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 9, 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. 

* LA LAKERS are 33-10 SU and 31-12 ATS playing at home in One Day Rest games since January 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): LA LAKERS (-3.5 vs MIL) 

* Teams having lost their last four games or more have been fantastic in rare role of playing as road favorites, going 47-15 SU and 42-18-2 ATS (70%) in their last 62 tries.
System Match (PLAY): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH) 

* Over the total is 12-1 in the last 13 of the Hawks-Denver series
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): ATL-DEN (o/u at 233.5) 

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. 

* ATLANTA is 130-94 Over the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since November 2021
* DENVER is 85-52 Over the total playing in 4th in 6 Days games since March 2021
Trend Matches (PLAY ALL): ATL-DEN (o/u at 234.5) 

* BROOKLYN is 14-7 Over the total playing at home in the One Day Rest scenario since February 2025
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): LAC-BKN (o/u at 215.5) 

* GOLDEN STATE is 30-31 SU and 20-38 ATS playing home games in the One Day Rest scenario since November 2023
Trend Match (FADE): GOLDEN STATE (-14.5 vs SAC) 

* GOLDEN STATE is 127-96 Over the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since December 2021
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): SAC-GSW (o/u at 231.5)

* HOUSTON is 119-93 Over the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since December 2021
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): HOU-POR (o/u at 221.5) 

* LA LAKERS are 33-10 SU and 31-12 ATS playing at home in One Day Rest games since January 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): LA LAKERS (-3.5 vs MIL) 

* OKLAHOMA CITY is 79-15 SU and 59-32-3 ATS playing in all One Day Rest games since April 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): OKLAHOMA CITY (-5.5 at MEM) 

* ORLANDO is 113-82 Under the total playing in all One Day Rest games since March 2022
* PHILADELPHIA is 20-6 Over the total playing on the road in One Day Rest games since November 2024
Trends Match: 1 PLAY OVER, 1 PLAY UNDER in PHI-ORL (o/u at 226.5) 

* WASHINGTON is 5-37 SU and 13-29 ATS playing at home in 4th in 6 Days games since April 2022
Trend Match (FADE): WASHINGTON (+2.5 vs NOP) 

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

(561) NEW ORLEANS at (562) WASHINGTON
* Road teams are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in the last six of the NOP-WSH non-conference series
Trend Match (PLAY): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH) 

(563) PHILADELPHIA at (564) ORLANDO
* Home teams are 5-2 SU and 6-1 ATS in the last seven of the PHI-ORL set
Trend Match (PLAY): ORLANDO (+3.5 vs PHI) 

(565) TORONTO at (566) BOSTON
* Under the total is 4-1 in the last five of the Raptors-Celtics divisional rivalry
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): TOR-BOS (o/u at 223.5) 

(567) LA CLIPPERS at (568) BROOKLYN
* LA CLIPPERS are 3-0 SU and ATS in meetings with BKN since the start of 2024
Trend Match (PLAY): LA CLIPPERS (-4.5 at BKN) 

(569) OKLAHOMA CITY at (570) MEMPHIS
* Home teams are on a 15-3 ATS run in the OKC-MEM series
Trend Match (PLAY): MEMPHIS (+5.5 vs OKC)

* Under the total is 13-3 in the last 16 of the series as well
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): OKC-MEM (o/u at 229.5)

(571) NEW YORK at (572) PHOENIX
* Favorites are on an extended 14-2 SU and 13-3 ATS run in the NYK-PHX non-conference series
Trend Match (PLAY): NEW YORK (-1.5 at PHX) 

(573) ATLANTA at (574) DENVER
* Over the total is 12-1 in the last 13 of the Hawks-Denver set
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): ATL-DEN (o/u at 234.5) 

(575) HOUSTON at (576) PORTLAND
* Favorites are 7-1 SU and ATS in the last eight of the Rockets-Trail Blazers series at the Moda Center, although HOU just lost as a 7.5-point favorite a few nights ago
Trend Match (PLAY): HOUSTON (-6.5 at POR) 

(577) SACRAMENTO at (578) GOLDEN STATE
* Over the total is 7-1 in the last eight of the SAC-GSW divisional rivalry
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): SAC-GSW (o/u at 231.5) 

(579) MILWAUKEE at (580) LA LAKERS
* Favorites are 7-1 SU and ATS in the last eight of the MIL-LAL non-conference set in Los Angeles
Trend Match (PLAY): LA LAKERS (-3.5 vs MIL) 

