A massive 10-game slate for NBA Thursday with three blockbuster clashes across the association. As always, we’ve got you covered, with previews of three of the games from the slate where we find the best value.
Check out our NBA betting tips for Thursday 26th January below! Enjoy your Australia Day that little bit more, by cashing some winners in the NBA!
2022-23 NBA Betting Tips: Thursday January 26th
Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic
Amway Center, 11:00am AEDT
We kick things off in a matchup that isn’t one of the headliners for this slate, but one where I see value. The Indiana Pacers’ season has hit the skids since Tyrese Haliburton went down with an elbow injury a couple of weeks ago. Sitting at 23-18, the Pacers were one of the surprise packets in the east, getting fantastic contributions from rookie Bennedict Mathurin, Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, however they were held together by Haliburton, who was having a breakout season, averaging 20.2 points and 10.2 assists per game. Since Haliburton has been out, the Pacers have lost 6-straight, with four of these losses by double digits.
The Magic have shown flashes this season. With their young but talented core, they have shown that on any given night they can beat anyone. This is highlighted by the fact they are 3-0 against the Boston Celtics this season. On Tuesday, the Magic got Jonathan Isaac back, playing in his first game since 2020, beating the Celtics comfortably 113-98. The Magic are getting contributions from all over the roster, and continue to remain competitive in most of their games.
The Magic have covered this number in their past 6 home victories, showing they have it in them to cover two score numbers. The Pacers have really been struggling, and will be backing up after a divisional matchup with the Bulls on Wednesday. I like the Magic to win and cover.
Orlando Magic (-4.5)
$1.88 (2 units)
Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers
Wells Fargo Center, 11:30am AEDT
One of three marquee matchups in this slate, and the one we are going to key in on, features the 2nd placed Philadelphia 76ers (30-16) squaring off with the 4th placed Brooklyn Nets (29-17).
The Nets fired Head Coach Steve Nash after starting the season 2-5, before replacing him with Interim Jacques Vaughan. The Nets then went 26-8, with Vaughan shooting into favouritism for the Coach of the Year award, before Kevin Durant went down with a knee injury. Since then, the Nets have struggled, losing 4-straight, before picking up two wins in a row over the Jazz and Warriors.
The 76ers have been tremendous when fit, but they’ve also kept it together reasonably well when superstar Joel Embiid has missed time, going 8-4 without the big man. Whilst Embiid is questionable in this one, Durant is definitely out, and with how tight the standings are in the east, I’ve got to believe Embiid suits up, but even if he doesn’t, the 76ers could still cover this number.
These two teams last played 2 months ago, with the 76ers winning 115-106 without Embiid, Harden and Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers were able to shut down Kevin Durant (20p, 5r, 5a), whilst forcing 15 turnovers. The 76ers were led by Tobias Harris (24p, 6r) and De’Anthony Melton (22p, 4r, 4a), in a tremendous win with rotational players. I believe the 76ers will have the edge no matter the rotation in this one, and come away with a solid win, covering the spread.
Philadelphia 76ers (-5.5)
$1.93 (1.5 units)
Toronto Raptors at Sacramento Kings
Golden 1 Center, 2:00pm AEDT
We go back to the well with the Kings, who continue to defy the odds with their impressive 27-19 record, good enough for 3rd in the Western Conference. The Kings have won 7 of their past 8, scoring an average of 129.5 points per game in that span. The Kings currently have the 2nd most efficient offense in the NBA, and I don’t see the Raptors slowing them down here.
Speaking of the Raptors, they continue to struggle on the road, with a paltry 6-15 record. The Raptors are also bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency, and I struggle to see how they will contain this Kings’ offense on the road. This is the first in a 7-game west coast road trip, where the Raptors season could well and truly collapse.
The Kings will look towards De’Aaron Fox (24p, 6.1a, 4.3r), Domantas Sabonis (18.7p, 12.5r, 7.4a), and rookie Keegan Murray (12.3p, 4.3r) to lead them against a Raptors team struggling for confidence, who may also be without star forward OG Anunoby, who’s averaging 17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game this season.
I love the Kings right now, and expect them to cover this small-ish spread.
Sacramento Kings (-4)
$1.95 (2.5 units)
