Free NBA Picks For Today 1/5/2025
Boston Celtics vs. Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Pick Prediction 1/5/2025
Celtics at Thunder Injuries
Brown is questionable for Boston. Caruso, Holmgren, Ducas, Flagler and Mitchell are out for OKC.
Recent Box Score Key Stats
Celtics at Thunder 3:30PM ET—Boston is 25-9 following their 109-86 road win at Houston. The Celtics shot 51% with 49% from three. Derrick White scored 23 points with four rebounds. Jayson Tatum chipped in with 20 points and six rebounds. Boston held Houston to 36% shooting with 28% from three. Oklahoma City improved to 29-6 after their 117-107 home win to New York Knicks. The Thunder shot 51% with 52% from three. SGA had 33 points with seven assists. Jalen Williams chipped in with 20 points and five assists. OKC held NY to 48% shooting with 28% from three.
The Pick with the Explanation
Boston is second in road offensive efficiency as they average 118.8 points per 100 possessions with a +11.5 net rating. OKC at home is averaging 117.2 points per 100 possessions with a +13.3 net rating. The Celtics in their past five games are shooting 50% with 41% from three and putting up 122 points per game. OKC in this period are hitting 49% overall and putting up 116 points per game. OKC is 5-1 to the over at home facing teams that outscore opponents by 3 points or greater per game. Play Boston and OKC over 221.5.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Washington Wizards NBA Pick Prediction 1/5/2025
Pelicans at Wizards Injuries
Ingram, Matkovic and Zion are out for New Orleans with Murray questionable. Bagley and Bey are out for Washington. Coulibaly and Poole are questionable.
Recent Box Score Key Stats
Pelicans at Wizards—New Orleans improved to 6-29 following their 132-120 home win to Washington. The Pelicans shot 50% with 44% from three. CJ McCollum had 50 points with two assists. Trey Murphy chipped in with 17 points and five assists. New Orleans allowed 54% shooting to the Wizards with 32% from three. Jordan Poole scored 26 points with seven assists. Malcolm Brogdon chipped in with 16 points and three assists. Washington fell to 6-26 in defeat.
The Pick with the Explanation
Washington at home is 30th in offensive efficiency by averaging 106.7 points per 100 possessions with a -9.8 net rating. New Orleans is 30th in road offensive efficiency by averaging 102.6 points per 100 possessions with a -17.3 net rating. The Pelicans in their past five games are allowing 50% shooting with 38% from three. The Wizards over this span are shooting 48% overall and 37% from three. The Pelicans have failed to cover 13 of 16 on the road. Play Washington +4.5.
Charlotte Hornets vs. Cleeland Cavaliers NBA Pick Prediction 1/5/2025
Hornets at Cavaliers Injuries
Mann is out with Ball, Jeffries, and Miller questionable for Charlotte. Green is probable. Okoro is out for Cleveland with Merrill questionable.
Recent Box Score Key Stats
Hornets at Cavaliers 6PM ET—Charlotte fell to 7-26 after their 98-94 road defeat at Detroit. The Hornets hit 41% with 30% from three. Miles Bridges put up 20 points with nine rebounds. Mark Williams had 18 points with nine rebounds. Charlotte held Detroit to 425 shooting with 32% from three. Cleveland is 29-4 after their 134-122 road win at Dallas. The Cavs hit 53% with 38% from three. Evan Mobley put up 34 points with 10 rebounds. Caris LeVert off the bench got 17 points with four rebounds. Cleveland held Dallas to 43% shooting with 27% from three.
The Pick with the Explanation
Charlotte on the road is averaging 106.1 points per 100 possessions with a -1.8 net rating. Cleveland at home is averaging 121.1 points per 100 possessions with a +13.9 net rating. Cleveland in their past five games are shooting 50% with 41% from three and putting up 128 points per game. But the Hornets in their past five games are holding opponents to 42.5% shooting with 30% from three. Play Charlotte +15.5.
Utah Jazz vs. Orlando Magic NBA Pick Prediction 1/5/2025
Jazz at Magic Injuries
Clarkson is out for Utah. Banchero, Harris, Suggs and Wagner are out for Orlando with Black questionable.
