NBA January 7, 2026

The marquee matchup of the night brings Denver to Boston in a potential Finals preview. The Nuggets have been dealing with injuries all season - Jamal Murray's ankle continues to be an issue, and they've been leaning heavily on Nikola Jokic to carry the load. Jokic is averaging a triple-double, but the supporting cast hasn't been consistent on the road.

Boston's playing without Jayson Tatum (Achilles), but Jaylen Brown has stepped into the alpha role beautifully. The Celtics are riding a four-game winning streak and their defensive intensity at home has been suffocating. Payton Pritchard continues to be a flamethrower off the bench, averaging nearly 17 points during this stretch.

Six and a half feels about right. Denver's road record isn't great, and Boston's home dominance is real. The Celtics should control this game from the second quarter on. Take Boston -6.5 and the under in what should be a defensive chess match.

Toronto's been one of the pleasant surprises of the season. the former wing's acclimation since arriving from New Orleans has been seamless, and Scottie Barnes continues to make the All-Star case nightly. The Raptors defend at an elite level and have the length to bother Charlotte's guard-heavy attack.

The Hornets are struggling. LaMelo Ball's brilliance can only carry them so far, and their frontcourt depth is concerning. Charlotte plays fast but allows opponents to shoot efficiently, which is a death sentence against a disciplined Toronto squad that punishes mistakes.

Five and a half should cover easily. Toronto's too sound defensively to let Charlotte hang around. The Raptors could consider the under - both teams trend toward slower second halves.

Detroit's ascension to the top of the Eastern Conference is the story of the season. The Pistons are 27-9 and playing like legitimate contenders. Cade Cunningham has been unreal - he's putting up 26 points and 9 assists per game while anchoring a defense that's improved dramatically. This isn't the same lottery team from two years ago.

Chicago's in rough shape since trading Zach their current roster to Sacramento. Coby White and Josh Giddey are both dealing with injuries, and the Bulls lack a true go-to scorer. The Bulls' defense has been atrocious, allowing 119 points per game in their last ten.

Eight and a half is a big number, but Detroit covers big spreads at home. The Pistons' crowd has been electric, and they'll step on Chicago's throat early. Take Detroit and the over in what should be a blowout.

Joel Embiid's availability always dominates the conversation, and tonight's injury report will tell the story. When he plays, Philly's a completely different team - dominant defensively and unstoppable in the paint. Without him, Tyrese Maxey has to do everything, and the supporting cast isn't good enough.

Washington's actively tanking. The Wizards are the worst team in the East and playing their young guys extended minutes for development. Kyle Kuzma's trade rumors swirl daily, and there's no motivation to win games when a top lottery pick is the goal.

If Embiid plays, take Philly -9.5 without hesitation. If he sits, the spread's still probably right, but the certainty drops. Check the injury report before locking this in.

New Orleans is a disaster. At 8-30, the Pelicans have the worst record in the West and no signs of improvement. Zion Williamson's availability remains a game-time decision every night, and the roster around him has been gutted. This is a rebuild in progress.

Atlanta's mediocre, but mediocre beats terrible every time. Trae Young's playmaking gives the Hawks a floor, and their pace should overwhelm a Pelicans team that can't keep up defensively. The over's appealing here - both teams play fast and don't defend.

Seven and a half feels steep, but New Orleans doesn't have the talent to stay competitive. Take Atlanta and the over in a game that should hit 240+ total points.

Orlando's defense is suffocating. The Magic rank top-five in defensive efficiency and have the length to bother any opponent. Paolo Banchero has been excellent, but it's their team defense that wins games. They grind opponents into dust and make every possession feel like a struggle.

Brooklyn's rebuilding and it shows. The Nets are playing their young guys, and while there's talent there, consistency is an issue. They'll compete for stretches but fade in fourth quarters against better teams.

