NBA Best Bets: Top 2 Betting Picks for Monday, January 19
Sportsgrid Staff
Host · Writer
Nine NBA games are on the board for January 19, and a few injury reports that can flip a number fast (Phoenix with Devin Booker questionable; Philadelphia with Joel Embiid day-to-day and Paul George questionable).
We split 1-1 yesterday, the Bulls won by 22, but the Nuggets got crushed. Still, we’re 22-13 (62.9%) on the month, and I’m going to keep pressing when the data lines up. I ran every matchup; two of them pop as clean, repeatable against-the-spread edges.
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Los Angeles Clippers @ Washington Wizards Matchup
- Arena: Capital One Arena
- Location: Washington, DC
- Where to Watch: NBA League Pass
- Date: January 19, 2026
- Time: 03:00 PM ET
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Washington Wizards Betting Odds
- Spread: Los Angeles Clippers -7.5 (-108) | Washington Wizards +7.5 (-113)
- Moneyline: Los Angeles Clippers -282 | Washington Wizards +229
THE PICK: Los Angeles Clippers -7.5 (3 units)
Washington is walking into a brutal schedule pocket, and the data is loud: the Wizards are playing their third game in four days, and their own historical performance in that exact fatigue window is a disaster, 4-32 (11.11%) with an average margin of -15.75 across 36 qualifying games. That’s not “tired legs," that’s a profile that gets run off the floor. Now, layer in the matchup history: Los Angeles has dominated this series, going 9-1 straight up and 9-1 against the spread in the last ten head-to-heads. And the Clippers are also the kind of team that shows up on the first night of a back-to-back: 13-10 (56.52%) with a +7.26 average margin in that front-end spot. Even with Washington getting home-court, they’re coming off travel (1491.0 miles from Ball Arena to Capital One Arena), and the Clippers are the side with the better recent form too (8-2 last ten, 8-2 against the spread). This number is asking the Clippers to win by eight; Washington’s schedule profile says that’s the baseline risk tonight.
Phoenix Suns @ Brooklyn Nets Matchup
- Arena: Barclays Center
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Where to Watch: NBA League Pass
- Date: January 19, 2026
- Time: 07:30 PM ET
Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets Betting Odds
- Spread: Phoenix Suns -8.0 (-111) | Brooklyn Nets +8.0 (-110)
- Moneyline: Phoenix Suns -335 | Brooklyn Nets +265
Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets Kalshi Odds
- Chance: PHX 74% | BKN 25%
THE PICK: Phoenix Suns -8.0 (2 units)
Phoenix is an overperforming team trying to fend off the Warriors and jump out of the play-in, and games like this against a Brooklyn team are precisely the ones they need to capitalize on. The Suns have been a covering machine lately (8-2 against the spread over the last ten), and the market agrees on the win equity (Kalshi has Phoenix at 74%). Now add the schedule context: the Nets are on the back end of a back-to-back with zero days rest, and historically, Brooklyn has been awful in this exact spot – 6-16 (27.27%) on back-to-backs with an average margin of -12.27, scoring 102.95 while allowing 115.23. That’s the profile of a team that doesn’t just lose, it gets separated. Brooklyn’s recent form is also rough (2-8 over the last ten), and they’re in a high-frequency stretch, too (three games in four days). The one thing keeping this from being three units is the injury note: Devin Booker is listed as questionable. If he’s in, I’d feel even better about laying it; if he’s out, I still like Phoenix’s side because the Nets’ back-to-back profile is that bad, but I’m sizing it accordingly.
The Betting Edge
- 3 units: Los Angeles Clippers -7.5
- 2 units: Phoenix Suns -8.0
Two plays, two different games, and both are built on the stuff that actually moves spreads: fatigue windows, travel, and repeatable performance in those contexts. Ride with me or fade me – either way, don’t ignore the schedule tonight.
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Data from Blitz. Stats as of January 19.
