Docs Website

54 Years Strong! A Trusted Leader In Sports Picks, Best Bets and Predictions Since 1971.

Main Menu

Hot and Cold NBA Betting Teams ATS and Over Under 1/8/2026

by Spencer Toth - 1/8/2026

NBA hot and cold ATS and over under LaMelo Ball Charlotte Hornets

There are many different ways to handicap the NBA, and one proven winning strategy is to follow against-the-spread trends. Certain teams have been consistently exceeding expectations over the last two weeks, while others have fallen short. As the NBA season approaches the halfway point, taking stock of the hottest and coldest teams in the NBA is essential as oddsmakers adjust. Having this information can be crucial when making future picks, so here are the hottest and coldest teams against the spread, along with the highest and lowest scorers. 

Doc’s Sports offers NBA expert picks for every game on our NBA predictions page.

The Hot: 

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have been the hottest team in the league, going 7-3 straight up and an impressive 9-1 against the spread in their last ten games. They closed as an underdog on four occasions, winning outright against the OKC Thunder and losing but covering against the Rockets and Warriors. In the favorite role, they won and covered in all six games during their current hot streak. Injuries derailed the Suns' season in the early stages, but they are now healthy and heavily undervalued on the NBA odds. Devin Booker, Grayson Allen, and Dillon Brooks are all capable of making an impact, and Jalen Green is now days away from getting back on the court himself. While the hot streak in Phoenix has filled bettors' pockets, exercise caution when tailing the Suns in the future. A clean injury report will help them win, but it will also inflate their odds to a place where they are no longer profitable. A looming six-game road trip could also end their newfound momentum. 

Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets started the season 4-14 straight up but have turned things around with a 9-10 record since. In recent weeks, the Hornets have gone 4-6 straight up, but 8-2 against the spread. They closed as an underdog in all but one of those contests, earning outright wins against the Thunder, Bulls, and Magic in the underdog role. A pair of one-point defeats against the Raptors and Bucks has allowed them to cover the number, as Charlotte is a team to watch in the second half of the season. Injuries gave them an early hole to dig out of, but it appears as though Charlotte may be able to make a late dash into the play-in tournament. LaMelo Ball still has flaws in his game, and the Hornets' primary focus is rebuilding, but they have proven they can play competitive basketball in the underdog role. Charlotte has some daunting matchups against the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Warriors on the horizon, and scooping up a hefty number of points is the way to go with a feisty Hornets side. 

The Cold:

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans have lost nine games in a row, covering the spread on just one occasion in that span. It has been a streaky season for the Pelicans, who started the year 3-22, won five games in a row, and have now proceeded to lose nine straight since. While injuries can be blamed, the reality is that this team is not getting nearly enough points on the spread, given their vast talent gap compared to most of the league. They have only been a double-digit underdog once in the last 16 games, as the oddsmakers are not giving them favorable spreads like they did earlier this season. Their 1-8 record against the spread in the last nine still has them 20-18-1 against the spread on the season, but we won’t be getting huge spreads with this team anymore. Zion Williamson is healthy, but the lack of continuity for the Pelicans has led to their downfall. Until they start getting 10+ point spreads again, the Pelicans remain on the ‘no bet list’ in close games. 

New York Knicks

New York has fallen apart on the defensive end of the floor and has needed heroic offensive acts to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have gone 5-5 straight up in their last ten games, but an abysmal 3-7 against the spread. They narrowly won easy matchups against the Hawks and Pelicans and have failed to cover the three times they have been in the underdog role. Their inability to play defense has really hurt, and it is clear how much Josh Hart means to this team. Since Hart has been sidelined with an injury, the Knicks' defense has really struggled. They have given up at least 111 points in 10 straight games, giving up 120+ in half of those contests. Jalen Brunson can only carry this team so far, and one of the most popular franchises in the league is often overvalued against the spread. Pick your spots wisely, as the Knicks aren’t the same team with Hart and Mitchell Robinson on the sidelines. 

High Scorers:

New York Knicks

Speaking of the Knicks, they have also been over machines during their cold streak, cashing the over in seven of their last ten games. Poor defense can partially be to blame, but electric offense has also played a role in this streak. Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns have been operating one of the best pick-and-roll games in the league, allowing the Knicks to consistently score against set defenses. The oddsmakers have also not been adjusting to their change in mentality, as New York has seen seven of their last ten games close at 237 or lower. A team with this much talent on offense, limited defensive effort on the other end, and average closing totals is a recipe for this trend to continue into the second half of the year. 

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are finally playing up to their potential. Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey have managed to stay healthy at the same time, which has allowed the 76ers to thrive on offense. They have a 6-3-1 record to the over in the last ten games, securing valuable outright wins against the Knicks, Grizzlies, and Mavericks in that span. While their defense still needs work, the 76ers will happily get into run-and-gun games with the offensive talent they have. The oddsmakers have also been slow to react to the 76ers' change in mentality, as they had gone 14-6 to the under before their recent over streak. Philadelphia’s slow pace of play has kept its totals under 230 most of the time, and until the oddsmakers can get a better read on this side, they will keep cashing the overs. 

Low Scorers:

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers have dealt with a long list of injuries this season and have been unable to get any consistency on offense as a result. They have gone under the total in 8 of their last 10 games, but have been able to lean on their defense to find success. The Trail Blazers will happily get into low-scoring scraps if it means they walk away with wins, as they currently own a four-game win streak. They have allowed just 109.5 PPG in their last four games, cashing the under in three of those games. Portland had previously been getting totals upwards of 230 or even 240 points for most of the year, but the oddsmakers are finally starting to adjust. Their 222.5 closing total against the Rockets last time out was their lowest since the first month of the season. The oddsmakers are tired of getting burned on the under with Portland, making this a great trend to fade in the future. Once the Trail Blazers start getting totals in the 220’s again, the overs will start hitting. 

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have gotten Victor Wembanyama back from injury, allowing the under to cash in eight of their last ten games. The return of Wembanyama improves the Spurs' offense, but it takes their defense to a whole new level. Even in limited minutes, Webanyama has been able to make an impact, as the team has bought into the defensive mindset they want to use. Another factor is that the Spurs haven’t seen a total under 230 points in more than two months, which is odd for a team with this kind of defensive prowess. Depending on whether or not the Spurs keep getting these high lines, the under may be a trend we can continue to ride with this team. 

Get NBA picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.

 

Most Recent NBA Handicapping

One E-mail A Week Is All You Need!
Our weekly newsletter is loaded with exclusive free picks,insight and advice from our expert handicappers