Tonight’s Best NBA Tips – Thursday, 8th January

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INDIANA PACERS @ CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
Odds: IND $2.40 / CHA $1.60

TEAM TRENDS

• The Pacers have lost each of their last 13 games

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Indiana Pacers visit Charlotte on Thursday night as the Hornets look to snap a three-game home losing streak. Both teams sit near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but recent form heavily favors Charlotte.

The Hornets are 11–17 against conference opponents and have been solid on the glass, ranking sixth in the East in rebounding. Indiana has struggled badly within the conference at 4–19 and is riding a 10-game losing streak, allowing nearly 124 points per game during that stretch. Defensive efficiency has been a major issue for the Pacers, who are giving up almost 120 points per game on the season.

This is the second meeting of the season between the teams. Indiana won the first matchup 127–118 on November 20, but current momentum points strongly in the opposite direction. Charlotte is 4–6 over its last 10 games, while Indiana has gone winless over the same span.

INJURIES: Hornets: Mason Plumlee: out (groin), Grant Williams: out (acl), Ryan Kalkbrenner: day to day (elbow), Brandon Miller: day to day (knee).

INJURIES: Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin: out (thumb), Obi Toppin: out (foot), Isaiah Jackson: out (concussion), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).

PICK – CHARLOTTE -3.5

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MIAMI HEAT @ CHICAGO BULLS

United Center, Chicago, IL
Odds: MIA $1.39 / CHI $3.10

TEAM TRENDS

• The underdogs have won each of the last 5 games between the Heat and Bulls

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Miami Heat visit Chicago on Thursday night as the Bulls look to halt a three-game losing streak. Miami sits slightly higher in the Eastern Conference standings and enters as the road favorite.

Chicago is 13–14 in conference play and has been strong in close games, posting a 7–2 record in one-possession contests. Offensively, the Bulls average just over 117 points per game but have struggled defensively during their recent slide. Miami has been steadier overall, going 12–10 against the East while averaging 120.1 points per game and outscoring opponents by nearly three points per contest.

This is the second meeting of the season between the teams. Miami dominated the first matchup on November 22 with a 143–107 victory. Recent form is similar, with both teams sitting at 5–5 over their last 10 games, though Miami has been more disruptive defensively.

INJURIES: Bulls: Coby White: day to day (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Jalen Smith: day to day (concussion protocol), Josh Giddey: out (hamstring), Zach Collins: day to day (toe).

INJURIES: Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr.: day to day (ankle).

PICK – OVER 241.5 TOTAL POINTS

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CLEVELAND CAVALIERS @ MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
Odds: CLE $2.20 / MIN $1.70

TEAM TRENDS

• The Timberwolves have won 8 of their last 9 home games against Eastern Conference opponents

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Minnesota on Thursday night to face a Timberwolves team riding a three-game winning streak. Minnesota has been strong at home with a 13–6 record and has continued to find balance on both ends of the floor.

The Timberwolves average 13.8 made three-pointers per game, matching what Cleveland typically allows, and have gone 7–3 over their last 10 games while holding opponents to just under 113 points per contest. Anthony Edwards has been in top form recently, giving Minnesota a consistent scoring edge.

Cleveland enters with a 6–4 mark over its last 10 games and has been efficient offensively, shooting nearly 50% from the field during that span. The Cavaliers have also been tested against quality competition, posting an 11–10 record against teams above .500, but have been more inconsistent away from home at 8–8.

INJURIES: Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon Jr.: day to day (foot).

INJURIES: Cavaliers: Max Strus: out (foot), Dean Wade: day to day (knee), Larry Nance Jr.: out (calf).

PICK – CLEVELAND +2.5

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DALLAS MAVERICKS @ UTAH JAZZ

Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Odds: DAL $1.39 / UTAH $3.10

TEAM TRENDS

• The Jazz have lost each of their last 14 games after coming off overtime
• The Mavericks have lost the first quarter in each of their last 6 road games

WIN/LOSS

SEASON POINTS +/-

PICKS ATS

The Dallas Mavericks visit Utah on Thursday night as the Jazz look to snap a four-game losing streak. Both teams sit near the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but recent head-to-head history suggests a competitive matchup.

Utah has struggled badly in conference play at 7–18 and continues to have major defensive issues, allowing 127.1 points per game and being outscored by more than seven points per contest. The Jazz have also dropped seven of their last nine games, giving up nearly 128 points per game over that stretch. Offensively, they can score, averaging close to 120 points per game, but stops have been hard to come by.

Dallas hasn’t been much steadier at 8–16 against the West, but the Mavericks have defended better than Utah overall and allow just under 117 points per game. They did fall to the Jazz in the first meeting of the season, a 140–133 overtime loss on December 16, despite a huge 42-point effort from Cooper Flagg. That game featured 273 total points and highlighted both teams’ defensive shortcomings.

INJURIES: Jazz: Georges Niang: out (foot), Walker Kessler: out for season (shoulder).

INJURIES: Mavericks: Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Kyrie Irving: out (knee), Brandon Williams: day to day (heel), Dante Exum: out for season (knee), P.J. Washington: day to day (ankle).

PICK – DALLAS -7.5

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