Best NBA Best Bets Today - Monday, January 2, 2023

We're hoping to cash in with our first NBA best bets of 2023, so hop in and join us on Monday, January 2 because our New Year's Resolution was to never lose again. Tonight's slate should be an extremely fun one, especially considering we'll get some afternoon basketball. The New York Knicks will be hosting the Phoenix Suns at 3:00PM ET, which means the action starts early and it doesn't slow down either. There are games all the way up until the Los Angeles Clippers host the Miami Heat at 10:30PM ET. Also, you're going to want to make sure you check out our NBA player props parlay for today, as it will give you a good chance at cashing in on a massive payout. 

As always, we've simulated all of the night's NBA games 10,000 times each to determine where the value lies for sports bettors across the United States.

PARLAY: Today's Best NBA Player Props Parlay

Best NBA Bets Today

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 7:00PM ET

The Pelicans and 76ers combined to score 243 points when they met on December 30, but the total is still way down at 229 in this one. That's because the oddsmakers are likely hoping that people look at that first result and jump on the Over. But the Sixers and Pelicans are both top-5 defenses in the NBA, according to defensive rating. And Philadelphia plays at the fifth-slowest pace in the league, so this is not a team that wants to get into a track meet. 

The Under had also hit in the previous four meetings between these teams before the last one unexpectedly turned into a high-scoring game. And since Willie Green became the head coach of the Pelicans, the Under is also 12-1 when his team is playing on the road after back-to-back games of shooting 50.0% from the field or higher. So, this one could end up getting a little messier for the Pelicans, especially with the average total points scored in those 13 games being just 209.1 points per game. 

BET: Under 229 (-110) with DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️.

🏀 Pelicans vs. 76ers Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Pelicans vs. 76ers

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Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00PM ET

The Cavaliers are first in the league in defensive rating this season, but they still had five games in a row go Over the total before combining to score only 205 points in a meeting with this very Bulls team on December 31. However, the oddsmakers still put this total up at 222, so clearly they aren't too concerned about this being a repeat of that ugly, defensive scrap on New Year's Eve. 

Look for this game to be a little higher in scoring than that, as Chicago had also seen its games go Over in the four games it played before facing Cleveland on Saturday. Both of these teams are easily capable of putting up 115 or more in this one, and that's exactly what we're anticipating in this spot. Our DimersBOT also gives this game a good shot at going Over. 

BET: Over 222 (-110) with DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️.

🏀 Bulls vs. Cavaliers Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Bulls vs. Cavaliers

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Denver Nuggets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8:00PM ET

After having likely had New Year's Eve plans on Saturday, the Nuggets then defeated the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Now, the team had to travel to Minnesota for a meeting with the Timberwolves, and you just have to wonder if fatigue will catch up to Mike Malone's squad at some point. And Denver also happens to be without Jamal Murray right now, as he is managing a foot injury. That's going to make it pretty hard on the Nuggets to beat the Timberwolves on the road. 

Rudy Gobert hasn't been very good this season, but he should be able to do a decent job of defending Nikola Jokic in the paint. That will allow guys like D'Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels to do their work on the perimeter, and we like that group a little more than what the Nuggets have to offer without Murray. 

Denver also happens to be just 1-8 ATS when playing on the road after two or more consecutive wins this season. The Nuggets have lost those games by an average of 7.2 points per game, so they are clearly having trouble hitting the road and finding their focus. We're going a little bigger on this spread and this is is also worth a moneyline sprinkle. 

BET: Timberwolves +3.5 with DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️.

🏀 Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Nuggets vs. Timberwolves

Your game not here? Find out who we're betting on for every basketball game on Monday via our NBA Bet Hub, where we deliver you NBA predictions and suggested bets, or check out the NBA Betting News section.

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Best NBA Bets Today

There are numerous different ways you can wager on NBA games in 2022, such as the moneyline, spread, total, player and team props, and, of course, parlays. While we normally suggest taking our picks on their own, we recognize the need to service a parlay-loving audience! With that said, check out the fat payout you can get by throwing all of our best bets together tonight. 

🔥 Pelicans-Sixers Under 229
🔥 Bulls-Cavaliers Over 222
🔥 Timberwolves +3.5 

*All odds and lines correct at time of publishing