NBA Picks: Expert Picks Against the Spread, NBA Player Props, Best Bets & Parlays.

Today's NBA expert picks, player props, NBA best bets and parlays. All of our NBA predictions are against the spread. (ATS) Bookmark this page as it will be updated daily.

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Please note that the NBA picks above for tonight's games are not computer based picks. All of these articles are written by our talented staff. If you have any comments or suggestions please email service@docsports.com

NBA Picks

The NBA is considered by many to be the best league for sports betting. Yes, the NFL is king in terms of popularity and wagering volume per game but nothing beats NBA basketball over the course of a season. Why? There are many opportunities to make NBA picks every night. NBA lines move more often and are not as sharp as football lines which are under the microscope all week. NBA odds have a much shorter lifespan meaning there are greater opportunities to find value. That gives Doc's basketball handicappers exponentially more opportunities to offer daily free NBA picks and be even more selective when offering expert NBA picks.

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You can find Free NBA picks throughout the Doc's Sports network including this free NBA predictions page; on our Doc's NBA Experts page; and on the Youtube channels of our expert NBA handicappers. We now also have a very popular NBA video section that is updated daily with several videos during the NBA season. Check the video link on the top navigation. Those ready to take advantage of our Free $60 in member selections can click the button at the top of this page and start receiving free expert predictions.

Get your NBA Picks Today, and Everyday!

Doc's offers expert NBA picks today and every day of the NBA season! Sure, there are the days when the NBA card consists of only tanking teams competing for the right to draft the next Zion Williamson. These teams are bad and their competition for an audience is Seinfeld reruns or maybe getting an extra hour of sleep. At Doc's we don't see this as trash basketball, we see this as a huge opportunity to make money...on trash basketball. Each day during the basketball season is an opportunity to make valuable and profitable predictions

What are NBA Picks Against the Spread?

Most NBA bettors are going to make NBA picks against the spread. This is also known as NBA picks ATS. Sportsbooks give each NBA team a handicap of X amount of points. That means if books think the Lakers are 4 points better than the Celtics they will offer a line of Lakers -4. If a Doc's handicapper has reason to believe the Lakers are much more than 4 points better, his pick against the spread would be to take the Lakers -4. This is how all bets on the spread work unless bookmakers consider both teams to be evenly matched, in which case the line is a pick, AKA pick'em. At Doc's the majority of our NBA selections are against the spread. However, there can be outstanding value on betting NBA totals.

What are NBA Over/Under Picks?

The pace of the game, as well as which team dictates the pace, is a key factor when handicapping basketball games. When pace is an especially strong signal, it may dictate a pick on the over/under. An NBA over/under pick is another way of referring to a prediction on an NBA game point total. NBA total lines are usually well above 200 in today's NBA making them harder for the betting public to find value. For example, the 2004 Detroit Pistons team was very consistently within 5 points of the 90 they averaged. In today's NBA, greater scoring means greater variance. However, professional basketball handicappers can use this to their advantage as the sportsbooks also try to keep track of the higher scoring NBA totals. Doc's sports NBA total picks are some of the best in the business and our total prediction write-ups are insightful. Along with offering our NBA expert picks, we provide free selections that are intended to help bettors with their handicapping legwork.

What are NBA Parlay Picks?

Parlay picks are sucker bets they say! Never bet and NBA parlay they say! Bettors that speak in these absolutes clearly haven't learned how to find value betting basketball. Sure, the payout on parlays at most sportsbooks have gone down to the point where putting two of your picks together for the sake of winning more is not a good investment. But what if your parlay picks could be made on the same game? That is called a correlated NBA parlay. Many sportsbooks offer the ability to make NBA bets against the spread and total in the same game. So if you have a great read on a game and expect one team to quit and fall behind, you may decide to make an NBA parlay prediction. At Doc's our experts will offer a free parlay pick in rare cases. It is not common because we need to find value for our customers on both lines before they move. If our parlay prediction is indeed on the same game, we need to confirm there is value regardless of the fact that you can't line shop the odds on a parlay. Both bets in a parlay must be made at the same sportsbook. If there is a free selection on the total over of -14 and under 200 it was offered knowing that those lines can be found at most Las Vegas sportsbooks and online.

What are NBA Playoff Predictions?

Once the regular season is over the NBA tends to resemble the national football league in many ways. Bettors have much more time to make their NBA playoff picks as teams travel to each other's arenas and rest between series. Making successful NBA playoff predictions is as much about when you bet as it is who you bet on. A series might not start for days. That means an NBA spread may move quite a few points especially as the public bets closer to the action. If we see value in a playoff prediction it will rely heavily on getting the line we are quoting in said NBA pick. In the words of the great Tony George, "We are betting numbers, not teams!" That may not be more relevant than when making picks on the NBA playoff games.

What were Yesterdays Expert NBA Picks Results from our Handicappers?

For transparency in this spot we will list all of the previous days picks and analysis. This will be updated daily at around 5AM Eastern Time.