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 172-66 SU and 140-97-1 ATS (59.1%) run.
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-9.5 vs TOR)

NBA Team Strength Betting System #2:
In games between two teams with 40% or less winning percentages, and lines of 4.5 or less either way, road teams are on a 130-95 SU and 132-90-3 ATS (59.5%) surge.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH), LA CLIPPERS (-4.5 at BKN)

NBA Team Strength Betting System #3:
NBA road favorites winning 36% of their games or less are on an impressive surge of 90-37 SU and 77-49-1 ATS (61.1%).
System Match (PLAY): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH)

NBA Team Strength Betting System #8:
Double-digit NBA games have produced some definitive results on totals over the last five seasons, dependent upon what type of matchup it was. In divisional games featuring double-digit lines, Under the total has gone 128-102 (55.7%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 237-197 (54.6%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 328-255 (56.3%).
System Match (PLAY): UNDER – SAC-GSW (spread -14.5, total 230.5) 

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 91-38 SU and 77-59-3 ATS (56.6%) since the start of the 2022-23 season.
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-9.5 vs TOR)

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. 

Unusual shooting performance systems
NBA teams off a game in which they were granted 35 or more free throw attempts trended Under the total the next game, 374-323 (53.7%) since 2021.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): OKC-MEM (o/u at 229.5) 

Teams not making many free throws bounce back well
NBA teams that come off a game in which they made six free throws or fewer have bounced back well in the next outing, and are on a 187-161 SU and 192-146-10 ATS (56.8%) run.
System Match (PLAY): PHOENIX (+1.5 vs NYK) 

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 83-57 SU and 86-53-1 ATS (61.9%) in their L140 tries.
System Match (PLAY): WASHINGTON (+2.5 vs NOP)

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. 

NBA Streak Betting System #6:
Teams having lost their last four games or more have been fantastic in the rare role of playing as road favorites, going 47-15 SU and 42-18-2 ATS (70%) in their last 62 tries.
System Match (PLAY): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH)

NBA Streak Betting System #10:
Teams having lost their last four games or more have been a solid wager when they are a capable offensive team, as those scoring 114 PPG or more are on a 101-111 SU but 121-89-3 ATS (57.6%) surge.
System Match (PLAY): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH) 

NBA Streak Betting System #12:
Teams on losing streaks of six games or more as divisional underdogs are 8-38 SU and 16-27-3 ATS (37.2%) since the start of the 2023-24 season.
System Match (FADE): SACRAMENTO (+14.5 at GSW) 

NBA Streak Betting System #14:
Teams reaching winning or losing streaks of 7 games or more become play against teams in general, going 288-332-4 ATS (46.5%) in the next outing since 2020, and in particular, teams on losing streaks of 7 games or more have been terrible in road games, going 35-148 SU and 80-97-6 ATS (45.2%).
System Match (FADE): NEW ORLEANS (-2.5 at WSH) 

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 p.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 full 2024-25 season, the sample contained 1321 games, and for the most part, majority handle bettors were much more successful than majority number of bets groups on point spreads and totals, while both struggled on money lines. The full season performance by the majority handle on totals last year in the NBA was better than any other sport I have covered. In fact, these were the results: 

–  Majority handle on point spreads: 660-614 ATS (51.8%), -15.4 units – ROI: -1.2%
–  Majority number of bets on point spreads: 618-645 ATS (48.9%), -91.5 units – ROI: -7.2%
–  Majority handle on money lines: 842-458 (64.8%). -123.18 units – ROI: -9.5%
–  Majority number of bets on money lines: 886-421 (67.8%). -137.95 units – ROI: -10.6%
–  Majority handle on totals: 708-594 (54.4%). +54.6 units – ROI: +4.2%
–  Majority number of bets on totals: 670-621 (51.9%), -13.1 units – ROI: -1% 

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 170-136 ATS (55.6%) over the last three seasons, good for +20.4 units of profit and an ROI of 6.7%. 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 Matches (PLAY ALL): PHOENIX, DENVER, LA LAKERS 

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 748-665 ATS (52.9%) over the last three seasons. This has produced a profit of +16.5 units and an ROI of 1.2%. This has been a very consistent system since I first found it, and for its simplicity, fairly successful. Remember, handle is the total amount of money on a game. When a good portion of the overall money is on a road team in the NBA, it wins more often than not.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): PHILADELPHIA, OKLAHOMA CITY 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #3: It is a somewhat rare situation, but when there was a majority handle backing a home underdog in the NBA over the last three seasons, that group produced a 94-70 ATS record (57.3%).  This has netted +17 units and an ROI of 10.4%. As a general rule, most bettors tend to bet favorites. This lot of 164 games was only about 4.0% of the total sample size.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): PHOENIX, PORTLAND 

