The following NBA betting trends are a collection of analytical data, betting systems and strength ratings featured on VSiN and qualified for the NBA games of Friday, January 23, 2026. This report is meant to emulate the process that Steve Makinen and other members of the VSiN Analytics team undergo when handicapping each day’s NBA board.

AJ’s Angles

These are the top NBA betting trends and systems for today’s games, handpicked by VSiN Analyst AJ Makinen. 

* BOSTON is 11-0 SU and 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 trips to the Barclays Center
Trend Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-8.5 at BKN) 

* Teams that played in an overtime game the prior day are on a 64-100 SU and 68-91-5 ATS (42.8%) slide, including 39-60-3 ATS in the last 102 games.
System Match (FADE): HOUSTON (+4.5 at DET) 

* MILWAUKEE is 22-7 Over the total playing at home in the One Day Rest scenario since January 2025
Trends Match (PLAY OVER): DEN-MIL (o/u at 216.5) 

Schedule Situations Crucial for NBA Handicapping

The following is an expanded version of the article published in this year’s VSiN NBA Betting Guide, detailing scheduling situations in which teams have shown definitive patterns over the last few seasons. Typically, there are reasons that teams perform at varying levels based on their schedules, whether that be from the amount of rest they’ve gotten before a game, how fatigued they are from a string of games, or how they deal with injuries/workloads based on the schedule pressures. 

* NBA teams playing on the road in One Day Rest scenario were 59-45 SU and 57-46 ATS vs. teams in back-to-back home games since the start of last season
System Match (PLAY): TORONTO (-2.5 at POR) 

* OKLAHOMA CITY is 42-6 SU and 35-12-1 ATS playing at home in the One Day Rest scenario since March 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): OKLAHOMA CITY (-16.5 vs IND) 

* NBA teams playing at home in One Day Rest scenario were 96-66 Over the total vs. teams in 4th Straight Road games since the start of last season
System Matches (PLAY OVER ALL): PHX-ATL (o/u at 232.5), IND-OKC (o/u at 226.5) 

* ATLANTA is 133-98 Over the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since November 2021
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): PHX-ATL (o/u at 232.5)

* BROOKLYN is 15-8 Over the total playing at home in the One Day Rest scenario since February 2025
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): BOS-BKN (o/u at 216.5)

* DENVER is 86-55 Over the total playing in 4th in 6 Days games since March 2021
* MILWAUKEE is 22-7 Over the total playing at home in the One Day Rest scenario since January 2025
Trends Match (PLAY OVER): DEN-MIL (o/u at 216.5)

Here are the top head-to-head series NBA betting trends in play for all of today’s games:

(545) HOUSTON at (546) DETROIT
* DETROIT is on an extended 17-6 ATS run versus Houston
Trend Match (PLAY): DETROIT (-4.5 vs HOU) 

(547) BOSTON at (548) BROOKLYN
* BOSTON is 11-0 SU and 9-1-1 ATS in the last 11 trips to the Barclays Center
Trend Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-8.5 at BKN) 

(549) SACRAMENTO at (550) CLEVELAND
* SACRAMENTO is 11-4 SU and 12-3 ATS in the last 15 games with Cleveland
Trend Match (PLAY): SACRAMENTO (+11.5 at CLE) 

(551) PHOENIX at (552) ATLANTA
* ATLANTA has won seven straight SU and ATS when hosting Phoenix
Trend Match (PLAY): ATLANTA (+3.5 vs PHX) 

(553) NEW ORLEANS at (554) MEMPHIS
* MEMPHIS is 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in the last nine games with divisional foe New Orleans
Trend Match (PLAY): MEMPHIS (-6.5 vs NOP) 

(555) DENVER at (556) MILWAUKEE
* Under the total is 6-1 in the last seven of the Nuggets-Bucks non-conference series
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): DEN-MIL (o/u at 216.5) 

(557) INDIANA at (558) OKLAHOMA CITY
* Favorites are 10-2 SU and ATS in the last 12 meetings between IND and OKC at Oklahoma City
Trend Match (PLAY): OKLAHOMA CITY (-16.5 vs IND)

(559) TORONTO at (560) PORTLAND
* Underdogs are on a 6-4 SU and 9-1 ATS surge in the TOR-POR non-conference set at the Moda Center
Trend Match (PLAY): PORTLAND (+2.5 vs TOR) 

NBA Team Strength Systems

The following handicapping information details betting systems for teams based on various team strength indicators or line scenarios. Unless noted, these are from the last five NBA seasons. 