The total at 210.5 is the play. This is going to be ugly basketball - Orlando slows the pace to a crawl and Brooklyn doesn't have the half-court offense to score efficiently. The under could maybe sprinkle Orlando if you trust their defense.

Madison Square Garden gets a national TV game, and the Knicks should deliver. New York's 23-13 and firmly in the East's top tier, with Jalen Brunson orchestrating one of the league's most efficient offenses. Josh Hart's out with an ankle sprain, but the Knicks' depth should be enough tonight.

The Clippers are struggling mightily at 13-22. James Harden's probable for this one, but even with him, LA lacks the defensive identity to compete with elite teams. Their road record is abysmal, and MSG is a brutal environment for struggling squads.

Seven and a half is big, but New York covers at home against inferior opponents. The Knicks' physical defense will frustrate LA's half-court attack. Take New York and the under in a grind-it-out MSG special.

the franchise's season has been a roller coaster. Devin Booker's doing everything he can, but the supporting cast without Kevin Durant hasn't been championship caliber. Bradley Beal's fit remains questionable, and their defense is a liability most nights.

Memphis is dealing with its own issues. Ja Morant's brilliance masks a lot of problems, but the Grizzlies have the young talent to hang with anyone on a given night. Their rotation issues persist, and injuries have plagued them all season.

Three and a half is a coin flip. Phoenix plays cleaner half-court offense and should execute better down the stretch. The Suns are worth watching -3.5, but this is a low-confidence play in a game that could go either way.

Oklahoma City is the best team in the NBA. At 30-7, the defending champions are somehow even better than last year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is playing at an MVP level, and Chet Holmgren's development has exceeded all expectations. They're dominant at home and show no mercy against inferior opponents.

Utah's actively tanking. The Jazz have lottery aspirations and are playing their young guys for development, not wins. Walker Kessler's the only interesting storyline, but he'll be overwhelmed by OKC's depth and firepower.

Fourteen and a half is massive, but OKC covers spreads like this regularly. The Thunder won by 25 last time these teams met, and nothing's changed. Take Oklahoma City and watch the blowout unfold.

LeBron James vs Victor Wembanyama on national TV - this is the NBA's past meeting its future. LeBron's managing his load at 41, but he still shows up for the big games. The Lakers are 23-11 and looking like legitimate contenders in the West.

San Antonio's emergence has been stunning. Wembanyama is the most dominant defensive force we've seen in years, and he's developed an offensive game that terrifies opponents. The Spurs are 25-11 and playing like a team that expects to win every night.

This is appointment television. San Antonio's home-court advantage is real, and Wemby's length will bother LeBron at the rim. The Spurs are worth watching -3.5 in what should be a classic.

Two legacy franchises meeting late night in San Francisco. Milwaukee's 16-20 start is concerning - Giannis and Dame are supposed to be a superteam, but the chemistry hasn't clicked. The Bucks' defense has been their biggest issue, allowing way too many easy buckets.

Golden State continues to defy expectations. Despite Jonathan Kuminga's benching since November and demanding a trade, the Warriors have found chemistry with Steph Curry orchestrating a versatile offense alongside Jimmy Butler (acquired from Golden State in February). They've won six of their last eight and look like the Dubs of old at Chase Center.

Two and a half feels right. The Warriors protect home court well, and Milwaukee's road struggles continue. Take Golden State and the over in a high-scoring affair between two teams that love to push pace.

Kevin Durant's move to Houston has exceeded expectations. The Rockets are 22-11 and playing championship-caliber basketball. Durant's leadership has elevated Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun into legitimate stars, and Ime Udoka's defensive system has made them a nightmare to play against.

Portland's rebuild is progressing nicely. Scoot Henderson's finally showing why he was the third pick, and Deni Avdija has emerged as a two-way playmaker. The Blazers compete most nights but lack the talent to beat elite teams consistently.

Five and a half should cover. Houston's too talented and too well-coached to let this slip. The Rockets could the under - both teams emphasize defensive execution in the fourth quarter.