NBA Betting Picks for Friday 1/12/24: The Jazz Are Looking to Cap the Week on a High Note

The 82-game NBA regular season offers us a wide variety of betting options, including point spreads, moneylines, and totals. The Association features 1,230 regular season games, which can make sifting through the odds an overwhelming task.

However, various advanced statistics can help narrow the choices. numberFire's NBA power rankings and daily projections paired with advanced stats from the NBA can help give the inside track to winning big.

While utilizing some of the mentioned tools, which NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook look like the best bets today?

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

NBA Best Bets

Sacramento Kings at Philadelphia 76ers

Kings -1 (-110)

The Sacramento Kings are slowly but surely climbing the Western Conference standings as one of the league’s hottest teams with a 6-2 record over their last eight games. Sacramento has excelled on the road with four consecutive wins and covers against the spread (ATS). Friday’s opponents on primetime TV -- the Philadelphia 76ers -- are vulnerable with their best player out due to injury.

Joel Embiid has missed six of the last eight contests and will be absent for the third straight game on Friday due to knee inflammation. During the eight-game stretch, Philly is 3-5 outright and ATS. They have especially struggled recently with three straight losses while going 0-3 ATS. The defense has simply not been up to snuff with opponents totaling 129.0 points per game (PPG) and 60.0 points in the paint per contest.

While the Kings' offensive rating (12th-best) has not been on the same level as last season (1st), they still boast an efficient unit with the 6th-best effective field goal percentage (eFG%) and 5th-best two-point percentage. Let's highlight the two-point shooting with the Sixers giving up the 13th-most points in the paint per game (52.2). Philadelphia has sorely missed Embiid's presence in the painted area (110.6 defensive rating).

It's also worth circling some players with FanDuel offering a 25% Profit Boost on a three-leg NBA Same Game Parlay for tonight's games. Domantas Sabonis could be the recipe for success as he is averaging 24.5 PPG, 14.5 rebounds per game (RPG), and 8.8 assists per game (APG) this month while shooting 64.9% from the field. The star center also takes 81.3% of his shots within 10 feet of the rim.

Sacramento has won four straight games when Sabonis reaches at least 24 points, which further points toward the Kings to cover.

The 76ers have lost the rebounding battle in six consecutive contests. Embiid is tied for the third-highest RPG mark at 11.8. The Kings have the league's top rebounder with Sabonis corralling 12.7 RPG. Philly could lose the battle on the glass yet again.

These teams are trending in opposite directions, and Sabonis could make the Sixers pay with Embiid out of the lineup.

Toronto Raptors at Utah Jazz

Jazz -3 (-114)

The Toronto Raptors against the Utah Jazz is a sneaky good matchup for tonight. You may ask how is that? The Raptors are 15-23 with the fourth-worst record in the East, and the Jazz are 19-20 with the No. 11 spot in the West. However, Toronto is 5-1 ATS since acquiring RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley via trade, and Utah is rounding back into form with a 6-1 record over the last seven contests.

So, the question is who is the best pick ATS? Considering that the Jazz are 9-2 ATS in their previous 11 games, this one feels like a layup. Utah has been absolutely rolling and comes off three impressive wins against the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets. What has allowed the Jazz to breakthrough?

The offense finally looks to be back to last season's form, which finished with the ninth-best offensive rating. Utah currently has the 11th-worst offensive rating in the Association and still has plenty of work to do. But, after averaging 123.2 PPG while shooting 49.3% from the field over the last 10 games, it could be time to take the Jazz's offense serious once again.

For reference, Utah is shooting 46.4% from the floor on the season (11th-worst). The Denver Nuggets (49.4%) and Los Angeles Clippers (49.2%) have the fourth and fifth-best field goal percentages (FG%) in the league. This is how efficient the Jazz have been over the last 10 games; their 49.3 FG% is about as good as it gets.

What does this mean for the Raptors chances tonight? It could spell trouble. Toronto has the 11th-worst defensive rating in the NBA. Opponents typically have efficient shooting nights against the Raptors, averaging a 55.8 eFG% (10th-worst for defense) and a 48.4 FG% (9th-worst).

Jordan Clarkson (17.7 PPG) is on a tear with 24.0 PPG and a 57.6% over his last two games. Collin Sexton (16.2 PPG) seems to be approaching his 2019 to 2021 form in which he averaged over 20.0 PPG in back-to-back seasons; he has totaled 21.0 PPG with a 61.0 FG% over his last three outings. Lauri Markkanen (23.6 PPG) has also done the usual with 24.2 PPG and a 49.5 FG% in January.

The Jazz offense has been a buzzsaw, and I simply have a hard time seeing Toronto finding a way to stop it. Dennis Schroder (116.6 defensive rating) and Immanuel Quickley (120.0 defensive rating) have been weak defenders and could be torched by Utah's red-hot backcourt.

New Orleans Pelicans at Denver Nuggets

Under 229 (-112)

Two top 10 defenses collide in the New Orleans Pelicans (7th-best) against the Denver Nuggets (10th-best). With Denver playing at the second-slowest pace in the NBA, the under has been a pretty reliable bet for any game that involves the Nuggets. In fact, Denver has gone under in 23 of 39 games, which is the highest mark in the Association.

The Pelicans have been scoring at a high clip with 137.0 PPG over their last two contests. They were unusually hot from three-point land in both games, shooting a combined 50.7% from deep while averaging 19.0 three-point makes per contest. The Nuggets' perimeter defense is on a different level, though.

Denver gives up the third-fewest three-point attempts and the fourth-fewest converted threes per contest. The perimeter defense has been exceptional led by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (113.1 defensive rating) and Reggie Jackson (113.1 defensive rating). This should help slow New Orleans' top three-point shooters in C.J. McCollum (19.7 PPG) and Trey Murphy III (13.8 PPG).

Opponents also average the fifth-lowest two-point percentage against the Nuggets, which is certainly a key with the Pels totaling the 11th-most points in the paint per game.

The injury report will likely have a big impact on the total before the game tips off. New Orleans has a long list of questionable players, including Brandon Ingram (22.0 PPG) and Zion Williamson (21.7 PPG), McCollum, and Murphy. This is four of the Pelicans' top five scorers.

Under the 229 total is calling my name. Denver consistently goes under, and they have the tools to slow New Orleans' hot streak from beyond the arc. If the Pelicans are without a couple of starters, this could seal the deal for taking the under.

Looking for the latest NBA odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NBA betting options.

Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.