NBA Best Bets for January 29: Can Oklahoma City Keep the Streak Alive?
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Spread Astaire
- January 29, 2025
Top NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors +9.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The NBA regular season action continues tonight and we have two exciting games that will be featured on national television.
The first is the Denver Nuggets against the New York Knicks. Both teams have been playing well this season, so this should be an excellent measuring stick for both teams. Then, the top team in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, will be in Golden State to take on the Warriors. The Warriors have been struggling as of late but can make a statement with the win tonight over a top team.
When these exciting games tip-off, who should you back to make winning NBA picks at the top-rated sportsbooks?
And if you’re looking for more value picks, make sure to take a look at our YouTube channel for more NBA betting advice, featuring the Kings vs. 76ers and Clippers vs. Spurs games.
Denver Nuggets vs. New York Knicks
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 – 07:30 PM ET at Madison Square Garden
The Denver Nuggets will play their third game in a five-game road trip tonight in Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks.
The Nuggets have lost the first two games on this road trip:
- On Saturday, they lost 133-104 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
- On Monday night, they fell 129-121 to the Chicago Bulls.
Those two losses ended a four-game winning streak for the Nuggets. They will now look to get back on track tonight in this high-profile game. On the other hand, the Knicks are coming into this game on a four-game winning streak. This will be the third game for the Knicks in a five-game homestand:
- The Knicks’ first game at home was a 143-120 defeat of the Sacramento Kings.
- They followed that with a 143-106 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Knicks are playing well, even against the top teams in the West.
Big Men on the Job
As is the case with any Nuggets game, the key to the game will be how the Knicks’ defense will be against the best player in the league, Nikola Jokic. The Knicks are still missing Mitchell Robinson, which makes their team thin in the middle.
The Knicks are usually known for their elite defense and rim protection, so this is a marked departure from their regular style of play. For tonight’s matchup, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa will get the majority of the assignments against Jokic. If these men are able to hold up, the Knicks have a great chance.
When the Knicks have the ball, Denver will need to stop Jalen Brunson. The Nuggets have good wing defenders but sometimes their guard defense can be suspect. We will need to see a better game from Russell Westbrook and Jamal Murray on the defensive end if the Nuggets are to break their losing streak.
The Pick
As good as Denver is as a team, I’m going to ride the hot hand with the home team Knicks here.
Not only have the Knicks been winning as of late, they’ve been blowing their opponents out. The Knicks had a brief time when they were struggling but now they are back on track and firing on all cylinders. The home-court advantage will be key.
Take the New York Knicks -3.
NBA Pick: New York Knicks -3 (-110) at BetOnline
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 – 10:00 PM ET at Chase Center
The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a short two-game road trip before they return back home. The Thunder are 37-8 and in first place in the Western Conference. In the first game of the road trip, the Thunder beat the Trail Blazers 118-108. Now they take on the Warriors.
The Thunder have won three of their last four games.
Meanwhile, Golden State will be on the fourth game of a home stand playing on a back-to-back after defeating the Utah Jazz 114-103 on Tuesday night.
The Warriors have been struggling as of late due to injuries. Jonathan Kuminga and Draymond Green are expected to miss tonight’s matchup. The loss of Kuminga and Green makes the Warriors lack size and athleticism up front. The Warriors will be stretched thin and their defense will be put to the test in this matchup.
Shutting Down the Chef
Stephen Curry is one of the greatest players the world has ever seen. However, the Thunder have an excellent antidote for him tonight with the defensive play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
SGA provides excellent on-ball defense and will be active in running through the multiple screens that the Warriors will set for Curry to try and get him up and looks. And although it is impossible to shut Curry down completely, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a great chance to really slow him down and make the rest of the offense work.
With missing Kuminga and Green, this will be a tough task for a struggling Golden State team. Still, the Warriors are currently in 11th place in the Western Conference and will need to get some quality wins if they’re going to make a run at the standings.
The Pick
The NBA odds have the Thunder as heavy favorites. I believe this is too many points. Let’s take the Golden State Warriors to make this a close, competitive game.
Give me the Golden State Warriors +9.5.
NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors +9.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
