Best NBA Bets Today | NBA Picks January 4

The NBA's Wednesday night schedule features 12 exciting matchups between 24 of the league's 30 teams!

Kicking off the evening is a big inter-conference matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following that is an Eastern Conference matchup between the surging Brooklyn Nets and the struggling Chicago Bulls. And closing out the night are two teams looking to get back on the winning trend in the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings.

Let's take a look at the bets!

Phoenix Suns @ Cleveland Cavaliers

When: 7:00 PM EST

Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -4.5 (-110) @ bet365

The Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers will face off in an exciting match between two tough teams! The Cavaliers are on a good run of form, sitting fourth in the East with a 24-14 record. The Suns have struggled to maintain their early-season form, falling to eighth in the Western Conference with a 20-18 record.

Phoenix close out their six-game road trip against the Cavaliers, having gone 1-4 so far. They've been competitive but through five games they've committed 15.2 turnovers per game while allowing their opponents 29.4 free throw attempts per game. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, have benefitted from back-to-back games against a defensively lacking Chicago Bulls team. Cleveland have averaged 124.0 points on 49.2% from the field and 34.5% from the three-point range, while also winning the rebounding battle 48.5 to 41.0.

It's no guarantee that the Cavaliers will win, especially with a step up in competition. However, with their current scoring form and the Suns continuing to play without Devin Booker, Cleveland should find good offensive opportunities with fewer offensive threats coming their way.

Brooklyn Nets @ Chicago Bulls

When: 8:00 PM EST

Spread: Brooklyn Nets -5.0 (-110) @ DraftKings Sportsbook

The Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls are two teams on opposite runs of form. Chicago are currently 11th in the Eastern Conference, with a 16-21 record after going 5-5 over their last 10 games. Brooklyn on the other hand are scorching, second in the Eastern Conference with a 25-12 record and a 12-game win streak.

Brooklyn's offence has been near unstoppable through their 12-game win streak, as they've averaged 124.1 points per game on 55.9% from the field and 44.2% from three-point range. Unfortunately Chicago's defence hasn't been up to standards through their last ten games, allowing 120.4 points per game on 48.1% from the field and 37.9% from three. All things considered, the Bulls don't look equipped to slow down the Nets.

The game changer for this matchup will be Brooklyn's interior defence, which holds opponents to 50.6% from two-point range (2nd in the NBA) while collecting 6.8 blocks per game (1st in the NBA). Given Chicago's bias toward the paint and less than admirable defensive form, the Nets should add another to their win streak.

Atlanta Hawks @ Sacramento Kings

When: 10:00 PM EST

Spread: Atlanta Hawks +1.5 (-110) @ WynnBet

Both the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings look to get back on the winning trend when they face each other on Thursday night! Atlanta are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, with a 17-20 record and on a four-game losing streak. Sacramento have won just two of their last five games, now sitting fifth in the Western Conference.

Through their recent five-game run, the Hawks have struggled to limit their opponents with their defense. They've allowed their opponents to score 123.0 points per game on 48.1% shooting from the field and 33.0% from three-point range - while being dominated on the glass 46.2 to 52.6. Sacramento have struggled in their own right, particularly with their offensive execution. Through their recent 2-3 run, the Kings have committed 14.2 turnovers per game while allowing their opponents to shoot 52.1% from the field on 30.0 assists per game.

In a game between two teams that love to create offensive opportunities, it'll be the side that can control the game through their defense. Neither have been in great form, but the Hawks have athleticism and the benefit of not being on a back-to-back.