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 Monday, January 12, 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. 

* NBA teams that come off a game in which they lost as home favorites flush that result quickly when next a road favorite, going 169-78 SU and 139-104-4 ATS (57.2%) (sub-system: 82-27 SU and 66-39-4 ATS (62.9%) when favored by 4-points or more versus intraconference foes) since the start of the 2020-21 season.
System Match (PLAY): LA LAKERS (-9.5 at SAC) 

* 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 131-95 SU and 133-90-3 ATS (59.6%) surge.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): BROOKLYN (+4.5 at DAL), CHARLOTTE (+4.5 at LAC) 

* In Eastern Atlantic divisional games, home underdogs of 5 points or less have gone 16-38 SU and 19-33-2 ATS (36.5%) since late-April 2021.
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+3.5 vs PHI) 

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

(533) UTAH at (534) CLEVELAND
* Over the total is 6-1 in the last seven of the Jazz-Cavs non-conference series at Rocket Arena
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): UTA-CLE (o/u at 250.5) 

(535) BOSTON at (536) INDIANA
* Over the total is 9-2 in the last 11 matchups between Boston and Indiana
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): BOS-IND (o/u at 226.5) 

(537) PHILADELPHIA at (538) TORONTO
* Over the total is 8-1 in the last nine of the 76ers-Raptors divisional rivalry, including an Over last night
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): PHI-TOR (o/u at 221.5) 

(539) BROOKLYN at (540) DALLAS
* Road teams are 6-1 ATS in the last seven of the BKN-DAL non-conference set
Trend Match (PLAY): BROOKLYN (+4.5 at DAL) 

(541) LA LAKERS at (542) SACRAMENTO
* LA LAKERS have won and covered six straight meetings with divisional foe Sacramento
Trend Match (PLAY): LA LAKERS (-13.5 at SAC) 

(543) CHARLOTTE at (544) LA CLIPPERS
* Underdogs are 2-6 SU but 6-2 ATS in the last eight of the CHA-LAC cross-country series
Trend Match (PLAY): CHARLOTTE (+4.5 at LAC)

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 #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 131-95 SU and 133-90-3 ATS (59.6%) surge.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): BROOKLYN (+4.5 at DAL), CHARLOTTE (+4.5 at LAC) 

NBA Team Strength Betting System #6:
Divisional single-digit home underdogs winning 38% of their games or less have gone 45-130 SU and 76-94-5 ATS (44.7%) since the start of the 2020-21 season.
System Match (FADE): SACRAMENTO (+9.5 vs LAL) 

NBA Team Strength Betting System #7:
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 128-103 (55.4%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 238-198 (54.6%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 328-256 (56.2%).
System Match (PLAY): OVER – UTA-CLE (spread -13.5, total 250.5) 

The following are 40 of the top team-specific trends that have developed in the NBA over the last few seasons when considering scheduling situations. Like the league-wide systems introduced earlier, naturally, there are reasons that certain teams perform at varying levels based upon 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 upon the schedule pressures.

* CHARLOTTE is 145-104 Under the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since March 2021
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): CHA-LAC (o/u at 222.5) 

* PHILADELPHIA is 7-18 SU and 9-16 ATS playing in 3rd in 4 Days games since November 2024
Trend Match (FADE): PHILADELPHIA (-3.5 at TOR) 

* UTAH is 95-64 Over the total playing in One Day Rest games since November 2022
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): UTA-CLE (o/u at 250.5) 

The following handicapping information details betting systems for divisional games. 

Eastern Atlantic Division Betting System #2:
In Eastern Atlantic divisional games, home underdogs of 5 points or less have gone 16-38 SU and 19-33-2 ATS (36.5%) since late-April 2021.
System Match (FADE): TORONTO (+3.5 vs PHI) 

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 63-99 SU and 67-90-5 ATS (42.7%) slide, including 38-59-3 ATS in the last 100 games and 21-39 ATS when a pick em’ or favorite.
System Matches (FADE ALL): PHILADELPHIA (-3.5 at TOR), TORONTO (+3.5 vs PHI) 

Road favorites bounce back after losing as home favorite
NBA teams that come off a game in which they lost as home favorites flush that result quickly when next a road favorite, going 169-78 SU and 139-104-4 ATS (57.2%) (sub-system: 82-27 SU and 66-39-4 ATS (62.9%) when favored by 4 points or more versus intraconference foes) since the start of the 2020-21 season.
System Match (PLAY): LA LAKERS (-9.5 at SAC) 