NBA Team Strength Betting System #1:
In games between two teams with 60%+ winning percentages, home teams favored in the -4.5 to -9.5 range are on a 177-66 SU and 142-100-1 ATS (58.7%) run.
System Match (PLAY): DETROIT (-4.5 vs HOU) 

NBA Team Strength Betting System #6:
Divisional single-digit home underdogs winning 38% of their games or less have gone 46-130 SU and 77-94-5 ATS (45%) since the start of the 2020-21 season.
System Match (FADE): BROOKLYN (+8.5 vs BOS) 

NBA Team Strength Betting System #7:
Double-digit NBA games have produced some definitive results on totals over the last five seasons, depending on what type of matchup it was. In divisional games featuring double-digit lines, Under the total has gone 131-104 (55.7%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 241-203 (54.3%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 328-260 (55.8%).
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – SAC-CLE (spread -11.5, total 233.5), IND-OKC (spread -16.5, total 226.5)

The following handicapping information details betting systems for divisional games. 

Eastern Atlantic Division Betting System #1:
In Eastern Atlantic divisional games, single-digit favorites have gone 93-39 SU and 78-61-3 ATS (56.1%) since the start of the 2022-23 season.
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-8.5 at BKN) 

Western Southwest Division Betting System #1:
In Western Southwest divisional games, favorites of 3.5-points or more are on a 45-12 SU and 35-22 ATS (61.4%) run since mid-February 2024.
System Match (PLAY): MEMPHIS (-6.5 vs NOP)

NBA Extreme Stats Next Game Systems

These systems search for extreme statistical performances in NBA games and detail the results of the follow-up game for the teams. These systems are from the last five seasons unless noted. 

Fade teams off of overtime games
Teams that played in an overtime game the prior day are on a 64-100 SU and 68-91-5 ATS (42.8%) slide, including 39-60-3 ATS in the last 102 games.
System Match (FADE): HOUSTON (+4.5 at DET) 

Unusual defensive performances
NBA teams that hold an opponent to 36% or less field goal percentage in any given game have produced well in the next contest as well, going 171-113 SU and 161-116-7 ATS (58.1%) since 2021.
System Match (PLAY): CLEVELAND (-11.5 vs SAC)

High TO games can be significant
NBA teams that committed 20+ turnovers in the previous game have done well in expected-tight matchups (within -4 to +4 line range) in the follow-up game, going 87-58 SU and 90-54-1 ATS (62.5%) in their last 145 tries.
System Match (PLAY): PHOENIX (-3.5 at ATL) 

NBA Streak Systems

The following handicapping information details betting systems for teams on winning or losing streaks of at least four games in the NBA. 

NO QUALIFYING STREAK PLAYS TODAY 

Strategies Using NBA DraftKings Betting Splits Data

One of the most touted features on the VSiN.com website, and a feature that we believe to be a fantastic resource for bettors, is the betting splits pages. These are the pages that we have built utilizing the data that DraftKings so graciously provides to us, detailing the breakdowns of the money and ticket splits for point spreads, money lines, and totals. 

In an article published on the VSiN.com website on opening day, Steve Makinen outlined 14 different systematic strategies for successfully using the DK Betting Splits Data that were developed in the last three seasons. Here are the systems and qualifying plays for today’s games as of 11:30 a.m. ET. These can and will change, so continue to track and qualify the systems up until tip-off for best usage. 

To summarize the findings from the first half data of the 2025-26 season, the sample contained 633 games, and for the most part, majority bettors have lost on all six point spread, money line, and total categories. In fact, this has been the worst half-season they have endured since I started studying this subject a few years ago. Here are the results:

