NBA Best Bets for January 8: Cavaliers and Thunder Meet for a Prime Time Showdown
-
Spread Astaire
- January 8, 2025
Top NBA Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -2 (-110) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
We have more exciting NBA action for this Wednesday night, including the premier matchup of the season. Before all this action tips off, let’s break down the best games and find the 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 daily betting advice.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Wednesday, January 08, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
The biggest game of the young NBA season takes place tonight when the Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers.
Conference Leaders Collide
Both teams are in first place in their respective conferences.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 11-0 against Eastern Conference opponents. The Cleveland Cavaliers are 10-0 against Western Conference opponents.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won 15 games in a row. The Cleveland Cavaliers come in on a 10 game winning streak. The Cavaliers have won all 10 games in this win streak by 10 points or more. The Cavaliers are 18-1 at home this season.
Top Offense Meets Top Defense
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the second-best offense in the league averaging 122.5 points per game. The Oklahoma City Thunder have the top defense in the league averaging 103 points per game allowed. When the Cavaliers’ top offense meets the Thunders elite defense, who will come out on top?
The Thunder are 24-12 ATS this season and the Cavaliers are 25-10 ATS. The Thunder are 10-7 on the road ATS and the Cavaliers are 13-6 at home ATS. Both teams have excellent reasons why you should be betting on them.
The Pick
I think the home-court advantage will be the difference in this game.
If this game were taking place in Oklahoma City, I would be taking the Thunder. However, in a close game between two top teams, the home court could be the final factor that pushes it over the edge. The Cavaliers will continue their win streak, although this one might not be by double digits. My first bet for the evening is the Cleveland Cavaliers -2.
NBA Pick: Cleveland Cavaliers -2 (-110) at Bookmaker
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers
Wednesday, January 08, 2025 – 07:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Two of the highest-scoring teams in the league will take the floor when the Indiana Pacers host the Chicago Bulls.
Momentum vs. Consistency
The Pacers are coming into this game on a three-game winning streak, most recently defeating the Brooklyn Nets 113-99.
The Bulls have also been playing well. They have won four of their last five games. Their most recent win was at home over the upstart San Antonio Spurs. The Bulls finished the game against San Antonio on an 11-0 run in order to secure the victory.
Pace and Points
When these two teams take the floor there’s one thing that we can always count on: the high pace.
The Bulls are fifth in the league in scoring at 117.8 points per game and the Pacers are 10th in the league in scoring at 115.2 points per game. However, as good as these teams are on offense, they are inversely worse on defense.
The Bulls are 29th in the league in points against averaging 121 points per game allowed. The Pacers aren’t much better. They are 22nd in the league at points per game allowed at 116.1.
The Pick
Two good offenses and two bad defenses only mean one thing. In a high-paced game that will feature plenty of points being scored, give me the over.
NBA Pick: Bulls/Pacers Over 242 (-110) at Bookmaker
*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.
