This slate had the stuff bettors actually care about: star availability changing game scripts, second-half takeovers, and late possessions deciding outcomes. The Kings handled the Knicks after Jalen Brunson exited early, Cleveland blew the doors off Philly behind Donovan Mitchell’s second-half surge, and the Bulls-Jazz and Pelicans-Nets finishes were straight-up one-possession chaos.
Follow Proven Records, Not Hype
Winning Cappers. Transparent Results.
Latest NBA Odds & Lines
Before you build the next card, check the latest NBA odds and lines for moneyline, spread, and totals. On nights where injuries hit early and fourth quarters swing hard, the board can shift quickly, so I always re-check before locking anything in.
Los Angeles Lakers
vs
Charlotte Hornets
Open
vs
Jan 15, 2026 22:40 EST
–
Score
–
-4.50 -110
Spread
+4.50 -110
o+232.50-110
Total
u+232.50-110
-189
Moneyline
+160
Golden State Warriors
vs
New York Knicks
Open
vs
Jan 15, 2026 22:10 EST
–
Score
–
-3.00 -110
Spread
+3.00 -110
o+232.50-110
Total
u+232.50-110
-147
Moneyline
+126
Portland Trail Blazers
vs
Atlanta Hawks
Open
vs
Jan 15, 2026 22:10 EST
–
Score
–
+4.00 -110
Spread
-4.00 -110
o+228.50-110
Total
u+228.50-110
+152
Moneyline
-179
NBA Picks of the Day
If you want a quick read on what’s being played and where the confidence is landing, start with today’s NBA picks and compare the angles. I treat it like a filter, not a command. It helps you avoid forcing a play when the game shape is changing.
Top Takeaways
- Brunson’s early exit changed Knicks-Kings immediately, and Sacramento stayed in control. When a primary creator goes down, the “can they score late” question becomes everything.
- Cleveland’s win was a second-half avalanche led by Mitchell, but Garland leaving late with a foot injury is a note you keep in your pocket for the rematch Friday.
- Dallas losing Cooper Flagg for the second half mattered, and Denver still handled business short-handed. Availability was the story on both sides.
- Bulls-Jazz was pure late-game volatility: Utah erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit, then Vucevic still got the winner with four seconds left.
- Pelicans-Nets was decided in the final minute, with Murphy carrying the scoring and Brooklyn’s last look missing. Tight games keep landing on one or two plays.
- The Clippers keep stacking wins, and Washington losing Alex Sarr to an early ejection is the type of disruption that kills any chance to stabilize on the road.
NBA Game Recaps
New York Knicks vs Sacramento Kings Recap: Kings wins 112-101
DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Zach LaVine added 25 as Sacramento controlled the Knicks 112-101 for its season-best third straight win. Precious Achiuwa put up 20 points and a season-best 14 rebounds, and Russell Westbrook added 19 points and 11 assists.
The game pivoted fast when Jalen Brunson injured his right ankle about four minutes in and didn’t return, snapping his streak of 18 straight 20-point outings. New York got 19 from Mikal Bridges and 15 from OG Anunoby, but the Knicks dropped their sixth game in the last eight as Sacramento never really let the flow flip.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Philadelphia 76ers Recap: Cavaliers wins 133-107
Donovan Mitchell scored 27 of his 35 points after halftime and added nine assists as Cleveland blew out Philadelphia 133-107. Darius Garland chipped in 20 points and seven assists before leaving late in the third with a foot injury, and Evan Mobley filled the box score with 17 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and four blocks.
This was a clean second-half separation game, the kind where you blink and the margin is gone. Joel Embiid led Philly with 20, Paul George had 17, and the starting guard combo of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe struggled, combining for 23 points on 8-of-26 shooting.
Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks Recap: Nuggets wins 118-109
Jamal Murray poured in 33 points as Denver beat Dallas 118-109. Aaron Gordon added 22 and Peyton Watson scored 18 for the short-handed Nuggets, who made it three straight wins.
Dallas got 24 points from Naji Marshall and 20 from Brandon Williams, but Cooper Flagg was out for the second half after spraining his left ankle. That absence matters, because it changes how Dallas can generate clean offense when things tighten late.
Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls Recap: Bulls wins 128-126
Nikola Vucevic scored a season-high 35 points, including the go-ahead layup with four seconds left, as Chicago edged Utah 128-126. Jalen Smith chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds in a game that kept turning.
Utah’s bench was the punch, with Brice Sensabaugh dropping a career-best 43 points off the bench, and Keyonte George added 25 with a personal 8-0 run late in regulation that helped erase a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit. Chicago still found the last shot, with Tre Jones feeding Vucevic for the winner after an Isaac Okoro offensive rebound set the table.
Toronto Raptors vs Indiana Pacers Recap: Raptors wins 115-101
Toronto steadied itself after a big lead shrank and beat Indiana 115-101. Brandon Ingram had 30 points and seven rebounds, and Scottie Barnes posted 26 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds as the Raptors won for the seventh time in their last 10 games.
Indiana made it interesting after trimming a 27-point second-quarter deficit down to four in the fourth, but Toronto leaned back into Ingram and Barnes to close. Pascal Siakam recovered from a slow start, finishing with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but the late stretch belonged to the Raptors.
Follow Proven Records, Not Hype
Winning Cappers. Transparent Results.
Brooklyn Nets vs New Orleans Pelicans Recap: Pelicans wins 116-113
Trey Murphy III scored 34 points and New Orleans edged Brooklyn 116-113, with Saddiq Bey making two big plays in the final minute. Zion Williamson added 25 points, including 14 in the third to keep the Pelicans within striking distance, and Yves Missi had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Brooklyn’s losing skid hit five straight, and the finish was there for the taking. Michael Porter Jr. scored 20 but missed a long three at the buzzer that could’ve tied it, and five other Nets hit double figures, including Egor Demin with 17 and five made threes.
Washington Wizards vs Los Angeles Clippers Recap: Clippers wins 119-105
Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points and James Harden added 22 points with eight assists as the Clippers beat Washington 119-105. Rookie Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored 16 and Jordan Miller added 11 points and 10 rebounds as Los Angeles extended its winning streak to four.
Washington got 23 from Kyshawn George and 17 from Khris Middleton, but the game’s shape got messier when Alex Sarr picked up technical fouls in each of the first two quarters and was ejected before halftime. That’s a brutal way to try to survive a road spot, and the Clippers didn’t let up.
NBA Picks and Handicappers
If you’re betting NBA daily, you already know the value is in volume and comparison. Following multiple sports handicappers helps because you can line up different reads, different risk profiles, and see where the confidence overlaps without guessing who’s just riding a heater.
If you want extra angles without committing to every opinion, the free service plays hub is a good way to keep your process honest. And if you’re sharpening fundamentals, the Bettor’s Handbook is the baseline, while the NBA betting guide keeps it specific to how these games actually swing.
For bettors scaling up access and coverage, compare pricing packages and choose what matches your volume.
