With nine NBA matchups scheduled for Friday, January 3, bettors are in for a loaded night of action on DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s look at my top betting picks for today’s NBA games.

Here’s a look at the full schedule for today’s games:

Hornets at Pistons, 7:00 p.m. EST
Magic at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. EST
Celtics at Rockets, 8:00 p.m. EST
Wizards at Pelicans, 8:00 p.m. EST
Knicks at Thunder, 8:00 p.m. EST
Cavaliers at Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. EST
Spurs at Nuggets, 9:00 p.m. EST
Grizzlies at Kings, 10:00 p.m. EST
Hawks at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. EST

The Cavaliers aim to extend their 9-0 record against the Western Conference teams when they face the Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Cleveland has been dominant versus the West, winning by an average margin of 16.3 points. With stellar performances from Jarrett Allen and Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland has looked nearly unstoppable, while Dallas is struggling without Luka Doncic coming off a 1-3 road trip. P.J. Washington is questionable after spraining his knee on Wednesday, and Dallas is 1-7 without him. Expect Cleveland to cover the -7 spread as they aim to complete a perfect road trip.

The Raptors are coming off their first win in over a month, ending an 11-game losing streak. Regardless, Orlando has a slight edge with a hard-nosed team defense that sets the tone, overcoming Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who are sidelined due to oblique injuries. Orlando’s defense will likely decide as they look to rebound from their loss to Detroit. With both teams fighting to establish momentum, the Magic should be able to cover the -1 spread against a Raptors team that has struggled for consistency this season as long as the team sticks to its identity that has netted the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference despite frequently playing shorthanded.

They are coming off a thrilling 118-115 victory over the Timberwolves despite missing Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. Jayson Tatum continues to lead the team, with Derrick White stepping up in the absence of Brown. Houston has been inconsistent, and while its defense has been effective this season, it could struggle to contain Boston’s firepower. However, despite a two-game winning streak entering the matchup, the Celtics have looked more vulnerable lately than usual. Boston has five losses in its previous 11 games compared to just four in their initial 23 games. Things could change if the Rockets get hot, but Boston should cover the -2 spread in this matchup.

Both teams are on hot streaks, with the Knicks winning nine straight and the Thunder boasting a 13-game win streak. Despite the Thunder’s elite defense, the Knicks have been high-scoring and resilient, particularly with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson leading the way. If New York can continue to create advantages with Towns’ stretch-five skill set, the team can keep it close and challenge Oklahoma City’s preference to protect the paint. Even if Brunson’s status remains uncertain, the Knicks have the depth to keep this one close, making them a strong play to cover the +4.5 spread.

Despite missing several key players, including Ja Morant, the Grizzlies have been playing well, winning five of their last seven on the road. The Kings, on the other hand, are in the midst of a coaching change and will be looking to defend their home court. Sacramento has won two games since firing Mike Brown, but one of those came against a Mavericks squad without four of its starters and six total rotation players. The other victory occurred against the 76ers without Joel Embiid. Meanwhile, Memphis has shown resilience despite various injuries—led by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, along with contributions from their bench. Factor in a possible return from Zach Edey, and the Grizzlies should cover the +3.5 spread against Sacramento.

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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is grant-afseth) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.