– Majority handle on point spreads: 291-335 ATS (46.5%), -77.5 units – ROI: -12.4%
– Majority number of bets on point spreads: 287-323 ATS (47%), -68.3 units – ROI: -11.2%
– Majority handle on money lines: 379-247 (60.5%). -123.2 units – ROI: -20.2%
– Majority number of bets on money lines: 404-227 (64%). -113.7 units – ROI: -18%
– Majority handle on totals: 306-310 (49.7%). -35 units – ROI: -5.7%
– Majority number of bets on totals: 307-318 (49.1%), -42.8 units – ROI: -6.8% 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #1: When 63% or more of the handle was on the side of a home team playing as a 4-point favorite or less (or as an underdog) on ATS wager, this “super” majority group has gone 211-174 ATS (54.8%) over the last 3+ seasons, good for +19.6 units of profit and an ROI of 5.1%. This is a fairly profitable system that the public seems to get right consistently.  If you see nearly 2/3 of the handle backing a host in an expected competitive NBA game this season, it’s a solid bet to follow it.
System Match (PLAY): DETROIT 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #2: When 59% or more of the handle has been on the road side of an ATS wager, this “super” majority group has gone 868-785 ATS (52.5%) over the last 3+ seasons. This has produced a profit of +4.5 units and an ROI of 0.3%. This has been a very consistent system since I first found it, and for its simplicity, fairly successful. However, it is down over 20 units so far in ’25-26 so perhaps tread lightly. Even still, remember that handle is the total amount of money on a game and is generally considered sharper. When a good portion of the overall money is on a road team in the NBA, it wins more often than not.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): BOSTON, SACRAMENTO, PHOENIX, NEW ORLEANS 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #4: In another somewhat rare situation, when there was a majority handle backing the team with fewer wins on the season in the NBA over the last 3+ seasons, that group produced a 456-412 ATS record (52.5%), good for +2.8 units of profit and an ROI of 0.3%. This is another system that has dropped a bit this season but has still outperformed the normal levels by a decent amount. We’ll see if it can stay positive in the second half of the season.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): SACRAMENTO, NEW ORLEANS, MILWAUKEE 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #6: In NBA non-Conference games (East versus West) of the last 3+ seasons, DK super majority handle groups of 62% or greater have been mildly successful, as they are 461-417 ATS (52.5%). If you consider that the overall majority numbers showed just over a 50% success rate, they were about 2.5% improved on these more-rare contests. This simple angle has produced +2.3 units of profit and an ROI of 0.3%.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): DETROIT, SACRAMENTO, PHOENIX 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #8: Naturally, with super majority handles doing well on non-conference and non-divisional conference games as compared to the overall, the area where these groups would figure to struggle would be in divisional games. The super-majority number is a little higher, however, 67% in fact. When this super-majority number has backed a team in divisional games over the last three seasons, they are just 166-189 ATS, good for 46.8%. This is a 3%+ drop compared to the overall majority figures and has resulted in -41.9 units of loss and an ROI of -11.8%.
System Match (FADE): BOSTON 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #9: There has been a massive disparity of success levels for majority groups on handle when they back the home or road team on money line wagers. On home teams, these majorities have gone 1454-663 over the last 3+ seasons but for -277.83 units and an ROI of -13.1%. On road teams, these majorities have gone 1113-757 but for -72.73 units and an ROI of -3.9%. This 9.2% disparity warrants outright fading ML majorities on home teams until something definitively changes.
System Match (FADE): CLEVELAND ML

DK NBA Betting Splits system #11: One of the best, simplest, and most frequent angles I have been able to uncover is when a majority of handle bettors were backing the Under in an NBA game. It is generally believed that most NBA bettors prefer taking Overs. When any majority number have favored the Under option over the last 3+ seasons, the results have been strong, with Under the total on these games going 484-393, good for 55.2%, +51.7 units, and an ROI of +5.9% since January ’23.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): TOR-POR 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #12: There has been some decent success for number of bets majorities when they don’t get too heavily invested. In fact, majorities on either side of the total (Over or Under) of 57% or less have gone 409-367 (52.7%) for +5.3 units and an ROI of +0.7% since January 2023.
System Match (PLAY): UNDER – NOP-MEM 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #13: The average NBA game total since January of 2023 has been a bit more than 228. In NBA games with “low” totals, or those less than 220, majority handle bettors have gone an impressive 408-345 (54.2%), while majority number of bets groups are a bit less at 398-359 (52.6%). Both groups have proven profitable regardless of which side of the total they have chosen.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – HOU-DET, BOS-BKN, DEN-MIL 

Today’s NBA Strength Ratings

The following NBA betting trends are taken from today’s MAKINEN DAILY RATINGS page under the NBA tab on VSiN.com. Listed by team, current line, and difference between rating and current line (in parentheses). 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. NEW ORLEANS +6.5 (+2.7)
2. PORTLAND +2.5 (+2.5)
3. DENVER +6.5 (+2.2) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CLEVELAND -11.5 (+2.3)
2. BOSTON -8.5 (+1.6)
3. OKLAHOMA CITY -16.5 (+1.3) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. INDIANA +16.5 (+6.1)
2. DENVER +6.5 (+3.6)
3. NEW ORLEANS +6.5 (+2.0) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CLEVELAND -11.5 (+1.4)
2. BOSTON -8.5 (+0.5) 

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. IND-OKC OVER 226.5 (+1.4)
2. TOR-POR OVER 225.5 (+1.2)
3. SAC-CLE OVER 233.5 (+0.7) 

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: PHX-ATL UNDER 232.5 (-0.9) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. DENVER +6.5 (+2.5)
2. ATLANTA +3.5 (+2.2)
3. NEW ORLEANS +6.5 (+1.9) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CLEVELAND -11.5 (+3.5)
2. BOSTON -8.5 (+1.8)
3. OKLAHOMA CITY -16.5 (+0.8) 

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. NOP-MEM OVER 239.5 (+4.5)
2. DEN-MIL OVER 216.5 (+3.3)
3. BOS-BKN OVER 216.5 (+1.8) 

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: PHX-ATL UNDER 232.5 (-2.0)

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