Rout wins are a warning sign for the next contest for the hosts
NBA home teams coming off any game in which they beat the point spread by 20 points or more are 323-251 SU but 260-299-15 ATS (46.5%) over the last seven seasons.  The worst situation for these teams comes against divisional rivals, 45-73-1 ATS (38.1%).
System Matches (FADE ALL ATS): INDIANA (+6.5 vs BOS), SACRAMENTO (+9.5 vs LAL) 

Divisional upsets can create urgency
NBA teams that lose as favorites to divisional opponents have bounced back well when facing another divisional foe, going 108-69 SU and 101-73-3 ATS (58%) in that follow-up try over the last five seasons.
System Match (PLAY): PHILADELPHIA (-3.5 at TOR)

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, 374-324 (53.6%) since 2021.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): PHI-TOR (o/u at 220.5), CHA-LAC (o/u at 222.5)

NBA road teams coming off a game in which they made 20+ 3-point shots have gone just 188-201 SU and 176-203-10 ATS (46.4%) in that next contest over the last seven seasons.
System Match (FADE): CHARLOTTE (+4.5 at LAC)

Teams not making many free throws bounce back well
NBA teams that are coming off a game in which they made six free throws or fewer have bounced back well in the next outing, and are on a 190-162 SU and 195-147-10 ATS (57%) run.
System Match (PLAY): BOSTON (-6.5 at IND) 

Massive rebounding differentials
NBA road underdogs that had a -20 or worse rebounding differential in their previous game have gone 23-75 SU and 43-55 ATS (43.9%) in their last 98 tries.
System Match (FADE): UTAH (+13.5 at CLE) 

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 83-58 SU and 86-54-1 ATS (61.4%) in their last 141 tries.
System Match (PLAY): PHILADELPHIA (-3.5 at TOR)
ALSO WATCH FOR LA CLIPPERS vs CHA, -4.5 CURRENTLY 

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 full 2024-25 season, the sample contained 1,321 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 #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): BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA, LA LAKERS

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, BROOKLYN 

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 Match (SLIGHT PLAY): CLEVELAND 

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 Match (PLAY): BOSTON 

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 137-153 ATS, good for 47.2%. This is over a 4% drop off compared to the overall majority figures and has resulted in -31.3 units of loss and an ROI of -10.8%.
System Matches (FADE ALL): PHILADELPHIA, LA LAKERS 

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 1252-561 over the last three seasons but for -220.99 units and an ROI of -12.2%. On road teams, these majorities have gone 943-612 but for just -6.38 units and an ROI of -0.4%. This 11.8% disparity warrants fading ML majorities on home teams and at least considering ML majorities when they opt for road teams until something definitively changes.
System Matches (FADE ALL): DALLAS ML, LA CLIPPERS 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 has 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): UTA-CLE, PHI-TOR 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #13: The average NBA game total since January of ’23 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 – BKN-DAL 

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): UTA-CLE 

Today’s NBA Strength Ratings

The following 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 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. SACRAMENTO +9.5 (+1.7)
2. BROOKLYN +4.5 (+0.9)
3. TORONTO +3.5 (+0.6) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CLEVELAND -13.5 (+2.5)
2. LA CLIPPERS -4.5 (+0.7)
3. BOSTON -5.5 (+0.4) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BROOKLYN +4.5 (+0.9)
2. UTAH +13.5 (+0.2) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1(tie). BOSTON -5.5 (+2.0)
LA LAKERS -9.5 (+2.0)
3. LA CLIPPERS -4.5 (+0.2) 

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTION FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Match: BKN-DAL OVER 219.5 (+1.5) 

Today’s Top 3 TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BOS-IND UNDER 226.5 (-3.3)
2. PHI-TOR UNDER 221.5 (-2.2)
3. LAL-SAC UNDER 228.5 (-1.7) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. SACRAMENTO +9.5 (+0.6)
2. TORONTO +3.5 (+0.5) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CLEVELAND -13.5 (+2.3)
2. DALLAS -4.5 (+1.1)
3. LA CLIPPERS -4.5 (+0.8) 

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. LAL-SAC OVER 228.5 (+3.2)
2. UTA-CLE OVER 250.5 (+2.0)
3. PHI-TOR OVER 221.5 (+0.3) 

Today’s TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BOS-IND UNDER 226.5 (-3.1)
2. CHA-LAC UNDER 223.5 (-1.3)
3. BKN-DAL UNDER 219.5 (-0.9)

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