Free Pick: NBA Best Bets of the Day 1/5/22

Toronto Raptors 17-17 at Milwaukee Bucks 25-14

The Raptors come into Milwaukee with a 3-game winning streak and they are playing well. Fred Van Vleet averaged 33 points per game during that streak and he is on a roll. They put up 129 points last night in their win over San Antonio and beat the Bucks 97-93 in Toronto on Dec.2nd. And most importantly, they are relatively COVID free.

The Bucks had a six-game winning streak snapped on Monday, with an unexplainable 115-106 loss to Detroit, at home. They will probably be playing tonight without Grayson Allen who is out with COVID, but that looks like the only player not available (although we never know for sure until game time). Giannis Antetokounmpo has been his usual dominating self, averaging 27.9 points per game.

Milwaukee is a 7.5-point favorite. I like the Bucks to bounce back from that bad loss against the Pistons in this game. I’m a little leery of the spread being that high, but not enough to keep me from taking the Bucks.

PAPA DUDES PICK: Milwaukee -7.5

Miami Heat 23-15 at Portland Trail Blazers 14-22

The Heat head to Portland and they have gone 1-2 in the first three games of a 6-game road trip. They will be missing Jimmy Butler tonight and that is a concern for sure. Somebody will have to pick up some of the slack left from his absence. But, Portland is struggling and the Heat should be able to bounce back tonight.

The Trailblazers have been struggling but won their last outing over the Hawks. That stopped the bleeding from a streak that had seen them lose 11 out of 13 games. They will be playing without star player, Damian Lillard who is out with an injury.

Miami is a 1-point favorite. The Heat are favored by only 1 point and I like them to win so this is an easy pick for me.

PAPA DUDES PICK: Miami -1