The Suns made a statement last night with a fourth quarter comeback to beat the Mavericks in Dallas and improve to the league’s best record of 35-9. Chris Paul posted 20 points and 11 assists with zero turnovers. Friday kicks off the weekend with an action-packed slate consisting of 11 games across the league. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets, picks and overall NBA betting tips for Friday, Jan. 21.
NBA Best Bets: Game Tips & Expert Betting Predictions
Grizzlies vs. Nuggets Best Bet
Memphis and Denver face off for the third time this season. The Grizzlies defeated the Nuggets at home in the first two matchups. Tonight they will play inside in Denver where the Nuggets hold a 12-8 record. Nikola Jokic is coming off a 49-point triple double performance in an overtime victory over the Clippers. The Nuggets have won three of their last four games, scoring 130 or more points in each of those wins. After posting 11 straight wins, the Grizzlies have come back to Earth, dropping two of their last three games. In the midst of a four-game road trip, Memphis will look to bounce back after losing 126-114 to the Bucks on Wednesday.
The Grizzlies enter this matchup missing some of their key rotational players. Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson will all be out for tonight’s game as they wait to be cleared from the league’s health and safety protocols. The absence of these three players will open up minutes for John Konchar, Ziaire Williams and De’Anthony Melton. The Grizzlies offense ranks eighth on the season, averaging 111.9 points per game. Memphis has held their own on the defensive end of the floor, holding opponents to 108.3 points per game and ranking ninth in defensive rating. They are the second-best offensive rebounding team in the league going up against a Nuggets team that averages the fourth-fewest rebounds per game. The edge on the boards and turnovers can open up more opportunities for Memphis to produce points.
The Nuggets will try to keep the momentum going with a win tonight, which would give them their second win in a row and fourth win in their last five games. Jokic has been playing lights out, posting three straight triple-doubles. He is averaging 25.9 points, 13.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists on the year. Denver’s offense as a whole has been clicking ranking sixth in offensive rating over the last 10 games, averaging 113.2 points per game over this span. Aaron Gordon has been making his presence known, posting consecutive 20-point performances for the first time this season. His offensive production is key part of Denver’s success with Jamal Murray sidelined.
While Denver plays at a slower pace, they make their offensive possessions count, ranking fifth in effective field goal percentage on the season and first overall in the last 10 games. The over is 7-2 in the Grizzlies last nine road games. The over is 4-0 in the Nuggets last four. Denver is 11-9 over/under record at home this year. Memphis is 10-9-2 over/under record on the road. While first two matchups resulted in low totals, both these teams have covered 224 points in four of their last five games. Ride the offensive production and take the over in Friday’s battle inside Ball Arena.
Best Bet for Tonight’s Game: Total Over 224 Points
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Clippers vs. 76ers Best Bet
The Clippers travel to Philadelphia for showdown with the 76ers on Friday night. The 76ers are having a strong season behind some incredible play by Joel Embiid. Philadelphia is set to play seven of their next eight games at home. The Clippers have dropped three of their last four games and hold an 8-12 record on the season without Paul George in the lineup. George is expected to remain out of the lineup for the next few weeks as he recovers from an elbow injury.
Embiid’s play has propelled the 76ers to a 26-18 record, good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Expect him to have another big night tonight, as he averages 32 points and 14.5 rebounds in six career games versus the Clippers. Matisse Thybulle (shoulder), Danny Green (hip) and Shake Milton (back) will be out for Friday’s matchup. Seth Curry is questionable due to left ankle soreness. If Curry is unable to suit up, the 76ers will be running thin with offense production off the bench. On the year the 76ers are 19th in scoring, with 107.5 points per game. Their defense has been lockdown, ranking fourth in defensive rating and holding opponents to 105.7 points per game. Their struggles have come on the glass, where they rank last in rebounds per game.
The Clippers are coming off a game where they allowed Jokic to pour in 49 points, and things do not get any easier for Los Angeles tonight. They will go up against Embiid, who is coming off a 50-burger against Orlando on Wednesday night. Nicolas Batum (COVID) and Marcus Morris (personal) are listed as questionable for Friday. If both are not active, the Clippers may struggle to find scoring of their own, as they already rank 25th in points per game. Reggie Jackson‘s production will be key for the Clippers success. He has posted back-to-back 25-point performances.
The Clippers have been overwhelmed by injuries this season. With both their superstars out of the rotation, the Clippers have had to stay afloat with players such as Morris and Jackson. The 76ers have been one of the most profitable under teams this season, with a 17-26-1 over/under record. The Clippers are 20-26 over/under this season. Philadelphia loves to run the halfcourt offense through Embiid, which slows down their pace. With the 76ers down a few key scorers and the Clippers heading into tonight with several question marks, play the under in tonight’s matchup.
Best Bet for Tonight’s Game: Total Under 213.5 Points
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