Best NBA Odds and Bets January 14: Lay the Points with the Bulls; Pistons and Sixers Cover

By Sidelines Staff   January 14, 2022 

Best NBA Odds and Bets January 14: Lay the Points with the Bulls; Pistons and Sixers Cover

It’s a night full of enticing matchups between star-driven teams in the NBA tonight. Arguably the highlight is a contest between two of the most dynamic young guards in the Western Conference – Luka Doncic and the Mavs and Ja Morant and the Grizzlies. 

Elsewhere, Joel Embiid leads the Sixers vs. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the Celtics in Philly. And Steph Curry and the suddenly struggling Warriors go toe to toe with DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, and the Chicago Bulls.

But which of these stars are worth backing as a bettor? Try these three lines tonight:

Golden State @ Chicago

The Bet: Bulls -4 (-105, Fox Bet)

Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) drives for the basket around Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum | Sidelines
Milwaukee Bucks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) drives for the basket around Golden State Warriors guard Jordan Poole (3) during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Something is officially wrong with Golden State. They’ve lost four of five games and failed to cover in five of six. They don’t look right, and maybe it’s growing pains for a lineup that’s attempting to reincorporate a future hall of famer (Klay Thompson) into its lineup after two years away, but they really just don’t have it right now.

Chicago got absolutely pasted by the Nets on Wednesday, so you get them at a small discount vs. where they might have been had they won that game. The Warriors just aren’t backable right now, and we have no problem laying the points with the Bulls. 

Boston @ Philadelphia

The Bet: Sixers -3 (-110, Caesars)

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) in the second half at the Wells Fargo Center | Sidelines
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots the ball against Charlotte Hornets forward P.J. Washington (25) in the second half at the Wells Fargo Center. Mitchell Leff-USA TODAY Sports

Philly had its seven game winning streak snapped on Wednesday when they hosted Charlotte, but we’re still very bullish on the Sixers. They just caught a team that was shooting the lights out on the wrong night. Over his last ten games, Joel Embiid has arguably been the MVP of the league, and even in defeat last night, he showed no signs of wearing down with 31 points. 

Boston has a couple strong wins of late (by 24 at home vs. New York, by 19 at Indiana), but overall, their play of late has left something to be desired, as they’ve failed to cover in six of their last nine games. They played Philly twice already this year, both times at home, and they failed to cover, losing one of the two games outright. Expect that streak to continue, and back the Sixers. 

Toronto @ Detroit

The Bet: Pistons +7.5 (-110, Bet MGM)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives around Chicago Bulls center Tony Bradley (13) during the second half at the United Center | Sidelines
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives around Chicago Bulls center Tony Bradley (13) during the second half at the United Center. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit is one of the worst teams in the league, and they arguably haven’t looked worse all season than they did at Chicago on Wednesday night. They lost that game by 46 points. They also have recent losses on their record by 29 (at Charlotte) and by 30 (at Memphis).

What do all those games have in common? The “at.” 

Detroit has been brutal of late on the road, but at home? They’ve covered their last three games (including a straight up win vs. Utah), and they were one point in a loss to New York away from making it five straight home covers. On the season, they’re 10-9 ATS in Detroit, and they should be able to cover tonight against the Raptors.

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