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 2+ seasons, that group produced a 352-298 ATS record (54.2%), good for +24.2 units of profit and an ROI of 3.7%. This lot of 650 games was only around 20% of the total sample size.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): PHILADELPHIA, NEW ORLEANS, PHOENIX, PORTLAND 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #5: Concerning number of bets. When 70% or more of the number of bets have been on a home side of an ATS wager since January 2023, this “super” majority group has gone just 92-129 ATS (41.6%), well below the overall performance of all majorities. This has resulted in a net loss of -49.9 units for an ROI of -22.6%.
System Match (FADE): DENVER 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #6: In NBA non-Conference games (East versus West) of the last three seasons, DK super majority handle groups of 62% or greater have been successful, as they are 395-348 ATS (53.2%). If you consider that the overall majority numbers showed a 51.2% success rate, they were about 2% improved on these more-rare contests. This simple angle has produced +12.2 units of profit and an ROI of 1.6%.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): PHOENIX, DENVER, LA LAKERS

DK NBA Betting Splits system #7: The number 63% or higher has been a key super-majority number in non-divisional conference games over the last 2+ seasons, with handle groups of that size boasting a 494-413 ATS record, good for 54.5%. This is over a 3% improvement on the overall majority figures and has netted +39.7 units of profit and an ROI of 4.4%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): PHILADELPHIA, OKLAHOMA CITY 

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 three seasons, the results have been strong, with Under the total on these games going 434-351, good for 55.3%, +47.9 units, and an ROI of +6.1% since January 2023.
System Matches (PLAY UNDER ALL): PHI-ORL, OKC-MEM, NYK-PHX, SAC-GSW, MIL-LAL 

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 346-301 (53.5%) for +14.9 units and an ROI of +2.3% since January 2023.
System Matches (SLIGHT PLAY ALL): OVER – ATL-DEN, SAC-GSW 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #13: The average NBA game total since January of 2023 has been a bit less than 228. In NBA games with “low” totals, or those less than 220, majority handle bettors have gone an impressive 396-334 (54.2%), while majority number of bets groups are a bit less at 386-348 (52.6%). Both groups have proven profitable regardless of which side of the total they have chosen.
System Match (PLAY): OVER – LAC-BKN 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #14: Majority handle Under bettors have been successful when sticking to their guns despite DraftKings raising total off of its opening number. These Under majorities have gone 176-126 (58.3%) since January 2023 by not getting baited into this totals trap. This has been the most profitable angle of all in terms of ROI, producing +37.4 units of profit for 12.4%.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): SAC-GSW

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. PHOENIX +1.5 (+3.1)
2. WASHINGTON +2.5 (+2.2)
3. ORLANDO +3.5 (+1.5) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. DENVER -1.5 (+0.9)
2. OKLAHOMA CITY -5.5 (+0.4) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BROOKLYN +4.5 (+4.1)
2(tie). PHOENIX +1.5 (+2.0)
ATLANTA +1.5 (+2.0) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. OKLAHOMA CITY -5.5 (+1.9)
2. GOLDEN STATE -14.5 (+1.7)
3. HOUSTON -6.5 (+1.4) 

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. ATL-DEN OVER 233.5 (+5.5)
2. NYK-PHX OVER 228.5 (+3.6)
3. PHI-ORL OVER 226.5 (+1.2) 

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. OKC-MEM UNDER 229.5 (-3.7)
2. MIL-LAL UNDER 229.5 (-1.0)
3. NOP-WSH UNDER 242.5 (-0.9) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. PHOENIX +1.5 (+3.8)
2. BROOKLYN +4.5 (+2.8)
3. WASHINGTON +2.5 (+1.6) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITE according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: GOLDEN STATE -14.5 (+1.1) 

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. ATL-DEN OVER 233.5 (+6.3)
2. NYK-PHX OVER 228.5 (+3.9)
3. NOP-WSH OVER 242.5 (+3.3) 

Today’s Top 3 BIGGEST TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. OKC-MEM UNDER 229.5 (-1.7)
2. LAC-BKN UNDER 215.5 (-1.6)
3. TOR-BOS UNDER 222.5 (-0.5)

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR