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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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ausar Thompson
DET
SG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Cade Cunningham
DET
PG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Caris LeVert
DET
SF DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Daniss Jenkins
DET
PG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Dean Wade
CLE
PF DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Dennis Schröder
CLE
PG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Donovan Mitchell
CLE
SG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Duncan Robinson
DET
SG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Evan Mobley
CLE
PF DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Isaiah Stewart
DET
PF DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Jalen Duren
DET
C DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
James Harden
CLE
SG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Jarrett Allen
CLE
C DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Max Strus
CLE
SG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Paul Reed
DET
PF DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Sam Merrill
CLE
SG DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Tobias Harris
DET
SF DET @ CLE
Today
7:00 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Anthony Edwards
MIN
SG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Ayo Dosunmu
MIN
PG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Carter Bryant
SA
SF SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
De'Aaron Fox
SA
PG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Devin Vassell
SA
SG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Dylan Harper
SA
PG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Jaden McDaniels
MIN
PF SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Julian Champagnie
SA
SF SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Julius Randle
MIN
PF SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Keldon Johnson
SA
SF SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Luke Kornet
SA
C SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Mike Conley
MIN
PG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||
Naz Reid
MIN
C SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Rudy Gobert
MIN
C SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | |||||
Stephon Castle
SA
SG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | ||||||
Terrence Shannon Jr.
MIN
SG SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 PM ET
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | ||||
Victor Wembanyama
SA
PF SA @ MIN
Today
9:30 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
