NBA Predictions Today: Best Bets and Player Props for Saturday, January 31
The weekend is here, and it's time to streamline the grind. Instead of splitting sides/totals and player props into separate pieces, my weekend columns will bring everything under one roof — a streamlined look at my favorite bets for the day's slate. Fewer words, hopefully the same results. Keep reading for my NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, January 31.
RELATED: Check out the Pro Picks page for more selections from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts! (https://data.vsin.com/propicks/active/?)
NBA Best Bets Today (Sides/Totals)
Pacers ML (+111) vs. Hawks
Pacers vs. Hawks - 7:00 pm ET
The Hawks are missing Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu, which means they'll be shorthanded inside and lose one of their few advantages over Indiana. Atlanta's wing players, Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher, are also questionable, which is a problem when Johnson is playing like an All-Star. The Pacers, on the other hand, have a +4.6 net rating in their last five home games and a strong perimeter trio of Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Bennedict Mathurin. I believe the Pacers have a better coach and roster, and they're a better bet than the Hawks.
Mavericks +11.5 (-105) vs. Rockets
Mavericks vs. Rockets - 8:30 pm ET
The Mavericks are playing their third game in four nights, but they had a Friday off, so it's not the worst situation. Dallas is 6-3 against the spread over their last nine games, and they have a strong trend against teams that outscore opponents by 3.0 or more points per game. The Mavericks are also good against strong rebounding teams, and the Rockets are the best rebounding team in the league. With Naji Marshall likely back, the Mavericks have a good chance of covering the spread.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-112)
Bulls at Heat - 8:00 pm ET
The Heat are without Tyler Herro and Norman Powell, which could make for an up-and-down game against the Bulls. Jaquez Jr. is a strong candidate for player props, as he scores 84% of his points inside 10 feet, where the Bulls are 25th in the NBA. His usage rate jumps to 24.1% when playing without Herro and Powell, and he's scored 21.7 points per game in the three contests. Jaquez is also a contributor when it comes to rebounds and assists, making him a likely candidate to fill up the stat sheet for Miami.
