NBA Tips Tonight – Thursday, 1st January

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HOUSTON ROCKETS @ BROOKLYN NETS

Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Odds: HOU $1.22 / BKN $4.50

TEAM TRENDS

• 9 of the Nets’ last 11 home games have gone UNDER
• Rockets have won each of their last 9 games against Eastern opponents
• Rockets have won the 1st quarter in each of their last 5 games
• Rockets have failed to cover the spread in each of their last 6 games vs losing-record teams

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Houston Rockets visit Brooklyn on Thursday night looking to extend a three-game winning streak. Houston sits near the top of the Western Conference and has been solid on the road at 10–8, while Brooklyn continues to struggle at home with a 4–12 record.

The Nets have defended reasonably well overall, ranking among the league’s better teams in points allowed, but offense has been an issue, scoring under 110 points per game. Houston brings a clear scoring edge, averaging 120.5 points per game, and already dominated the first meeting of the season with a 137–109 win on October 28.

Recent form has been mixed for both sides. Brooklyn is 6–4 over its last 10 games but has relied heavily on defensive effort, while Houston has gone 5–5 during that span, scoring efficiently but allowing over 116 points per game. The Rockets’ ability to control the pace again shapes this matchup.

INJURIES: Nets: Haywood Highsmith: out (knee).

INJURIES: Rockets: Alperen Sengun: day to day (calf), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl), Steven Adams: day to day (ankle).

PICK – BROOKLYN +10.5

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MIAMI HEAT @ DETROIT PISTONS

Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Odds: MIA $2.65 / DET $1.50

TEAM TRENDS

• Detroit Pistons have won 11 of their last 12 games at Little Caesars Arena
• Each of the last 4 games between the Heat and Pistons have gone OVER
• Pistons have covered the spread in 5 of their last 6 games against the Heat

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Miami Heat visit Detroit on Thursday night looking to extend a three-game winning streak against the Eastern Conference–leading Pistons. Detroit has been dominant within the conference at 17–5 and continues to control the interior, leading the East in points in the paint.

Both teams lean heavily on inside scoring. Detroit averages 58.1 paint points per game, while Miami ranks second in the conference in that category. Perimeter shooting could also factor in, with the Heat averaging slightly more made three-pointers than Detroit typically allows. The Pistons took the first meeting 138–135 on November 30, led by Cade Cunningham’s 29 points, in a high-scoring affair.

Recent form favors Detroit, which is 7–3 over its last 10 games while holding opponents near 112 points per contest. Miami has been more inconsistent at 4–6 over that stretch but has found offensive rhythm during its current win streak.

INJURIES: Pistons: Tobias Harris: day to day (hip), Caris LeVert: day to day (knee).

INJURIES: Heat: Pelle Larsson: day to day (ankle), Tyler Herro: day to day (toe).

PICK – DETROIT -4.5

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PHILADELPHIA 76ERS @ DALLAS MAVERICKS

American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
Odds: PHI $1.80 / DAL $2.05

TEAM TRENDS

• The home team has won each of the Mavericks’ last 12 games
• Each of the last 3 games between the 76ers and Mavericks have gone OVER the total match points line
• The 76ers have won the first quarter in 9 of their last 10 road games against the Mavericks

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Dallas Mavericks host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Dallas has been steady at home with a 9–9 record but continues to battle inconsistency, while Philadelphia has held up well on the road at 8–6.

The Mavericks have struggled with ball security, averaging 14.9 turnovers per game, and their three-point production has lagged behind what Philadelphia typically allows. The 76ers bring a clear edge from deep, averaging 13.5 made threes per game, and have been competitive in close contests with a 5–4 record in one-possession games. Philadelphia also took the first meeting 121–114 on December 21 behind Tyrese Maxey’s 38 points.

Recent form has been mixed for both sides. Dallas is 4–6 over its last 10 games despite efficient shooting, while Philadelphia has gone 5–5, leaning heavily on Maxey and Joel Embiid for offense.

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), Anthony Davis: day to day (groin).

INJURIES: 76ers: Trendon Watford: day to day (thigh), Kelly Oubre Jr.: day to day (knee).

PICK – OVER 230.5 TOTAL POINTS

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BOSTON CELTICS @ SACRAMENTO KINGS

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
Odds: BOS $1.26 / SAC $4.00

TEAM TRENDS

• The Celtics have won 7 of their last 8 games against the Kings
• The Celtics have lost the first quarter in each of their last 4 games

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Boston Celtics visit Sacramento on Thursday night for a non-conference matchup as the Kings continue to search for consistency at home. Sacramento is just 5–10 on its home floor but has been competitive in tight games, going 3–1 in one-possession contests.

Boston has been reliable on the road at 10–7 and brings a clear perimeter advantage. The Celtics average 15.5 made three-pointers per game, well above what Sacramento typically allows, while the Kings generate limited production from deep. Recent form also favors Boston, which is 7–3 over its last 10 games and holding opponents to just under 111 points per game.

Sacramento has struggled defensively during its recent 3–7 stretch, allowing more than 120 points per game, and will need a sharper effort to keep pace with Boston’s balanced offense.

INJURIES: Kings: Zach LaVine: out (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out (knee).

INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Chris Boucher: day to day (personal).

PICK – BOSTON -9.5 TOTAL POINTS

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UTAH JAZZ @ LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Odds: UTAH $5.00 / LAC $1.19

TEAM TRENDS

• The Clippers have won each of their last 5 games

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Los Angeles Clippers host the Utah Jazz on Thursday night after Kawhi Leonard’s 55-point explosion in a 112–99 win over Detroit. Both teams sit near the bottom of the Western Conference, but Los Angeles enters with momentum following that performance.

The Clippers are 7–14 in conference play and have been at their best when taking care of the ball, posting an 8–4 record when winning the turnover battle. Offensively, production has been uneven, though Leonard’s recent form has lifted their ceiling. Utah, meanwhile, continues to struggle defensively, allowing 127.1 points per game on the season despite ranking among the West’s better rebounding teams.

This is the second meeting of the season. Utah took the first matchup convincingly on October 23, winning 129–108 behind 22 points from Walker Kessler. Recent form has been similar, with both teams hovering around .500 over their last 10 games, though Utah games have trended higher scoring due to defensive issues.

INJURIES: Clippers: Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), Bogdan Bogdanovic: day to day (hamstring), Ivica Zubac: out (ankle).

INJURIES: Jazz: Ace Bailey: day to day (hip), Kevin Love: day to day (rest), Georges Niang: out (foot), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).

PICK – UTAH +11.5

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