What an exciting and profitable season it’s been thus far for our NBA followers. Nearly every slate we’ve attacked we’ve come out well on top in and we’re confident that will be the case again on Thursday. Check out our best plays for the big 12-game slate and good luck if following!
NBA Betting Tips: Thursday, 28th of January
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers
Quicken Loans Arena, 11am AEDT
Detroit Pistons are coming off a rare win at home to the 76ers to the tune of 15 points last time out. It was just their fourth win of the season against 13 losses and it also snapped a four-game losing streak. The Pistons are currently second from the bottom in the East and with the second worst record in the NBA.
Cleveland Cavaliers have been a surprise packet this season with how well they’ve fared so far. Many expected them to finish in the bottom couple of spots in the East, but the Cavs are currently occupying the 7thseed with an 8-9 record.
The Cavs have done a fantastic job to already have eight wins to their name this season considering the number of injuries to key players they’ve had to deal with. Now at near full-strength against a Pistons outfit that they’ve beaten in the last three meetings, we’re more than happy to be taking them at the small spread here.
Mason Plumlee has flourished in a starter role for the rebuilding Pistons this season and is set for some big minutes on Thursday guarding the likes of Drummond and Allen. As long as he stays out of early foul trouble, Plumlee should be able to clear his PRA line with ease.
Prop: Plumlee O18.5 PRA ($1.80)
Cleveland Cavaliers -3.5
$1.95
Washington Wizards at New Orleans Pelicans
Smoothie King Center, 1pm AEDT
Washington Wizards have been a bit of a headache to watch this season and come into this slate with the worst record in the NBA at 3-10. They’ve dealt with a ton of injuries and Covid precautions, which has stalled any type of momentum they’ve been able to find this season.
New Orleans Pelicans haven’t exactly hit the ground running this season either. They’re 5-10 on the season, which is the second worst mark in the West. As a result, there are rumours that both JJ Redick and Lonzo Ball are available if the right trade is proposed.
We aren’t in love with how the Pelicans are playing, but they catch a terrible Wizards side on the second night of a road back-to-back here. If the Pels have any aspirations of making a playoff push this season, then this is a game they win very comfortably, which we think they will.
The Wizards are without Thomas Bryant (ACL) for the remainder of the season, which has left the ageing Robin Lopez as their only real rim protection. Coming up against them here is one of the biggest paint threats in the competition in Zion Williamson, who’s coming into some really nice form. We have him putting up a big scoring total here.
Prop: Williamson O24.5 Points ($1.85)
New Orleans Pelicans -7.5
$1.89
OKC Thunder at Phoenix Suns
PHX Arena, 1pm AEDT
OKC Thunder are one of the less talented teams in the league but have shown the ability to steal wins away from teams that take them lightly. They come into this game at a modest 7-9, although that’s still well above early season expectations.
Phoenix Suns got off to a red-hot start this campaign with wins in five of their opening six games, but they’ve tailed off a bit since then. They’ve lost four of their last five games and two of those were overtime defeats against the Nuggets. The Suns are 8-7 on the season, which has them sitting in 7th in the West.
Neither team is in winning form coming into this matchup, but the Suns certainly have the most upside of the two. They’re a talented squad even without Devin Booker available and should be winning this at home rather comfortably.
With Booker out for this clash there are 30+ minutes available for some of their other wing players, and the one we expect to gain the most from his absence is Jae Crowder. Crowder put up a 21/7/3 split in their most recent game without Booker and as long as he gets 30+ minutes again, then he should be cruising past his PRA line.
Prop: Crowder O18.5 PRA ($1.80)
