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Est. 2019

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Sports BettingFriday, January 2, 20263 min read

NBA Friday: Lakers-Grizzlies, Cavs-Nuggets Lines

Eight NBA games on Friday's slate with betting odds, picks, and analysis for Lakers-Grizzlies, Cavaliers-Nuggets, and more.

By Sharp Money Mike

Est. 2019
THE RAGING DEGENERATE
Your Daily Dose of Gambling News
Sports Betting
NBA Friday: Lakers-Grizzlies, Cavs-Nuggets Lines
Eight NBA games on Friday's slate with betting odds, picks, and analysis for Lakers-Grizzlies, Cavaliers-Nuggets, and more.
By Sharp Money Mike
ragingdegenerate.com
#NBA #Lakers #Grizzlies #Cavaliers #DegenLife #GamblingNews

Eight games on the NBA slate tonight, and there's value hiding everywhere if you know where to look.

The Quick Hit

  • What happened: Friday's eight-game NBA slate has some juicy matchups
  • The damage: Lakers -4.5 vs Grizzlies, Cavaliers -13.5 vs Nuggets, Knicks -9 vs Hawks
  • Why you should care: Lakers are home favorites, Cavs are laying double digits, Knicks have a statement spot
  • The move: ATS trends are screaming at us—read below

Lakers vs. Grizzlies (10:30 PM ET)

The Lakers (20-11) host the Grizzlies (15-18) as 4.5-point favorites at Crypto.com Arena. The total sits at 238.5.

Los Angeles has been solid at home, and their ATS record (17-14) is profitable. Memphis has struggled on the road, and without Ja Morant at 100%, their ceiling is limited.

The Lakers are favored by the model with a 59.5% win probability. That's not overwhelming, but it's enough to justify the spread.

The play: Lakers -4.5 feels like the right side. Memphis doesn't have the firepower to hang in a shootout, and LeBron's been excellent in January historically.

Cavaliers vs. Nuggets (7:30 PM ET)

Cleveland (19-16) is laying 13.5 points at home against Denver (23-10). That's a massive number for a Nuggets team that just played on New Year's Day.

The Cavaliers are on a three-game home winning streak and have a 60.03% win probability according to FanDuel's model. Jokic is always dangerous, but back-to-backs against good teams have been Denver's kryptonite.

The play: The spread is huge. Denver might keep it close if Jokic goes nuclear, but Cleveland's depth and rest advantage should cover. Lean Cavs -13.5.

Knicks vs. Hawks (7:30 PM ET)

New York is a 9-point favorite at home against Atlanta. The Knicks have a 73.39% win probability, which makes them the most confident pick on the board.

The Hawks are 1-7 SU in their last eight games. They're 3-7 ATS in their last ten. Atlanta is a mess, and the Knicks should handle business at the Garden.

The play: Knicks -9 is the sharp side. Atlanta's been terrible, and New York's defense has been stifling weaker opponents.

The Underrated Play: Bucks vs. Hornets

Milwaukee (14-20) plays Charlotte (11-22) as 6-point favorites. The total is 230.5.

Charlotte has been covering lately—4-1 ATS in their last five games. The Hornets are getting points and playing loose. Milwaukee has been inconsistent, and Giannis can only carry so much.

The under has hit in 12 of Charlotte's last 17 games. Both teams are capable of ugly basketball.

The play: Charlotte +6 and the under is a sneaky parlay.

Betting Trends to Watch

Brooklyn is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games against Washington. The Nets have owned this series, and even in a rebuilding year, they should cover against the Wizards.

Atlanta is 5-2 ATS in its last seven games against New York, despite their recent struggles. If you like contrarian plays, the Hawks might be live as a big dog.

Portland vs. New Orleans features two bad teams in a total that feels too high. The under has been hitting for both squads.

The Bottom Line

Friday's slate has clear favorites and a few spots where the market might be off. The Lakers and Knicks are the chalk plays that should cash. The Cavaliers laying 13.5 is scary but defensible. And if you're hunting for value, Charlotte +6 against a mediocre Bucks team is worth a look. Lock in your plays early—the NBA has been delivering action all week.