NBA January 24, 2026

The early afternoon tip brings us a battle of two teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but Charlotte enters this one as heavy double-digit favorites at home. The Hornets have been playing with more urgency lately, and LaMelo Ball's dynamic playmaking has given them a pulse when he's healthy and engaged. Charlotte's offensive rating at home sits around 112.5, a significant bump from their dismal road numbers, and the Spectrum Center crowd has provided just enough energy to make this a different team on their own floor.

Washington, meanwhile, is the NBA's most consistent loser. The Wizards have surrendered the second-most points per game in the league at nearly 122, and their defensive efficiency of 118.2 ranks dead last. Jordan Poole has been getting his shots, averaging 21 points, but his efficiency has cratered with a true shooting percentage hovering around 52%. The Wizards are 5-22 ATS on the road this season, and that number tells you everything about how the market views this team's ability to compete away from Capital One Arena.

The double-digit spread looks massive on paper, but Charlotte has been covering these inflated home lines against bottom-feeders. The Hornets are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games as favorites of 8 or more points. Mark Williams has been a force inside, averaging 12 rebounds over his last five games, and Washington simply doesn't have the personnel to match his physicality. The total of 233.5 reflects the Wizards' complete inability to defend, but both teams play at a top-10 pace.

This is a game where Charlotte should assert control early and cruise. Washington's effort level fluctuates wildly, and an early double-digit deficit typically leads to a complete collapse. The Hornets' bench depth, particularly Brandon Miller's emergence as a secondary scorer, gives them the firepower to keep their foot on the gas. Look for Charlotte to cover comfortably in what should be a 15-20 point victory.

Two of the East's most intriguing teams collide in what should be a defensive slugfest. The Cavaliers have been one of the league's best stories this season, with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland forming a lethal backcourt combination. Mitchell's ability to create his own shot and finish in traffic has made him one of the most complete guards in basketball, averaging 28.1 points on 48% shooting. Cleveland's offensive rating of 116.8 ranks fifth in the NBA, and their ball movement under Kenny Atkinson has been a revelation.

Orlando's calling card remains their suffocating defense. Paolo Banchero has continued his All-Star trajectory, averaging 24.2 points and 8.4 rebounds while developing into a legitimate number-one option. But it's the Magic's defensive identity that makes them so dangerous. They're allowing just 107.4 points per 100 possessions, good for second in the league, and their length across all five positions creates havoc for opposing offenses. Franz Wagner has emerged as a two-way force, and Wendell Carter Jr. provides rim protection and rebounding.

The one-point spread reflects how evenly matched these teams are. Cleveland is 11-9 ATS on the road, while Orlando is 15-7 ATS at home. The Magic's home court advantage at Kia Center has been significant, with a 17-5 home record and an average margin of victory of 8.2 points. The Cavaliers' three-point shooting, at 37.8% on the season, could be the difference-maker if they get hot, but Orlando's perimeter defense has limited opponents to just 34.1% from deep.

The total of 227.5 is the second-lowest on tonight's board, and for good reason. Both teams prioritize defense and control pace. Orlando ranks 24th in pace, while Cleveland sits at 18th. This should be a physical, grind-it-out affair that comes down to the final possessions. Mitchell's clutch ability gives Cleveland a slight edge in crunch time, but the Magic's home crowd and defensive identity could carry them to victory.

Boston enters this matchup without their superstar. Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury has sidelined one of the NBA's best players, and the Celtics have been forced to adapt on the fly. Jaylen Brown has stepped into the alpha role admirably, averaging 27.8 points since Tatum went down, but the offensive burden has clearly affected his efficiency. His true shooting percentage has dropped to 56.2% during this stretch, below his season average. The Celtics' offensive rating without Tatum has fallen to 112.4, still respectable but a far cry from their championship-caliber production.

Chicago's season has been a rollercoaster of inconsistent play since their February roster changes. DeMar DeRozan continues to get his midrange buckets, averaging 23.1 points, but the Bulls' defensive issues persist. They're allowing 116.2 points per 100 possessions, ranking 22nd in the league, and their transition defense has been particularly problematic. Coby White has stepped up as the secondary scorer, and when the Bulls are clicking, they have enough firepower to compete with anyone.

The near pick-em line is unusual for a Celtics road game, but Tatum's absence has leveled the playing field. Boston is 9-7 ATS without Tatum this season, showing resilience but also vulnerability. The Celtics' depth, particularly Derrick White's two-way excellence and Kristaps Porzingis's rim protection, keeps them competitive, but they miss Tatum's shot creation in crunch time. Chicago is 12-9 ATS at home, and the United Center crowd gets up for games against elite opponents.

The total of 230.5 reflects an expectation of scoring, and both teams can certainly put the ball in the basket. Chicago's pace has increased under Billy Donovan, and they're running more in transition to generate easy baskets. The Celtics prefer to play slower, controlling tempo through their halfcourt sets, but without Tatum, they've been forced into more run-and-gun situations. This game could swing either way, and the market clearly agrees.

Miami's roster has transformed since the their roster trade. Andrew Wiggins arrived from Golden State in the deal, and he's been reinvigorated in South Beach. The Heat's culture has a way of elevating players, and Wiggins is averaging 18.4 points while providing the wing defense Miami desperately needed. Bam Adebayo remains the anchor, posting 21.2 points and 10.8 rebounds while quarterbacking Miami's defensive schemes. Tyler Herro has embraced his role as the go-to scorer, dropping 24.1 points per game with improved efficiency.

Utah is in full rebuild mode, prioritizing development and draft positioning over wins. Lauri Markkanen has been traded in many mock scenarios, but he remains the Jazz's best player, averaging 22.8 points on 47% shooting. The problem is, there's almost no help around him. Utah's defensive rating of 117.4 is atrocious, ranking 28th in the league, and they're surrendering 121.3 points per game to opponents. The Jazz play at the league's fastest pace, which inflates scoring numbers but also leads to blowouts against quality opponents.

The seven-point spread feels light given Miami's defensive prowess and Utah's complete lack thereof. The Heat are 13-5 ATS as road favorites this season, covering by an average of 4.2 points. Their defensive efficiency on the road is actually better than at home, as they lock in against lesser competition. Utah's home court advantage is minimal, with a 6-16 home record and an average loss margin of 8.7 points.

The total of 246.5 is the highest on tonight's board by a significant margin, and it reflects Utah's pace-and-space chaos. The Jazz push tempo relentlessly, even when they shouldn't, and games in Salt Lake City tend to become high-scoring affairs. Miami will try to slow things down, but if Utah can force turnovers and get in transition, this game could touch 260 combined. The Heat should win by double digits, but the total is the more interesting angle here.