NBA January 30, 2026

Toronto has quietly become one of the more interesting teams in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors at 29-20 are riding a four-game road winning streak and playing with a confidence that belies their market size. The the former wing acquisition from New Orleans in February 2025 has been transformational, giving them a legitimate second scoring option alongside Scottie Barnes. Ingram's ability to create his own shot and draw fouls has been exactly what this young core needed to take the next step. Toronto is 25-24 ATS this season, and they've covered in 13 of 21 games as underdogs of 1.5 points or more.

Orlando at 24-22 has had an up-and-down campaign. Franz Wagner remains out, and Jalen Suggs is doubtful for this one, which significantly hampers the Magic's offensive ceiling. Paolo Banchero has been carrying a massive load, but even he can't do it all without his running mates. Orlando's defense has been their calling card, ranking in the top 10 in efficiency, but they've struggled to generate offense consistently when their perimeter players are sidelined. The Magic are 18-28 ATS this season, and they're just 12-20 against the spread as favorites.

This looks like a classic trap line. Orlando is at home and slightly favored, but they're missing key pieces and facing a Toronto team that's playing with house money on the road. Jakob Poeltl is still sidelined for the Raptors, but their guard play has been electric. Give me Toronto's experience and recent form over a depleted Magic squad. This game could go either way, which is exactly why the 1.5-point spread feels like a gift for the dog.

Sacramento's season has been a nightmare from start to finish. At 12-36, they're the worst team in the Western Conference by a significant margin, and the February 2025 trade that sent the former point guard to San Antonio in a three-team deal has left them without an identity. Zach LaVine, acquired from Sacramento in that same transaction, hasn't been the answer. LaVine's scoring punch is still there, but he's not a floor general, and Sacramento's offense ranks dead last in the league in efficiency. They've been outscored by double digits in 20 games this season.

Boston at 26-15 is navigating life without Jayson Tatum, who remains sidelined with his Achilles injury. It's been a challenge, but Jaylen Brown has stepped into the alpha role admirably, and the Celtics' depth has kept them afloat. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday continue to provide the two-way impact that made this team so dangerous, and their defense remains elite even without Tatum's presence. The Celtics are 14-6 at home this season and have dominated inferior competition at TD Garden.

The 10.5-point spread is massive, but Sacramento has given no indication they can hang with quality teams. Their road record is abysmal, their defense is a sieve, and they lack any coherent offensive system. Boston will control the pace, pound the ball inside, and grind Sacramento into dust. The Celtics have covered in 6 of their last 8 home games against teams with losing records. This is a mismatch on paper and on the court.

Portland is trying to stop a three-game losing skid, but walking into Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks isn't exactly the cure they need. The Trail Blazers at 23-25 are a middle-of-the-pack team that competes hard but lacks the firepower to beat quality opponents consistently. Jerami Grant (18.8 PPG) and Anfernee Simons are their primary scoring options, but neither is an elite number-one option, and Portland's defense has been inconsistent all season. They're 12-12 ATS on the road, which tells you everything about their reliability in this spot.

New York at 29-18 is rolling right now, and the Garden has been a fortress. Jalen Brunson continues to play at an All-NBA level, averaging 27.6 points and 6 assists while shooting 38% from three. Karl-Anthony Towns has been everything they hoped for when they acquired him, providing 20.2 points and 11.6 rebounds per game with floor-spacing ability that opens up driving lanes for Brunson. The Knicks are 11-5 ATS when favored by 7.5 points or more, and they've won 26 of 38 games when listed as favorites.

The Knicks should control this game from the opening tip. Their defense has been stout at home, and Portland doesn't have the secondary creators to exploit New York's switching scheme. Expect Brunson to carve up Portland's guards, Towns to dominate on the glass, and the Knicks to build a double-digit lead by halftime. The 227.5 total could go either way, but the spread feels solid for the home team in front of a raucous MSG crowd.

Two struggling teams meet in the Smoothie King Center, and this one has the makings of an ugly, back-and-forth affair. Memphis at 18-27 has been one of the league's biggest disappointments this season. The injuries that have plagued them in recent years continue to take their toll, and their young core hasn't developed as quickly as hoped. Jaren Jackson Jr. remains their anchor at 19.0 points and 1.5 blocks per game, but the supporting cast has been inconsistent. The Grizzlies are 9-11-1 ATS on the road, showing they can hang with inferior competition.

New Orleans at 12-37 is flat-out bad. Without Zion Williamson healthy for any sustained stretch, the Pelicans have been rudderless. Their defense ranks 28th in the league, allowing 121.2 points per game, and their offense isn't much better despite having capable scorers. The Pelicans have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, though they've actually covered at a 6-4 clip in that span, suggesting they've been competitive despite the losing. Home cooking has helped them stay within striking distance of road teams.

The 234 total is the highest on Friday's board, and it reflects two teams that simply can't stop anyone. Memphis's defense has regressed significantly this season, and New Orleans has been a turnstile all year. Expect a track meet with little regard for defensive fundamentals. The 3-point spread feels about right for a home team that's slightly less bad than the visitors, but this could easily swing either way in a sloppy, high-scoring contest.

The Clippers travel to Denver significantly shorthanded. Bradley Beal is done for the season after hip surgery, Derrick Jones Jr. is day-to-day, and Bogdan Bogdanovic didn't play in their last game. LA at 22-24 has been fighting just to stay in the play-in picture, and losing their second-best player for the year is a devastating blow. They beat Utah 115-103 in their last outing, but facing the Nuggets in Denver is a completely different challenge. The altitude alone saps visiting teams' legs in the fourth quarter.

Denver at 31-16 is cruising through the Western Conference behind Nikola Jokic's brilliance. Jokic is putting up another MVP-caliber campaign: 27.2 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 9.4 assists per game. His court vision unlocks Denver's entire offensive system, and no team in the league has figured out how to stop him consistently. The Nuggets are 18-4 at home this season, and they just dropped a close one to Detroit, which means they'll be hungry to get back on track. Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray provide the complementary scoring Denver needs to blow teams out.

The 210.5 total is the lowest on Friday's board, reflecting Denver's defensive improvement and the Clippers' personnel losses. This should be a grind-it-out affair where Jokic controls the pace and the Clippers struggle to generate quality looks without Beal. Denver has won 9 of their last 16 matchups against LA, and they have a massive home court advantage. Expect a methodical Nuggets victory by double digits.

Tank Bowl Alert. Brooklyn at 12-33 and Utah at 15-33 are two of the league's worst teams, and this game will likely be an ugly affair between rebuilding squads playing their young guys extended minutes. The Nets just lost to the Suns 106-102 despite shooting 50.7% from the field, and they average just 107.8 points per game, dead last in the NBA. Brooklyn's roster is devoid of stars, and their offense lacks any coherent identity. They're in full "develop the kids" mode.

Utah is coming off a brutal 140-124 loss to the Warriors, which tells you everything about their defensive effort. The Jazz allow 117.4 points per game, and they've been outscored by double digits in their last three games. Lauri Markkanen remains their best player, but he's surrounded by developmental pieces who aren't ready to contribute to winning basketball. The home crowd at Delta Center has been restless watching this rebuild unfold, and another close loss to a bottom-feeder would only add to the frustration.

The 2.5-point spread reflects how even these two bad teams are. Home court advantage gives Utah a slight edge, but neither team has shown any consistency on either end of the floor. This is the kind of game that could swing 10 points either way based on who hits their open threes. The 226 total feels high given both teams' offensive limitations, but the defensive apathy could easily push this over. Proceed with caution.