Six NBA games are scheduled for Saturday with the highlight being the Timberwolves and the Rockets colliding at 1:30pm AEDT. The day’s action tips off at 11:00am AEDT and the final game between the Wizards at Kings is set for 2:00pm AEDT. Here are our three best bets for Saturday’s NBA slate!
NBA Betting Tips: Saturday, January 17th 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers (11:00am AEDT)
Both teams met last game and the Cleveland Cavaliers (23-19) smacked the Philadelphia 76ers (22-17) 133-107, as Donovan Mitchell dropped 35 points and Darius Garland scored 20. Garland is out though, which hurts their cause. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George are expected to play again after being listed as game-time decisions.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey had a game to forget, scoring 14 points on 5-16 shooting, so he should bounce back for this contest. Embiid led the way with 20 points, and if he’s feeling good, could demand more touches. The former MVP can still score heavily and that may be the plan in the rematch.
The Sixers need to force the ball out of Mitchell’s hands more often as they allowed him to get what he wanted last game. At this stage, the Sixers have been better on the road than at home, so need to get back to playing well in front of their fans. Rookie VJ Edgecombe was quiet against the Cavs last time so he will be keen to get into double figures this time around.
76ers -1.5
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets (11:30am AEDT)
The Chicago Bulls (19-21) will be hyped heading into this game following a game-winner from Nikola Vucevic, off a bullet-like pass from Tre Jones, as they defeated the Jazz 128-126. Awaiting them, will be the Brooklyn Nets (11-27) who fell 113-116 against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Bulls are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, allowing 120.9 points per game, while the Nets are one of the better defensive outfits despite an abysmal overall record. On the other side of the ball, the Nets are woeful offensively, only scoring 108.8 points per game. They shoot 44.7% from the field and 34.4% from deep. Michael Porter Jr. will be tasked with carrying the offense and he will be hoping that streaky scorer Cam Thomas can put up some big numbers in this contest.
If the Nets can look to score in the paint, an area where the Bulls give up 54 points per contest, then they can hold home court advantage to notch a victory.
Nets To Win
$1.90 (1.5 Units)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Houston Rockets (1:30pm AEDT)
It was a one-sided demolition last game as the underhanded Minnesota Timberwolves (27-14) beat down the Milwaukee Bucks 139-106 without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. The latter returns here but they will still miss their superstar scorer as they head to Texas to battle the Houston Rockets (23-14).
The Rockets handled the Chicago Bulls and are in the midst of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the time of writing. As long as they get through that game with a clean bill of health, then I like their chances of putting away the Ant-less Wolves. Head coach Ime Udoka has a half-court focus for his Rockets, they rarely push the pace, preferring deliberate offensive structure run through Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. They are one of the best offensive teams in the league for a reason using methodical precision to plan each trip up the court.
With Edwards out, Julius Randle steps in to control the offense, and the big is averaging 22.2 points and 5.7 assists per game. The Rockets will be hoping he has one of his off games, which he can do from time-to-time where he only scores around 13 to 17 points. Despite the back-to-back game, where the Rockets are 0-3 this season, they were always on the road, so returning home should be in their favour and I think they can cover the line.
Rockets -3.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
