even when these teams play at the Frost Bank Center tonight. With that in mind, I’m taking a swing on the Spurs to win at plus-money odds.
One thing I like here is that Memphis has a very high turnover rate (16.5%), so San Antonio will have a good chance if it can just value possessions a little bit. And the Grizzlies can occasionally struggle with keeping teams off the offensive glass, so Victor Wembanyama might be able to terrorize them around the basket.
I also just like Wembanyama to win his matchup with Jaren Jackson Jr. And that would go a long way in helping San Antonio potentially win this one. Jackson Jr. is right behind Wembanyama when it comes to Defensive Player of the Year, but he can struggle with bigs that are mobile and can create offense for themselves. Wembanyama fits that bill.
Bet: Spurs ML (+120 – 1.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – January 15th
Orlando Magic at Milwaukee Bucks – 8:00 pm ET
With all of the injuries on the Magic roster, Cole Anthony is getting the chance to ball out. Anthony has played at least 27 minutes in six consecutive games, and he has played an average of 36.5 over the last two games. Well, as long as Anthony is out there, Orlando needs him to be aggressive as a scorer. And Anthony comes into this one after having scored at least 18 points in three of his last four. He also had 27 points against the Sixers on Sunday.
Milwaukee also happens to have some trouble defending opposing point guards, so this is a pretty strong matchup — even if it might not look like one at first glance. So, I don’t see Anthony struggling to hit the 17-point mark this evening, and I’m also sprinkling him to score 20+. Anthony should be able to knock down some triples, but he’s also going to be a threat when attacking the basket. The Bucks don’t have many guards that can stay in front of him.
Bet: Anthony Over 16.5 Points (-111 – 1.5 units) & Anthony Alt 20+ (+155 – 0.5 units)
Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls – 8:00 pm ET
Nikola Vucevic is averaging only 3.3 assists per game this season, but he’s up at 5.8 potential assists per game. And his adjusted assists per game is 3.7. Vucevic isn’t as good of a passer as some of the centers that serve as full-time playmaking hubs, but he reads the floor well and has the ball a lot. So, in a meeting with a Hawks team that is just 21st in the league in adjusted defensive rating (114.1), he could be in for a good game as a passer. Vucevic is only averaging 2.3 assists per game in three meetings with Atlanta this season, which is why there’s a big plus-money number next to this prop. But there’s really no reason he can’t do a little more damage than that here. In the three games Vucevic has played against Atlanta this year, he’s averaging 4.7 potential assists per game and has an adjusted assists of 3.3. So, he’s setting his teammates up for good looks against this defense. He just needs some luck when it comes to shot-making, and he’s due for it. This game also has a total of 243.5, which is absurdly high. We should see some big stat lines tonight.
Bet: Vucevic Over 3.5 Assists (+136)
Additional Plays
This is where I’ll include any late added plays, teasers/parlays or in-season futures. Come back before tip if you don’t want to miss anything. It’s always possible I’ll add something to my card.
PARLAY: Hornets ML vs. Jazz & Timberwolves ML vs. Warriors (+117 – 1.5 units) – The Hornets are playing some solid basketball lately. They have covered in four of their last six contests, and one of the non-covers was a push. That shows the team has been somewhat competitive, and it isn’t crazy considering Charlotte is now healthy. With that in mind, I like the idea of taking the Hornets to beat the Jazz. I have these teams on a very level playing field at full strength, but Utah is going to be without Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton tonight. That’s going to be hard to overcome.
In the other part of this parlay, I’m taking the Timberwolves to beat the Warriors. It’s shocking to think that this Golden State team was 12-3 to start the year. Since then, the Warriors are 7-17 and it sure seems like they are lacking in belief and togetherness right now. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have had an up-and-down year, but they’re elite defensively. They should be able to lock down a Golden State group that is mediocre offensively. And Minnesota’s recent lineup changes have made things a little better offensively. At home, it’d just be pretty stunning if the Timberwolves let this slip away. This team has won four of five, with the one loss being a game against the Grizzlies in which they led almost the entire way.
PARLAY: Sixers Alt +10.5 vs. Knicks & Rockets Alt +7.5 vs. Nuggets (-100 – 1.5 units) – I’m going to another alternate parlay tonight. For the first leg, I’m taking Philadelphia to keep things somewhat close against New York. The Sixers sat Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Joel Embiid and Caleb Martin in last night’s meeting with the Thunder, but it sure seems like there’s a chance most of those guys will play in tonight’s national television game against the Knicks. And if that’s the case, we’re going to get a great atmosphere and a strong effort from the home team. I’m particularly interested in seeing if the three stars are out there. With the Big Three on the floor, Philadelphia is allowing just 103.0 points per 100 possessions. That defense should be good enough to help the Sixers avoid a blowout.
The other game is a little more straightforward. Denver just played against Dallas last night, so this is the second night of a back-to-back. And the Nuggets are playing a team that is third in the league in adjusted defensive rating (108.7). So, Houston will be out to smother a somewhat tired Denver team. The Rockets have won four games in a row, with two of those wins coming against a very good Grizzlies team. This is a scorching hot group, and it’s a competitive one. The Rockets will want to make a statement at Ball Arena.
Pelicans -1 (-110 – 1.5 units) vs. Mavericks – I’m adding this with Kyrie Irving no longer looking like he’s playing. New Orleans will sit some guys too, but the team will have more talent on the floor and home-court advantage. That’s enough to trigger a play.
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2024-25 NBA Record: 168-170-1 (-5.92 units)
