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 Saturday, January 24, 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. 

* Teams that won their previous game but didn’t cover the spread have been bad in their zero rest follow-up game recently, going 55-68 SU and 43-78-2 ATS (35.5%) since the start of the 2022-23 season.
System Matches (FADE ALL): CLEVELAND (+2.5 at ORL), BOSTON (+1.5 at CHI) 

* DALLAS is 10-6 SU and 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings with LA Lakers
Trend Match (PLAY): DALLAS (+3.5 vs LAL) 

* Teams on losing streaks of seven games or more as divisional underdogs are 10-39 SU and 14-31-4 ATS (31.1%) since April 2022.
System Match (FADE): WASHINGTON (+11.5 at CHA) 

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. 

* CHARLOTTE is 145-106 Under the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since March 2021
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): WSH-CHA (o/u at 233.5) 

* GOLDEN STATE is 132-98 Over the total playing in the One Day Rest scenario since December 2021
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): GSW-MIN (o/u at 237.5) 

* NBA teams playing in 3rd in 4 Days scenario are 50-26 Under the total vs. teams in 4th in 10+ Days games over the last two seasons
* ORLANDO is 114-83 Under the total playing in all One Day Rest games since March 2022
System/Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): CLE-ORL (o/u at 227.5) 

* NBA teams playing at home in One Day Rest scenario were 97-67 Over the total vs. teams in 4th Straight Road games since the start of last Season
* UTAH is 97-67 Over the total playing in One Day Rest games since November 2022
System/Trend Match (PLAY OVER): MIA-UTA (o/u at 245.5)

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

(561) NEW YORK at (562) PHILADELPHIA
* Road teams are on a 7-2 SU and 8-1 ATS surge in the NYK-PHI divisional rivalry
Trend Match (PLAY): NEW YORK (+1.5 at PHI)

(563) GOLDEN STATE at (564) MINNESOTA
* Over the total is 4-1 in the last five of the Warriors-Timberwolves series
Trend Match (PLAY OVER): GSW-MIN (o/u at 237.5) 

(565) WASHINGTON at (566) CHARLOTTE
* Underdogs are 11-3 ATS in the last 14 of the WSH-CHA divisional series
Trend Match (PLAY): WASHINGTON (+11.5 at CHA) 

(567) CLEVELAND at (568) ORLANDO
* Favorites are 6-0 SU and ATS in the Cavs-Magic series at Orlando since start of 2023-24 season
Trend Match (PLAY): ORLANDO (-2.5 vs CLE) 

(569) BOSTON at (570) CHICAGO
* Under the total has converted in the last four matchups between Boston and Chicago
Trend Match (PLAY UNDER): BOS-CHI (o/u at 230.5) 

(571) LA LAKERS at (572) DALLAS
* DALLAS is 10-6 SU and 13-3 ATS in the last 16 meetings with LA Lakers
Trend Match (PLAY): DALLAS (+3.5 vs LAL) 

(573) MIAMI at (574) UTAH
* Underdogs are 7-0 ATS in the last seven of the MIA-UTA non-conference series
Trend Match (PLAY): UTAH (+6.5 vs MIA)

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 #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 131-104 (55.7%). In non-conference games, Over the total was 243-203 (54.5%). And finally, in non-divisional conference games, Over the total was 328-260 (55.8%).
System Match (PLAY): UNDER – WSH-CHA (spread -11.5, total 233.5) 

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 94-39 SU and 78-62-3 ATS (55.7%) since the start of the 2022-23 season.
System Match (PLAY): PHILADELPHIA (-1.5 vs NYK)

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 65-100 SU and 69-91-5 ATS (43.1%) slide, including 40-60-3 ATS in the last 103 games and 22-39 ATS when a pick em’ or favorite.
System Match (FADE): BOSTON (+1.5 at CHI) 

Allowing 120+ points in a win has led to more high-scoring games
NBA teams off a previous day win but having allowed 120+ points have had their totals go Over at a 94-62-1 (60.3%) rate (sub-system: 54-27-1 to the Over (66.7%) when on the road next game) since the start of the 2020-21 season.
System Match (PLAY OVER): BOS-CHI (o/u at 230.5) 

Teams losing despite scoring well are dangerous
NBA teams coming off back-to-back losses in which they scored 115+ points offensively have bounced back extremely well in the next outing when installed as underdogs, going 108-68-1 ATS (61.4%) since the start of the 2018-2019 season.
System Match (PLAY): GOLDEN STATE (+5.5 at MIN) 

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 329-253 SU but 265-302-15 ATS (46.7%) over the last seven seasons.  The worst situation for these teams comes against divisional rivals, 46-73-1 ATS (38.7%).
System Match (FADE ATS): CHARLOTTE (-11.5 vs WSH) 

Unusual shooting performance systems
NBA teams that have made 50% or more of their 3PT field goal attempts in a contest have responded the next time out by going just 331-345 SU and 305-363-8 ATS (45.7%) in the next game over the last five seasons.
System Match (FADE): NEW YORK (+1.5 at PHI) 

