Meatloaf is back on the menu, and with a double-unit hammer! It looked bleak for our double-unit best bet on the Cleveland Cavaliers to win back-to-back games at Xfinity Mobile Center. However, they came through late in the fourth quarter despite the Philadelphia 76ers having a 93% chance to win with a 111-104 lead and only 3:37 remaining the game. 

Evan Mobley dunked a beautiful pass from Jaylon Tyson with less than five seconds remaining in regulation. Then, Mobley made a great defensive effort to get in front of Tyrese Maxey’s last-second half-court field goal attempt. It was unsuccessful and Cleveland won the game, thus cashing in the +120 double-unit hammer.

Trey Murphy had a good game, but not good enough. The New Orleans Pelicans are officially the worst team in the Association after that loss. Despite Murphy sinking five threes, he made just seven field goals on 21 attempts. He was close to the teased up line, needing just one of the nine missed threes to find a way in. Alas, close does not count in the world of betting.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets lived up to the national television hype. Particularly in the second half. Julius Randle had a game for Minnesota, and on the flip side Kevin Durant balled out for Houston, recording his most points as a Rocket. However, the final total score was 110-105, less than 222.5. Making yesterday another profitable day, and proved once again that ‘Two out of three ain’t bad’.

There are nine games beginning at 5:00 PM ET, but there are only two nationally televised games. Both on NBA TV. It’s an inverse day for Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets, as the last game of the night features the first best bet of today.

 

 

 

NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 1/17

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Saturday, 1/17

Game Time: 10:00 PM ET | TV: NBA TV | Location: Moda Center | Odds: POR -2.5 | O/U 224.5

Prediction: Total Over 224.5 (-105 on BetMGM Sportsbook) 

The Portland Trail Blazers host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Moda Center, and enter as the favorite to win. The spread is only -2.5 and that is due to Portland playing well, and Los Angeles playing poorly. The Trail Blazers have won seven of their last ten games, while the Lakers have lost five of their last ten matches.

The Lakers have lost their games due to a lack of defense. It has become apparent that they must trade for a defensive player if they are going to make a run for a championship. The Trail Blazers have been winning their games due to better offense. Five of their last six losses were due to scoring 106 points or less.

It should be more of the same from each team tonight, and with several starters out for each team, points should be plentiful. Bench players rarely get the opportunity to play 25 or more minutes on national television. Expect them to show out for friends and family against second-string defensive players. Put a unit on over 224.5 points in the Rose City.

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks: Saturday, 1/17

Game Time: 9:30 PM ET | TV: NBA League Pass | Location: State Farm Arena | Odds: BOS -3.5 | O/U 229.5

Prediction: Nickeil Alexander-Walker Over 19.5 Points (-105 on DraftKings Sportsbook) 

Nickeil Alexander-Walker has really benefited from the move from the defensive-minded Minnesota Timberwolves to the offensive-minded Atlanta Hawks. He’s reunited with Quin Snyder and is a key piece to the 2025-26 Hawks roster. Coaching matters, and so does coaching philosophy/scheme. There are several examples of this, but today’s second best bet focuses on points.

Alexander-Walker is averaging 32.9 minutes per game, and has played more than his average in eight of his last nine games. He is averaging 20.5 points per game, but has scored 22 or more points in three of his last four games. He is great at scoring off the dribble, but can be a catch-and-score player as well.

He had a bad game in Atlanta's most recent game, a 117-101 blowout against the Trail Blazers. That has caused his point line to dip below his average. Tonight is a home game, and Alexander-Walker should find a rhythm in a competitive game. Put a unit on Alexander-Walker to score over 19.5 points against the Boston Celtics today.

 

 

 

NBA Prop Bet Today, 1/17

Cade Cunningham Under 26.5 Points (-118 on FanDuel Sportsbook) 

Cade Cunningham is a player Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets cannot stay from. For good reason, too: he stacks the units. Cunningham is a bankroll builder, and as tempting as it is to put a unit on his plus-odd prediction of over 9.5 assists, the under is in play today. More specifically under 26.5 points.

Cunningham often scores over 26.5 points, doing so in six consecutive games prior to his injury. However, he made just 3-of-16 field goal attempts in his return two days ago. He may attempt several field goal attempts against the Detroit Pistons rival, the Indiana Pacers today, but the Pistons are -13.0 point favorites. Indiana will be playing in the second of back-to-back games, and Cunningham could look to take advantage of frontcourt mismatches.

The expectation is this game will become a blowout victory and Cunningham will be resting for most, if not all of the fourth quarter. That is why the best bet of this contest is him to have under 26.5 points. Put a unit on this to happen on their homecourt today.

 

 

 

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Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy G. -
*All bets placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise. 

 

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