Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – January 9th, 2023

Is anyone in the market for a four-time All-Star point guard? The Dallas Mavericks have waived Kemba Walker, who definitely isn’t an All-Star any longer but seemingly could help some contender off the bench. Walker, 32, averaged 8.0 points and 2.1 assists in nine games with the Mavericks. He signed for the veteran’s minimum in late November. Here’s a look at two intriguing early-week matchups in the NBA. Check back for NBA odds.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week (January 9th, 2023)

C2C Power Rankings (through 1/6 games)

1. Nuggets
2. Nets
3. Celtics
4. Grizzlies
5. Cavs
6. 76ers
7. Pelicans
8. Bucks
9. Mavs
10. Pacers pic.twitter.com/yI60B3yXXk

— Coast 2 Coast (@Coast2CoastNBA) January 7, 2023

Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks

• When: Monday, January 9, 2023, 7:30 PM ET
• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• TV: MSG, BSWI
• Radio: WTMJ 620 (Bucks) // 98.7 FM ESPN New York (Knicks)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: Bucks (-2) // Knicks (+2)

It’s a 7:30 p.m. ET tip from Madison Square Garden. The Bucks go for the season sweep as they lead 2-0. The teams last played Nov. 30 at the Garden and the Bucks prevailed 109-103. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, and Grayson Allen made the tiebreaking 3-pointer with 30 seconds left after Giannis fouled out. It was Allen’s only made 3-pointer of the game. After his make, RJ Barrett missed a 3 for the Knicks and the Bucks closed it out from the free throw line.

Jrue Holiday had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists for Milwaukee. RJ Barrett scored 26 points, Julius Randle added 18 and Jalen Brunson had 17 for the Knicks. New York shot 42% from the field and 20% from 3-point range, plus a dismal 65% from the free throw line.

Milwaukee comes off a surprising 138-109 home loss to Charlotte on Friday. Terry Rozier scored a season-high 39 points and the Hornets matched an NBA record with 51 in the first quarter. It also was a franchise record for most points in any period.

Antetokounmpo, who entered third in the league in scoring at 32.7 points per game, had a season-low nine in 22 minutes. He shot 2 of 7 from the field and 5 for 11 at the foul line. Antetokounmpo’s previous low this season was 16 points on two occasions. Giannis enters Monday averaging a career high 32.0 points (3rd in NBA) and 11.8 rebounds (3rd in NBA) per game this season, in addition to 5.2 assists while shooting 53.0% from the field.

Bobby Portis had 19 points and 12 rebounds in his sixth consecutive double-double for the Bucks, who have lost six of nine. During his six-game stretch of double-doubles, Portis Jr. is averaging 18.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 42.9% from three. Portis Jr. continues to lead the league with 17 double-doubles off the bench this season, in addition to ranking third in the NBA with 24 double-doubles overall. All-Star guard Khris Middleton was out again Friday due to injury and will not play Monday. It will be his 12th straight game missed.

New York won its fourth straight game Friday, 112-108 in Toronto. Julius Randle shot 10-of-22 from the field and 6-of-9 from the foul line for 32 points with 11 rebounds and six assists. Also recording a double-double for the Knicks was Mitchell Robinson, who tallied 10 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocked shots before fouling out. Jalen Brunson, whose 3-point play in the final seconds sealed the outcome, added 26 points, eight assists and five rebounds.

Barrett (right index finger laceration) is considered doubtful for Monday’s game. Barrett has been sidelined since injuring his finger just two minutes into their matchup with Dallas on Dec. 27. He has missed their last five games, which has allowed Immanuel Quickley to play big minutes as of late.

NBA Betting Pick: Knicks

READ MORE: Warriors vs. Spurs 2023 NBA Odds and Preview – January 13th

Phoenix Suns vs. Golden State Warriors

• When: Tuesday, January 10, 2023, 8:00 PM ET
• Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
• TV: TNT
• Radio: KMVP-FM Arizona Sports 98.7 (Suns) // 95.7 The Game (Warriors)
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass
• NBA Betting Odds: TBA

Could be a Western Conference playoff preview but each team will remain without its best player due to injury in Suns guard Devin Booker and Warriors two-time league MVP Steph Curry, who has been progressing well in his recovery from a left shoulder subluxation. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has said that Friday’s game against the Spurs is a realistic target date for Curry’s return. Booker is still likely at least a couple of weeks away with his left groin strain.

Phoenix is 2-0 vs. Golden State this season. They last played on Nov. 16 in the desert and the Suns prevailed 130-119. Cameron Payne had a career-high 29 points, Booker added 27 and Phoenix easily overcame Curry’s 50-point night. All five Suns starters scored in double figures. The Suns controlled most of the game despite Curry’s scoring. The eight-time All-Star made 17 of 28 shots, going 7 of 11 from 3-point range.

Payne is currently out for Phoenix as well with a foot injury and won’t even be re-evaluated for two weeks. A foot sprain kept Payne out from Dec. 15 through Dec. 30 before he returned Jan. 2 and played two games prior to sitting again last Friday. Future Hall of Famer Chris Paul is in question. He sat Sunday against the Cavs after he exited early in the Suns’ 104-96 loss to the Heat on Friday due to a sore right hip.

The Dubs will be well rested at least as they were stunned 115-101 at home vs. Orlando on Saturday to fall to 20-20 overall. The Magic won on the Warriors’ home floor for the first time in more than 10 years. All-Star Andrew Wiggins returned and veteran Andre Iguodala made his long-awaited season debut but Klay Thompson was a late scratch with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee. Wiggins scored 12 in 19 minutes coming back from a 15-game absence for both a strained muscle in his right upper leg and a non-COVID illness.

“It got sore during warmups and the training staff looked at him and for precautionary reasons kept him out of the game,” Kerr said of Thompson. The Warriors are 16-0 all-time when Thompson scores at least 40 points.

NBA Betting Pick: Warriors

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READ MORE: Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – January 16th, 2023