Best NBA Bets Today | NBA Picks January 31

The NBA is putting on a limited, five-game, Tuesday night schedule, but it's jam-packed with exciting featuring some of the NBA's biggest stars!

In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers battle it out for a position in the standings. The LA Clippers host the Chicago Bulls in an exciting matchup between DeMar DeRozan and Kawhi Leonard. And in the Western Conference, the first-seeded Denver Nuggets host the now eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans!

Let's check out the bets!

Miami Heat @ Cleveland Cavaliers

When: 7:00 PM EST

Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers -5.0 (-110) @ WynnBet

As they jockey for position in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are set to put on an exciting match. The Cavaliers are currently ranked fifth in the East with a 31-21 overall record and an impressive 21-5 home record. The Miami Heat are right behind them at eighth in the East, with a 28-23 overall record and an 11-14 road record.

The Miami Heat are one of the league's best defensive teams, allowing just 108.4 points per game (2nd in the NBA) while forcing 16.6 turnovers per game (3rd in the NBA). In their last game, a loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Heat allowed 122 points on 54.2% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range. The Cleveland Cavaliers are similarly strong on the defensive side of the ball, allowing just 106.9 points per game (1st in the NBA) on 46.7% from the field (9th in the NBA) but also 37.0% from three-point range (27th in the NBA). Their offense was the star in their last game though, a win over the Clippers, as they scored 122 points on 56.4% from the field while hitting 20 threes on 60.6% from deep.

We're taking the Cleveland Cavaliers in this matchup. While they aren't usually the most impressive offensive team, they have an incredible road record and their offense is relatively more diverse than Miami's. Expect another secure victory for the Cavaliers.

LA Clippers @ Chicago Bulls

When: 8:00 PM EST

Moneyline: Chicago Bulls (+132) @ UniBet NJ

The LA Clippers and Chicago Bulls are an offence-defence matchup that has been exciting over their recent meetings. The Clippers are currently fourth in the Western Conference with a 28-25 overall record and a 14-14 road record. The Chicago Bulls are currently 10th in the East with a 23-26 overall record and a 13-10 home record.

Getting by on the strength of their defence, the LA Clippers allow just 110.7 points per game (3rd in the NBA) on 46.7% from the field (8th in the NBA) and 35.5% from three-point range (10th in the NBA). Their offence struggled in their most recent game, a loss to the Cavaliers, as they scored just 99 points on 41.6% from the field and 10.5% from deep with most of their key players missing. The Chicago Bulls are a middling but efficient offensive team, scoring just 114.5 points per game (14th in the NBA) on 48.9% from the field (5th in the NBA) while committing just 13.6 turnovers per game (7th in the NBA). The Bulls recently overcame one of the league's lengthiest and most energetic defences, scoring 128 points on 59.3% from the field and 45.7% from three against the Orlando Magic.

We're taking the Chicago Bulls in this matchup. While the Clippers may have some players return to the lineup in this game, the Bulls are in excellent form to take on a team that they've had some recent success against. Don't expect a high-scoring affair, but Chicago's balance can definitely steal victory from a Clippers team that was recently missing Wall, Morris, Leonard, Jackson, Covington, and George.

New Orleans Pelicans @ Denver Nuggets

When: 10:00 PM EST

Spread: Denver Nuggets -8.0 (-109) @ BetRivers

The shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans try to steal a victory from the top-seeded Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night! The New Orleans Pelicans have fallen to eighth in the Western Conference with a 26-25 overall record and a less-than-impressive 9-16 road record. The Denver Nuggets are secured at first in the West with a 34-16 overall record and a 22-4 home record.

The success of the Pelicans' offence was driven by their defence, as they average 115.0 points per game (12th in the NBA) while holding teams to 34.2% from three (1st in the NBA) and forcing 15.5 turnovers per game (6th in the NBA). They've struggled with so much injury, recently falling to the Bucks 125-110 while allowing 55.2% from the field and 39.5% from three on 17 makes. The Denver Nuggets own the NBA's second-best offence, as they score 116.5 points per game (8th in the NBA) on 50.8% from the field (2nd in the NBA), 39.6% from three (1st in the NBA), and 28.6 assists per game (2nd in the NBA). It was their defence that let them down in their last game, as the Nuggets allowed 126 points per game on 51.7% from the field and 51.4% from three on 18 makes.

It looks like a clean-cut win for the Denver Nuggets in this game. Their defence shouldn't have the same issues against a shorthanded Pelicans team, and their offence is set to be in full effect. Expect the Pelicans to put up an early fight, but eventually get drowned out by New Orleans' quality.