Thursday 22nd of January 2026

Doc's Sports

3-Unit Play Take Charlotte/Orlando UNDER 228 (7 p.m. EST, Thursday January 22)
3-Unit Play Take Orlando -6 over Charlotte(7 p.m. EST, Thursday January 22)
The Magic have won and covered five of the last six meetings and eight of ten. The Magic have been off for several days after returning from their England trip, and they should have plenty of energy for defense. This looks like a likely flat spot for the Hornets, who are on a back-to-back after playing at Cleveland on Wednesday. They were down big and used a lot of energy to claw their way back into the game at the end. But they scored only 87 points, so their offense isn’t in top form, but that was the second straight game they held their opponent under the century mark. We think this one will be a blowout, which bodes well for the under.
4-Unit Play Take LA Lakers +1 over LA Clippers (10 p.m. EST, Thursday January 22)
We don’t yet know if Kawhi Leonard will suit up for the Clippers and the odds will change based on his availability, but we like the Lakers to take this one Kawhi or not. The Clippers used to always cover against the Lakers and this was one of their biggest matchups every season, but with the Clips getting their own arena, it kind of removed the chip on their collective shoulders, and the Lakers have won and covered in five of the last seven meetings. We think revenge is an overrated handicapping factor, but we are sure the Lakers remember the last meeting, which was a Clippers blowout where the Lakers scored only 88 points. We forsee a much better effort tonight.
Best of Luck – Doc’s Sports

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Robert Ferringo

2-Unit Play. Take #544 L.A. Clippers (-1.5) over L.A. Lakers (10 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22)

The Clippers have made some serious strides after they started off the season looking like one of the worst teams in the league. Their 3-8 start looked even worse than the record, but they have looked much better in December and to start 2026 and they have rattled off six of seven wins. This is always a much more important game for the Clips as opposed to the Lakers and that should continue in this one so lay the small number in LA tonight.

Carpe diem. Good luck.

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Craig Trapp

7-Unit Play. Take #533 Houston (-2) Over Philadelphia (7 p.m., Thursday, January 22)

It's a little surprising that Houston isn't a larger favorite in this spot. The Sixers really haven’t beaten a good team in a while, and I think that trend will continue tonight. The Rockets are starting to find their rhythm again, with a 4-1 run and their only loss coming to the Thunder. Take Houston to win and cover the spread tonight.

Craig

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Scott Rickenbach

4-Unit Play. Take #534 Philadelphia (+2.5 -115) vs Houston (7:10 p.m., Thu, Jan. 22)

The 76ers are in a great spot here after losing at home to Phoenix - we had the Suns here in that one. The Sixers are hosting a Rockets team that is off a big win over the rival Spurs. So Houston has now won 3 straight games and the 76ers have lost 3 of 4 and that sets this one up perfectly. The Sixers should have Embiid for this one after he was rested versus the Suns in the 2nd game of a B2B. Also, George could be back too after missing B2B games. Either way it is a great home dog spot. Keep in mind the Rockets road record is exactly the same as the Sixers home record and one could argue that Houston should not even be favored here. Indeed, I expect the Sixers to win outright here or I would not be involved but I am grabbing the points just in case it ends up being a tight finish. 4* PHILADELPHIA +2.5 -115

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Arun Shiva (Indian Cowboy)

3-Unit Play. Take LA Clippers -110 over Los Angeles Lakers (Thursday @ 10:10pm est)

The Clippers already beat this team once and they always get up to face the Lakers. This team is red hot coming in winning 6 of their last 7 games coming off a horrendous game against the Bulls which is a rare occurrence these days, they are back in LA, they should play great today and will look to bounce-back and we like the Lakers to have a let down here.

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Raphael Esparza (VSI)

NBA BASKETBALL

3 Unit Play. Take #543 Over 223 LA Lakers vs LA Clippers (10:10p.m., Thursday January 22)

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Tony George

Passing for today.

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Vernon Croy

8-Unit Play: #543 Los Angeles Lakers +1-110 over Los Angeles Clippers (Thursday, January 22, 2026, 10:10pm ET)

Take the Los Angeles Lakers ATS as my top NBA pick for Thursday night. This pick falls into one of my top NBA systems and I really like the Lakers in this spot. This is a revenge spot for the Lakers who lost against the Clippers back on December 20th and the previous game before that this season They beat the Clippers by 17 points. This is a very tough spot for the Clippers in their first home game after a three-game road trip which started in Toronto and they are coming off a 28-point loss at Chicago. Meanwhile the Lakers are coming off back-to-back victories against Toronto and at Denver. The Clippers do come into this game banged up and this is a Lakers team that has shot 49.6% as a team over all the season which ranks second offensively in the NBA. The Clippers have averaged just 112.3 points per game overall this season and I do expect the Lakers to step up defensively. The last meeting between these two teams the Lakers shot just 39% including 16% from beyond the arc and that is why they ended up losing that game by 15 points. That will not happen here tonight and I do expect the Lakers to shoot a high percentage. Play the Los Angeles Lakers ATS.

