NBA Picks January 15: Dallas hosts New Orleans in Western Conference battle

The midpoint of the NBA regular season is just around the corner and teams are looking to get on a roll before the all-star break. There is a full slate of games scheduled for January 15 with the Mavericks hosting the Pelicans as the featured game.

New Orleans Pelicans versus Dallas Mavericks

The two teams are battling in the sixth and seventh spots in the Western Conference with nearly identical records. The Pelicans are “burning hot” after a 5-1 stretch, while the Mavericks are “average up” and 4-2 over the same period. The teams have been trending in games on opposite sides of the “over/under” line with a score prediction of 123-118 in favor of New Orleans. The Pelicans are +26 to +24 on the Power Ranks Indicator. The teams have split the previous two meetings this season. Be aware that Dallas has been more consistent with regards to their favorite/underdog status. I like Dallas at home by a few points, perhaps needing overtime to decide it.

Orlando Magic versus New York Knicks

The teams come in a game apart in the Eastern Conference. New York is 5-1 over their last six games and “burning hot down” and the Magic are 5-5 over their last ten and “ice cold down” on the Team Strength Oscillator. The teams have been involved in games “under” the line in eight of the last 12 and the score prediction is 121-116 in favor of the Knicks with 70 percent confidence. Orlando won by nine at home in the first meeting between the teams this season. New York is 11-4 at home and Orlando is under .500 on the road. I like the Knicks in a game “under” the line.

Chicago Bulls versus Cleveland Cavaliers

Both teams come in “burning hot” with winning streaks of three and four games, respectively. The Bulls are only 5-12 on the road and the Cavaliers are 13-8 at home. The teams have been trending in games mainly “under” the line and the score prediction is for a narrow 113-112 win for the Bulls. Cleveland won the first game between the teams by 14 points as a road underdog and they have a +19 to +15 edge on the Power Ranks Indicator. One thing to note is that both teams are very consistently performing in line with their favorite/underdog status. I see little issues with the Cavaliers winning and covering, but I will pass on the “over/under” bet.

Indiana Pacers versus Utah Jazz

Although still a game under .500, the Jazz are 8-2 over their last ten and “burning hot” on the Team Strength Oscillator. Indiana is also “burning hot” and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The teams have been trending in games “under” the line. The score prediction has the Jazz by 16 points but with only 49 percent confidence in the prediction. The two teams are separated by a mere three points on the Power Ranks Indicator but the Pacers crushed the Jazz in the first meeting between the teams this season by 16 points.  Utah is 12-5 at home and I like their current trend. Let’s go with Utah in a game “over” the line.

Oklahoma City Thunder versus Los Angeles Lakers

Thanks to a three-game winning streak, the Thunder are tied for first in the Western Conference. The Lakers are coming off a loss and are just 2-4 over their last six.  The two teams split the first two games between each other this season. Oklahoma City has a wide advantage on the Power Ranks Indicator and the score prediction is 123-114 in favor of the Thunder but with a low confidence of 44 percent. Both teams are showing a high level of stability, according to the Team Volatility Oscillator.  Los Angeles is 13-7 at home and Oklahoma City has one of the best road records in the league at 11-6. I like the Thunder to continue to roll of the Lakers in a game “over” the line.

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