We have a 5-game slate in the NBA today, and here you can read the NBA Picks for Thursday 1/30/2025.
Atlanta Hawks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Prediction 1/30/25 NBA Picks
Hawks at Cavaliers at 7 PM ET
The Atlanta Hawks have recently experienced a downturn in performance, currently seeking to end a six-game losing streak following a 100-96 defeat to the Rockets on Tuesday. Trae Young was the standout player for the team, contributing 21 points and nine assists. De'Andre Hunter provided valuable support with 16 points from the bench, while Dyson Daniels recorded a notable performance with 12 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. However, Trae Young struggled with ball control, resulting in eight turnovers, and Garrison Matthews had a disappointing outing, scoring only three points on one of six shooting.
Currently, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in good form, having triumphed in four of their last seven contests. They are set to pursue a third straight win after decisively defeating the Miami Heat 126-106 in their latest road match. Donovan Mitchell was instrumental in this success, scoring 34 points and dishing out six assists on 14 of 23 shooting. Furthermore, Evan Mobley contributed significantly with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Ty Jerome added 20 points and seven assists from the bench.
The Pick:
The Hawks put forth a strong effort in their close loss to the Rockets on Tuesday, yet they had been struggling significantly prior to that encounter. I remain skeptical about their ability to improve against the Cavaliers, who recently handled the Heat with relative ease. The spread is quite large, but if the Cavaliers maintain the level of play they exhibited last night, they should comfortably secure both the victory and the cover.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Washington Wizards Prediction 1/30/25 NBA Picks
Lakers at Wizards at 7 PM ET
The Los Angeles Lakers have demonstrated strong performance recently, securing victories in six of their last eight contests. However, they will seek to recover in this upcoming match following the interruption of their four-game winning streak, which ended with a 118-104 loss to the 76ers on Tuesday. LeBron James was the standout player, contributing 31 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists. Dalton Knecht made a significant impact off the bench, scoring 24 points in only 23 minutes, while Austin Reaves added 13 points, six rebounds, and eight assists. Unfortunately, Anthony Davis was limited to just 10 minutes of play due to an apparent abdominal strain.
At present, the Washington Wizards find themselves in a dire situation, aiming to end a 15-game losing streak after suffering a heavy defeat at home against the Raptors, with a final score of 106-82. Kyle Kuzma was the leading scorer for the team, recording 19 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Champagnie contributed 12 points from the bench, and Kyshawn George added 10 points; however, no other player exceeded eight points in scoring. Jordan Poole had a particularly poor performance, managing only three points on one of nine shooting from the field.
The Pick:
Coming off a challenging loss to the 76ers, the Lakers approach this game with a recent history of strong performances, having played some of their best basketball prior to that setback. This gives them a distinct advantage in momentum over the Wizards, who are currently in a downward spiral and unable to achieve a win. While the Lakers are less formidable without Davis due to injury, they still have ample offensive strength to surpass the struggling Wizards.
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Utah Jazz Prediction 1/30/25 NBA Picks
Timberwolves at Jazz at 9 PM ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves are enjoying a strong performance, having claimed nine wins in their last 13 games. They aim to extend their winning streak to five games after a 121-113 victory over the Suns last night on the road. Anthony Edwards led the scoring with 33 points, along with seven rebounds and five assists. Julius Randle contributed 28 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 23 points from the bench.
The Utah Jazz are enduring a difficult phase, with 10 losses in their last 11 games. They aim to prevent an eighth straight defeat after a 114-103 loss to the Warriors during their recent road trip on Tuesday. Collin Sexton led the scoring for the team with 30 points, shooting 12 of 19 from the field. In addition, Drew Eubanks and Micah Potter each contributed 13 points, while Keyonte George added 12 points and six assists coming off the bench.
The Pick:
Despite the Timberwolves facing their second consecutive game, they are regarded as clear favorites. Nevertheless, I find the betting line to be inadequate. The Jazz may have the potential to stay competitive at home, particularly if they start strong, but the Timberwolves are expected to prevail, thanks to their solid defense and another standout game from Edwards.
Houston Rockets vs Memphis Grizzlies Prediction 1/30/25 NBA Picks
Rockets at Grizzlies at 9:30 PM ET
The Houston Rockets secured victories against both the Hawks and the Celtics. Currently, the team is averaging 113.9 points per game with a shooting percentage of 45, while they permit an average of 108.2 points on 45.1 percent shooting. Jalen Green contributes an average of 21.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, whereas Alperen Sengun averages 19.1 points and 10.4 rebounds.
The Memphis Grizzlies triumphed over the Jazz but faced a loss against the Knicks. At present, the team averages 123.3 points with a shooting accuracy of 48.6 percent, while allowing 115.6 points at a shooting rate of 45.1 percent. Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 22.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, in contrast to Ja Morant, who averages 20.3 points and 7.5 assists.
The Pick:
Throughout this month, the Rockets have successfully defeated the Grizzlies twice, and the Cavaliers on two occasions, and have also claimed victories against the Nuggets and the Celtics in away games. While the team is still in its developmental stages and may need a year or two to reach its peak, their recent accomplishments have positioned them as serious contenders. I am inclined to endorse the Rockets, especially considering their impressive performance. Furthermore, the Rockets have won six out of their last seven matchups against the Grizzlies. Back the Rockets.
Orlando Magic vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction 1/30/25 NBA Picks
Magic at Trail Blazers at 10 PM ET
The Orlando Magic experienced a defeat against the Heat but secured a victory over the Pistons. Currently, the team is averaging 104.1 points per game with a shooting percentage of 43.9, while conceding an average of 105 points at a shooting percentage of 47.2. Franz Wagner is contributing significantly with an average of 24.7 points and 5.4 assists, whereas Paolo Banchero is averaging 23.9 points along with 7.9 rebounds.
The Portland Trail Blazers triumphed over the Bucks but faced a loss against the Thunder. At present, the team averages 108.2 points with a shooting accuracy of 44.9 percent, while allowing 115.2 points at a rate of 47.4 percent shooting. Anfernee Simons is contributing an average of 18.5 points and 2.8 rebounds, and Shaedon Sharpe is averaging 17.3 points along with 4 rebounds.
The Pick:
When fully assembled, the Magic are recognized as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and are anticipated to prevail against a Trail Blazers squad that is still in the midst of self-discovery. While the Magic's current form is concerning, having suffered defeats in eight of their last ten matches, their complete lineup should facilitate a victory in this encounter. There are no acceptable reasons for a loss. I am going with the Magic.
Oliver’s Pick Rockets +5
AUTHOR: Oliver Zivic
