Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

NBA Best Bets Today- Our Top Picks for Sunday, January 4

Our NBA Best Bets for Sunday, January 4.

Image Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

For Sunday, January 4, fans will get to enjoy an eight game NBA slate, featuring inter-conference and cross-conference matchups. In an afternoon game, the Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Detroit Pistons, followed by the Orlando Magic welcoming the struggling Indiana Pacers. Later in the day, the Miami Heat will be the hosts to the New Orleans Pelicans followed by the table-toppers Oklahoma City Thunder visiting the Phoenix Suns. Several teams have been impacted by key injuries, including the Denver Nuggets missing Nikola Jokic, and more.

Rather than breaking down every game for Sunday, we have selected our NBA best bets today, which include a handful of spreads and totals where we think the line is off. These are the picks we would prioritize in case you are looking to bet a few spots on tonight’s card.

If you want full game previews and detailed insights into them, head over to our NBA picks and predictions page for today. Otherwise, continue scrolling down for our NBA best bets of the day, followed by a quick breakdown of each play.

Our NBA Best Picks of the Day

Tag	Game	Market and Line	Odds and Book
Best Bet	Orlando Magic vs Indiana Pacers	Magic -6.5 (spread)	-110 at FanDuel
Play #2	Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 Points (player prop)	-104 at FanDuel
Play #3	Miami Heat vs New Orleans Pelicans	Under 242.5 (total)	-114 at FanDuel

Odds from FanDuel, accurate as of Sunday, January 4, 2026, 6:42 am ET. Lines may move before tip-off.

Game 1- Best Bet: Magic -6.5 vs Pacers

Pick Type	Market	Odds and Book
Best Bet	Magic -6.5 (spread)	-110 at FanDuel

Orlando Magic maintains a solid defense at home, and wins big against weaker teams. Indiana Pacers, on the other hand, had shown improvement last month, but ended up falling back to where they started. They are coming off an 11-game losing skid with poor scoring and defense lately.

Sportsbooks have Magic at -6.5, which is short considering the disappointing performance of the reigning NBA finalists. The Magic over well in home spots like this.

The line hasn’t caught up well to the Pacers’ form, and we like Orlando to record a double-digit win.

With the Magic’s dominance at home and the Pacers’ ongoing struggles, we are expecting a comfortable victory by the former and are picking -6.5 as our NBA Best Bet for the day.

Game 2- Play#2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 Points vs Phoenix Suns

Pick Type	Market	Odds and Book
Play #2	Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 Points	-110 at FanDuel

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP is the second-leading scorer in the league, dropping an average of 32.1 points per game. He is converting 56.1% of his field goals and 42.5% of his three-point goals.

The Phoenix Suns have a lower defensive rating than the Thunder, and Gilgeous-Alexander is entering Sunday’s matchup off a three-game 30-point streak.

The projected score looks good considering SGA’s form and the Suns’ defensive rating.

We like SGA to maintain his momentum and score over 32 points tonight.

Game 3: Play #3: Heat vs Pelicans Under 242.5

Pick Type	Market	Odds and Book
Play #3	Under 242.5 points (total)	-114 at FanDuel

Miami Heat maintains the top defensive rating in the league, and while the Pelicans sit lower in the standings. In addition, while the Heat have the third best offense in the league currently, the Pelicans are ranked 21st in the same.

The total 242.5 looks high considering the Heat are a defensively powered team.

We like the under 242.5 to hit as the Heat face the Pelicans.

How we are betting on tonight’s NBA slate

Powerful teams have been paired against struggling teams, giving a clear edge to one of them. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a consistent player, and an under in the third considering a tight defensive battle. We are targeting spread on the stronger side and a total where pace is expected to be balanced out.

NBA Best Bets Recap for January 4

Best Bet: Magic -6.5 vs Pacers (-110 at FanDuel)
Play #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Over 31.5 Points vs Phoenix Suns (-110 at FanDuel)
Play #3: Heat vs Pelicans Under 242.5 (-114 at FanDuel)