NBA road teams coming off a game in which they made 20+ 3-point shots have gone just 193-207 SU and 182-208-10 ATS (46.7%) in that next contest over the last seven seasons.
System Match (FADE): BOSTON (+1.5 at CHI) 

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 172-113 SU and 161-117-7 ATS (57.9%) since 2021.
System Match (PLAY): NEW YORK (+1.5 at PHI)

Massive rebounding differentials
NBA road underdogs that had a -20 or worse rebounding differential in their previous game have gone 24-76 SU and 45-55 ATS (45%) in their last 100 tries.
System Match (FADE): GOLDEN STATE (+5.5 at MIN) 

Winning but not covering has been a problem
Teams that won their previous game but didn’t cover the spread have been bad in their zero rest follow-up game recently, going 55-68 SU and 43-78-2 ATS (35.5%) since the start of the 2022-23 season.
System Matches (FADE ALL): CLEVELAND (+2.5 at ORL), BOSTON (+1.5 at CHI)

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 #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 105-111 SU but 125-89-3 ATS (58.4%) surge.
System Match (PLAY): MINNESOTA (-5.5 vs GSW) 

NBA Streak Betting System #12:
Teams on losing streaks of seven games or more as divisional underdogs are 10-39 SU and 14-31-4 ATS (31.1%) since April 2022.
System Match (FADE): WASHINGTON (+11.5 at CHA) 

NBA Streak Betting System #14:
Teams reaching winning or losing streaks of 7 games or more become play against teams in general, going 290-333-4 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 36-148 SU and 81-97-6 ATS (45.5%).
System Match (FADE): WASHINGTON (+11.5 at CHA)

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 10:15 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 Matches (PLAY ALL): ORLANDO, CHICAGO, UTAH 

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 2025-26, 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 Match (SLIGHT PLAY): LA LAKERS 

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 3+ seasons, that group produced a 135-106 ATS record (56%).  This has netted +18.4 units and an ROI of 7.6%. As a general rule, most bettors tend to bet favorites. This lot of 241 games was only about 5.0% of the total sample size.
System Match (PLAY): UTAH 

DK NBA Betting Splits system #4: In another somewhat rare situation but 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): ORLANDO, CHICAGO, UTAH 

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 Match (SLIGHT PLAY): UTAH

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 3+ seasons, with handle groups of that size boasting a 579-508 ATS record, good for 54.2%. This is over a 4% improvement on the overall majority figures and has netted +20.2 units of profit and an ROI of 1.9%.
System Matches (PLAY ALL): MINNESOTA, ORLANDO, CHICAGO, 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 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 Matches (FADE ALL): CHARLOTTE ML, PHILADELPHIA ML, MINNESOTA ML, UTAH 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 2023.
System Matches (PLAY UNDER ALL): NYK-PHI, GSW-MIN, CLE-ORL, BOS-CHI, MIA-UTA

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 Matches (PLAY ALL): OVER – WSH-CHA, BOS-CHI
UNDER – GSW-MIN 

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 200-153 (56.7%) since January ’23 by not getting baited into this totals trap. This has been the most profitable angle of all in terms of ROI, producing +31.7 units of profit for 9%.
System Match (PLAY UNDER): GSW-MIN

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 Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BOSTON +1.5 (+3.7)
2. DALLAS +3.5 (+2.7)
3. UTAH +5.5 (+1.0) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen POWER RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CHARLOTTE -11.5 (+5.0)
2. PHILADELPHIA -1.5 (+1.0)
3. ORLANDO -1.5 (+0.1) 

Today’s UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. DALLAS +3.5 (+1.8)
2. GOLDEN STATE +5.5 (+0.6) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. MIAMI -5.5 (+2.4)
2. CHARLOTTE -11.5 (+2.2)
3. PHILADELPHIA -1.5 (+1.2) 

Today’s Top 3 TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. MIA-UTA OVER 245.5 (+1.3)
2. BOS-CHI OVER 230.5 (+0.4)
3. WSH-CHA OVER 233.5 (+0.2) 

Today’s Top 3 TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen EFFECTIVE STRENGTH RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. NYK-PHI UNDER 227.5 (-1.1)
2. GSW-MIN UNDER 237.5 (-0.8)
3. CLE-ORL UNDER 227.5 (-0.6) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED UNDERDOGS according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BOSTON +1.5 (+3.9)
2. DALLAS +3.5 (+2.4)
3. GOLDEN STATE +5.5 (+2.2) 

Today’s Top 3 UNDERPRICED FAVORITES according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. CHARLOTTE -11.5 (+6.0)
2. PHILADELPHIA -1.5 (+0.3)
3. ORLANDO -1.5 (+0.2)

Today’s Top 3 TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING OVER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. BOS-CHI OVER 230.5 (+0.8)
2. GSW-MIN OVER 237.5 (+0.7)
3. CLE-ORL OVER 227.5 (+0.5) 

Today’s Top 3 TOTAL PROJECTIONS FAVORING UNDER according to the Makinen BETTORS RATINGS projections:
Ratings Matches: 1. NYK-PHI UNDER 227.5 (-1.0)
2. WSH-CHA UNDER 233.5 (-0.9)
3. LAL-DAL UNDER 233.5 (-0.8)

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