Recent Box Score Key Stats
Jazz at Magic 6:30PM ET—Utah is 8-25 with their 136-100 road win at Miami. The Jazz shot 52% with 41% from three. Brice Sensabaugh off the bench had 34 points with seven rebounds. John Collins chipped in with 24 points and nine rebounds. Utah allowed 44% shooting to the Heat with 26% from three. Orlando improved to 21-15 following their 106-97 road win at Toronto. The Magic shot 47% with 43% from three. Tristan da Silva scored 25 points with four rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell Pope had 15 points with two assists. Orlando allowed 48% shooting to the Raptors with 34% from three.
The Pick with the Explanation
Orlando at home is tops in defensive efficiency by allowing 103.9 points per 100 possessions with a +7.3 net rating. Utah on the road is 26th in defensive efficiency by allowing 118.4 points per 100 possessions with a -6.3 net rating. Orlando in their past five games are shooting 42% with 31% from three and averaging 95 points per game. The Jazz in this period is shooting 48% with 38% from three. They are 7-2 to the spread against the Eastern Conference and have covered 7 of 9 as a road underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points. Orlando has failed to cover four of five. Play Utah +6.
LA Lakers vs. Houston Rockets NBA Pick Prediction 1/5/2025
Lakers at Rockets Injuries
Vanderbilt, Wood and Hood-Schifino are out for LA with Vincent doubtful. Davis and James are probable. Smith is out for Houston with Eason doubtful.
Recent Box Score Key Stats
Lakers at Rockets 7PM ET—LA improved to 20-13 following their 119-102 home win to Atlanta. The Lakers shot 49% with 43% from three. LeBron James scored 30 points with eight assists. Austin Reaves chipped in with 20 points and seven boards. LA held Atlanta to 41% shooting with 18% from three. Houston fell to 22-12 with their 109-86 home defeat to Boston. The Rockets connected on 36% with 28% from three. Jalen Green had 27 points with three rebounds. Alperen Sengun chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds. Houston allowed 51% shooting to the Celtics with 49% from three.
The Pick with the Explanation
LA on the road is 21st in defensive efficiency by allowing 115.1 points per 100 possessions with a -6.5 net rating. Houston at home is third in defensive efficiency by allowing 105 points per 100 possessions with a +7.9 net rating. LA over their past five games are shooting 58% with 38% from three and putting up 118 points per game. Defensively away from home they have allowed 115 points per game with 48% shooting. Houston defense in their past five games is allowing 48% shooting with 41% from three. The Rockets are 6-3 to the over at home when favored by 3.5 to 9.5 points. Play LA and Houston over 218.
Sacramento Kings vs. Golden St Warriors NBA Pick Prediction 1/5/2025
Kings at Warriors Injuries
Fox is doubtful for Sacramento with Murray questionable. Kuminga and Payton are out for GSW with Curry and Podziemski questionable.
Recent Box Score Key Stats
Kings at Warriors—Sacramento improved to 16-19 following their 138-133 home win to Memphis. The Kings shot 49% with 45% from three. DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points with five assists. Malik Monk chipped in with 31 points and six assists. Sacramento allowed 48% shooting to the Grizzlies with 46% from three. Golden St is 18-16 after their 121-113 home win to Memphis. The Warriors hit 52% with 53% from three. Allan Wiggins had 24 points with three assists. Dennis Schroder contributed 17 points with nine rebounds. Golden St allowed 52% shooting to the Grizzlies with 33% from three.
The Pick with the Explanation
Golden St at home is averaging 112.7 points per 100 possessions with a +3.1 net rating. Sacramento on the road is averaging 113.5 points per 100 possessions with a +1.3 net rating. The Kings in their past five games are allowing 48% shooting with 42% from three. They shot 30% from three on the road. GSW in this period are allowing 32% from three. Curry missed the front end of the back-to-back for injury management. Play Golden St -3.
Free NBA Picks For Today 1/5/2025