Two more NBA games have been postponed Wednesday due to COVID-19, but that still leaves eight games on the schedule for hungry NBA bettors to sink their teeth into. This includes another NBA betting trend that is emerging in the early part of this season: Fear the (first-half) Deer.
Betting the Milwaukee Bucks on the first-half spread has been profitable this season and we break down the basketball odds for that and more with our best free NBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, January 13.
NBA Picks for Today
Milwaukee Bucks vs Detroit Pistons
Fear the Deer. Particularly in the first half of games. The Milwaukee Bucks offense is destroying everything in its path and getting off to extremely good starts, and they’ll look for another one when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
The Bucks high-octane offense is once again the best in the NBA, ranking first in offensive rating, scoring, and field goal percentage and it has really shown in the first half of games. Their 62.5 first-half points per game and +8.8 first-half margin are both tops in the Association.
Milwaukee faces a struggling Pistons team that ranks 28th in net rating, while shooting a league-worst 41.7 percent from the field and is 29th in opponent field goal percentage. Detroit also averages just 52.9 first-half points per game and was outscored by the Bucks by 11 and 26 points heading into the break in their two meetings on Jan. 4 and Jan. 6.
There’s no reason that should change in this matchup. Take the Bucks on the first-half spread once again.
PREDICTION: Bucks first half -6 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks vs Charlotte Hornets
Well, Kristaps Porzingis’ season debut was delayed after the Dallas Mavericks' last game was postponed due to COVID concerns, but Porzingis and the Mavs made the flight to Charlotte and are expected to take on the Hornets Wednesday.
No one will be looking forward Porzingis’ return more than Luka Doncic. With averages of 26.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, you wouldn’t normally say someone is struggling, but Doncic has looked like he has been pressing a bit. He is shooting just 22.8 percent from 3-point range and has the worst turnover percentage of his career. Hopefully, the return of the Unicorn will alleviate some of the pressure and be just what Doncic needs to kickstart his season.
Wednesday’s matchup against the Hornets won’t be a cakewalk, particularly considering the Mavs will be without Josh Richardson, Jalen Brunson, Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith due to COVID. Charlotte is a solid defensive bunch, but they are vulnerable to the extra pass. The Hornets allow the most opponent assists per game and you just know Doncic will want to get Porzingis involved in the offense early and often. Bet on Doncic to eclipse his assist total in this one.
PREDICTION: Luka Doncic Over 9.5 Assists (-120)
Portland Trail Blazers vs Sacramento Kings
No one would say CJ McCollum is a better player than Dame Lillard, but there is no denying the fact McCollum has been the better scorer of the Portland Trail Blazers' dynamic duo this season, and sportsbooks seem to keep overlooking that fact.
For tonight’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings, Lillard has a point total set at 28.5, while McCollum comes in three points lower at 25.5. This is despite the fact that McCollum is leading the Blazers in scoring at 28.1 points per game, while Dame is coming in at 26.1.
Of course, Dame is the more likely of the two to go off for 40 points, but McCollum has been more consistent, shooting 47.6 from the field, including 44.5 percent from deep. McCollum has also only gone below this number once in the last six games.
Wednesday’s matchup makes the play all the more tempting, as McCollum faces a Kings team that is one of the worst defensive squads in the NBA. Sacramento ranks 28th in opponent scoring, allowing 121.1 points per game and is dead last in defensive rating. Add in the fact the Kings are playing in the tail end of a back-to-back and McCollum should take down this total.
PREDICTION: CJ McCollum Over 25.5 Points (-110)
Top NBA Consensus for Today
Want to know who today's biggest NBA betting and consensus bets are right now? Check out our top NBA consensus picks.
Yesterday's picks: 3-0 (+2.56 units)
Season record to date: 31-24-1 (+5.16 units)
NBA Betting Card for January 13
- Bucks first half -6 (-110)
- Luka Doncic Over 9.5 assists (-120)
- CJ McCollum Over 25.5 points (-110)
NBA Parlays
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Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
Where Can I Bet on the NBA?
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