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Scott Spreitzer

4-Unit Play: Take 533 Rockets -2.5 over 76ers (7:10 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22)
I’m backing the Rockets on Thursday. One of the more glaring stats in the NBA is how poorly the Sixers fare when playing at least eight games in 14 games. Philadelphia has won just three of their last 31 in this situation and four of 26 at home. Houston brings some momentum while Philly has dropped three of four. I expect the Rockets and their 6th ranked offensive efficiency to wear Philly down tonight. I’m laying the points with Houston. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

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August Young

3-Unit Play - (537) Chicago Bulls/Minnesota Timberwolves o239 -110 (1/22 | 8:00PM EST) The Bulls have gone over in two-straight, while the Timberwolves have gone over in three of their last four. The average combined points scored in those six games has been dead-on the number at 238.67 points per game. However, that number was pulled down due to the Timberwolves 105 point struggle in the loss to Houston (which is something the Rockets often force opponents in to). Chicago have looked good on the offensive end and we expect it to continue here as this turns in to a disinterested defensive game. The Timberwolves should be able to get much of what they want here and the market seems to be in full agreement as it continue to climb from the opener of 236. We've lost some value here, but there is still plenty of meat left on the bone.

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Strike Point Sports

7-Unit Play. Take #540 Utah (+13) over San Antonio (9:10 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 22)
This is a great spot to grab the points with the Jazz. The Jazz are 25-19 ATS overall this season, and 15-7 ATS as a home team (their margin of victory is only -5 points per game). Utah is playing their second game of a six game homestand, and they are coming in with some momentum after beating the Timberwolves as a double-digit underdog. San Antonio is having an outstanding season but they just lost a heartbreaker to the Houston Rockets, and aren't going to be extra motivated to play the Jazz when they know they can win without their best effort. These two teams just met the other day. San Antonio won that game by 13, but it was in San Antonio and they shot 56 percent from the floor. Now we are expected to believe that they are going to win by the same number, on the road, and shoot that same percentage? No thank you. Give me the points as the Jazz keep this game within the number with ease.

Best of Luck - Strike Point Sports

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Jason Sharpe

Thursday January 22nd 2026-

3 Unit Play Take #544 Los Angeles Clippers -1 over Los Angeles Lakers (10:10pm est):


The Los Angeles Clippers are playing a lot better basketball of late winning 13 of their last 16 and they have done well also against the better teams in the league with 7 wins their last 9 versus .500 and above teams. They come in off an ugly loss last game but keep in mind they were in a tough back to back spot in that one against a hot Chicago team.

Play Los Angeles Clippers in this one.

Thank you and good luck,

Jason Sharpe

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Griffin Murphy

3 Unit Play - Take #531 Charlotte Hornets (+6.5) Over Orlando Magic. (7:00p.m, Thursday, January 22nd)
Charlotte comes into this game 16-28 on the year, 5-5 in their last 10 games, and on back-to-backs after losing to Cleveland last night in a 94-87 final. Orlando is back at home and has not played since Sunday, so we can expect them to be a heavy betting public favorite tonight. Orlando is 5-5 in their last 10 games and coming off a 126-109 loss to Memphis Sunday, so this will put some buying pressure on a rebound spot. The line is whack at +6.5 with Charlotte on back-to-backs and a brutal 9-15 on the road. Orlando is 13-6 at home and is superior on both sides of the ball. We believe the market has set up a trap and believe the hornets will come out ready to go tonight.
Griffin Murphy

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Nick Menken

6 Unit: NBA Take #542 POR Trail Blazers ML (-120) over MIA Heat (10:00p.m, Thursday, January 22nd)

We’ve got a late-night NBA showdown out West tonight as the Miami Heat head to Portland to take on a red-hot Trail Blazers team. Portland is playing its best basketball of the season right now, coming in on a three-game winning streak and sitting at 8–2 over their last ten games. They just went into Sacramento and knocked off the Kings 117–110, which says a lot about where this team is at right now. Miami is also coming off a win against that same Kings team, taking care of business 130–117 on Tuesday. But overall, the Heat haven’t been nearly as consistent, going just 4–6 over their last ten games. Road play continues to be an issue as well, as Miami is only 8–14 away from home this season. On top of that, Tyler Herro will be out again tonight. Some will argue that helps Miami’s ball movement, but it still removes one of their primary scoring options. Portland already saw Miami earlier this season and dropped a tight 136–131 game on the road. Now they get their chance at revenge at home, in a spot where they’ve been playing fast, confident, and aggressive. What really stands out in this matchup is Portland’s ability to control the glass. The Trail Blazers are one of the best teams in the league when it comes to offensive rebounding, and those second-chance opportunities are going to be crucial against a Heat team that can struggle defensively on the road. If Portland can limit Bam in the paint and continue to dominate the boards, they’re going to put Miami in uncomfortable positions all night. This is a great spot for the Blazers to keep rolling and protect their home floor. Give me the Portland Trail Blazers tonight over the Miami Heat.

Nick Menken

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