Happy New Year! We’re breaking down everything you need to know before you make any NBA bets or set your DFS lineups. All that and more in our NBA Betting Cheat Sheet today – Thursday, January 1st, featuring the best free player prop bets and pick’em plays.
Editor’s Note: Did you know DFS pick’em apps like Underdog and Sleeper are live in many states where online sports betting isn’t yet legal? Use promo code PROPS when signing up to get started!
We’re talking the best game environments where points will be flying, the hottest NBA injury news that’s moving lines and opening up value, and the best expert player prop picks for tonight’s action.
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NBA Betting Cheat Sheet Today – Thursday, January 1st
Our NBA betting cheat sheet is your one-stop snapshot to cut through the noise and zero in on where the edges actually are. Our team is here to break it down. Let’s get into it.
Here are some popular NBA player props on Underdog:
NBA Odds For Thursday, January 1st
Let’s take a quick glance at all of the NBA betting odds today (subject to change).
NBA Games & Odds – Thursday, January 1, 2026
Houston Rockets (20-10) @ Brooklyn Nets (10-20) – 6:00 PM
- Spread: HOU -11.5 (-110) / BKN +11.5 (-110)
- Total: O/U 218.5 (-105/-115)
- Moneyline: HOU -535 / BKN +400
Miami Heat (18-15) @ Detroit Pistons (25-8) – 7:00 PM
- Spread: DET -4.5 (-115) / MIA +4.5 (-105)
- Total: O/U 237.5 (-108/-112)
- Moneyline: MIA +164 / DET -198
Philadelphia 76ers (17-14) @ Dallas Mavericks (12-22) – 8:30 PM
- Spread: PHI -2.5 (-108) / DAL +2.5 (-112)
- Total: O/U 230.5 (-110/-110)
- Moneyline: PHI -135 / DAL +114
Boston Celtics (20-12) @ Sacramento Kings (8-25) – 10:00 PM
- Spread: BOS -9.5 (-112) / SAC +9.5 (-108)
- Total: O/U 227.5 (-110/-110)
- Moneyline: BOS -410 / SAC +320
Utah Jazz (12-20) @ LA Clippers (11-21) – 10:30 PM
- Spread: LAC -12.5 (-115) / UTA +12.5 (-105)
- Total: O/U 232.5 (-105/-115)
- Moneyline: UTA +490 / LAC -675
TOP NBA DFS GAMES TODAY
Which games are shaping up to be DFS and sports betting goldmines? Let’s look at the main slate.
Pistons vs Heat
- Slate-leading 237.5 Game Total (O/U)
- Miami and Detroit both are good defensively, but rank 1st and 6th in pace, respectively
Jazz vs Clippers
- Utah is such a pace-up spot (2nd) for the Clippers, which rank dead last in that department
- Clippers rank 21st in DRTG, so there is some game-stack opportunities
Sixers vs Mavericks
- A lot of starpower in this one
- Dallas ranks fourth in pace, Philly ranks 11th
- The Sixers have played themselves into a handful of shootouts in December
- Healthy game total and most competitive spread on the slate
Check out more of our NBA player props content for the 2025 season. As always, it’s 100% FREE:
- First Basket Predictions
- NBA Betting Hub (Game Predictions & More)
- Key Stats To Know: NBA Betting
- Daily Promo Roundup
NBA Injuries For Thursday, January 1st
Injuries are a big part of any NBA betting cheat sheet.
Check out some NBA injuries today via Underdog (as of Thursday morning):
NBA Live Player Prop Odds
| Player |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anthony Black
ORL
PG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Ausar Thompson
DET
SG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Cade Cunningham
DET
PG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Desmond Bane
ORL
SG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Duncan Robinson
DET
SG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Franz Wagner
ORL
SF DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Goga Bitadze
ORL
C DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Isaiah Stewart
DET
PF DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jalen Duren
DET
C DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jalen Suggs
ORL
SG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Jamal Cain
ORL
SF DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Javonte Green
DET
SG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Kevin Huerter
DET
SG DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
Paolo Banchero
ORL
PF DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tobias Harris
DET
SF DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tristan da Silva
ORL
PF DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Wendell Carter Jr.
ORL
C DET @ ORL
Today
8:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Ajay Mitchell
OKC
PG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Alex Caruso
OKC
SG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Cason Wallace
OKC
PG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Chet Holmgren
OKC
C OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Collin Gillespie
PHO
PG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Devin Booker
PHO
SG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Dillon Brooks
PHO
SF OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Grayson Allen
PHO
SF OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Isaiah Hartenstein
OKC
C OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Isaiah Joe
OKC
SG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jalen Green
PHO
SG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jaylin Williams
OKC
PF OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jordan Goodwin
PHO
PG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Luguentz Dort
OKC
SF OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Mark Williams
PHO
C OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Oso Ighodaro
PHO
PF OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Royce O'Neale
PHO
PF OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
OKC
PG OKC @ PHO
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Aaron Gordon
DEN
PF MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Ayo Dosunmu
MIN
PG MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Bones Hyland
MIN
PG MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Bruce Brown
DEN
SG MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Cameron Johnson
DEN
PF MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Christian Braun
DEN
SG MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Jaden McDaniels
MIN
PF MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jamal Murray
DEN
PG MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Julius Randle
MIN
PF MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Mike Conley
MIN
PG MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Naz Reid
MIN
C MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Nikola Jokić
DEN
C MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Rudy Gobert
MIN
C MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Tim Hardaway Jr.
DEN
SF MIN @ DEN
Today
10:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - |
Free NBA DFS Picks Cheat Sheet For Today
Our NBA betting cheat sheet today is ready to roll!
Let’s break it down.
BEST POINTS PROP
NBA Player Prop: Derrick White > 19.5 Points
Justin Carlucci wrote about White at our best NBA props page. White has been a consistent winner for us in December. Check out his full analysis and more free picks!
BEST REBOUNDS PROP
NBA Player Prop: VJ Edgecombe > 4.5 Rebounds
The sensational rookie has averaged over 10 rebound chances across his last five games, so I like his odds of converting at least 50% of them.
BEST ASSISTS PROP
NBA Player Prop: James Harden < 8.5 Assists
This one is a little scary due to the extreme pace-up spot for the Clippers. However, with Kawhi commanding so much more of the basketball, Harden has averaged just over 10 potential assists per game across his last 10 contests and just 6.5 per game in December.
UNDERDOG FANTASY POINTS PICK
Pick: Cooper Flagg > 40.85 Fantasy Points
Flagg is only getting better and better as he gets more comfortable as a rookie. That’s a scary thought considering he’s already averaging 20.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per 36 minutes through 33 games (Basketball Reference).
Good luck!
Featured Image Credit: Imagn
