What's going on, everybody? Hope your Wednesday is treating you well so far — and let's see if we can make it even better with some NBA wagers. We've got a strong nine-game slate on tap, and I've got a handful of bets to dish out. So let's dive into my NBA best bets for Wednesday, January 28.
NBA Best Bets for Wednesday, January 28
Written by: Danny Burke
Last Update: Thu Jan 29, 2026, 3:06 am ET
Read Time: 7 minutes
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NBA Best Bets for Wednesday, January 28
Toronto Raptors Moneyline (-120) vs New York Knicks
Let's start our handful of bets in the Great White North, where the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks square off for the third time this season. It's not a rubber match, though, as New York has handled business in both prior meetings, winning 116–94 at home in November and 117–101 in Toronto a few weeks later.
Despite those results, the Raptors opened as 1.5-point favorites and have largely remained there. Toronto enters seeking its fifth straight win, while the Knicks are looking for their fourth. This also marks the Raptors' first home game since January 16, following a five-game road trip in which they went 4–1.
Bettors often look to fade teams returning from extended road trips, which explains why some may be leaning toward the road underdog here. This situation is a bit different for Toronto, though, as the Raptors have had two full days off since their last game. That extra rest has allowed them time to get re-acclimated at home, making this far less of a quick turnaround than we typically see after a long road swing.
Additionally, the Raptors should enter with a chip on their shoulder after being handled in both prior meetings with New York, while also looking to keep their current win streak intact.
From a matchup perspective, the Knicks bring a strong offensive profile, ranking third in the NBA in points per 100 possessions and 12th in effective field goal percentage. Toronto counters with a defense that ranks sixth and eighth in those same categories, respectively.
On the other end, this shapes up as a favorable spot for the Raptors' offense. New York's defense has struggled this season, ranking 22nd in effective field goal percentage allowed and 18th in points per possession. The Knicks also sit 24th in opponent three-point percentage, so if Toronto finds a rhythm from beyond the arc, this matchup could quickly swing in the home team's favor.
Look for the Raptors to flip the script and come away with the win.
Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls Under 236 (-110)
Let's head south to Indiana, where the Pacers and Bulls meet for the third time this season. In classic Bulls fashion, despite Indiana fielding a weaker roster this year, Chicago has dropped both prior matchups. The Pacers edged the Bulls 103–101 at home in November before following it up with a 120–105 win at the United Center a week later.
Those results may tempt some bettors to back Chicago in this spot, and that's understandable, but the total is what stands out most. The first meeting produced just 204 points, while the second totaled 225. Yet this game's total is sitting as high as 236. So why is that?
Perhaps the number reflects both defenses grading below average. However, that ignores the fact that Indiana owns the league's worst offense. In addition, the Pacers rank 18th in offensive free-throw rate, while the Bulls sit 26th, limiting easy points from the charity stripe.
Chicago's defense isn't quite as bad as it appears. The Bulls rank second in opponent field goal percentage from mid-range and allow the third-fewest shot attempts from that area. They also rank 10th in three-point attempt rate allowed and 10th in opponent field goal percentage at the rim.
The Pacers also offer little in transition, ranking dead last in points per play, which should limit easy, quick-scoring opportunities for the home team.
If Chicago wasn't so sporadic with its performances, I'd make a more compelling case for them on the moneyline. Instead, I see more value in betting both teams to underperform offensively, which has been consistent for each team all season.
Donovan Mitchell Under 7.5 Assists (-130)
Let's move on to the NBA player props I'll be riding this evening and begin by fading Donovan Mitchell in the assists market.
Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers draw a favorable matchup against a Lakers defense that ranks 28th in effective field goal percentage and 24th in points per possession allowed. On the surface, that may suggest an increase in Mitchell's facilitating opportunities, but it could just as easily open the door for easier scoring chances for him.
Evan Mobley will also be absent for this game, along with Darius Garland, who has been out for the past two weeks, which further limits Cleveland's alternative scoring options.
Mitchell will still make a significant impact in this contest – I'm just banking on that production coming more through his scoring than his passing.
GG Jackson Over 2.5 Rebounds (-130)
Another prop I'm backing tonight is GG Jackson over 2.5 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets.
Since December 22, Jackson has seen a notable increase in playing time, averaging roughly 21 minutes per game across 16 contests. Over that span, he's also averaging 3.5 rebounds per game.
The Hornets rank as the second-best rebounding team in the league, which helps explain why Jackson's prop is priced this low. A line of 2.5 is low enough to warrant a look at the over on its own, but even more so with the Grizzlies missing a slew of players, increasing the likelihood that Jackson sees more opportunities to step up and collect rebounds.
Alperen Sengun Under 6.5 Assists (-122)
Our final wager for Wednesday's NBA slate comes in the most anticipated matchup of the night: the battle for the Lone Star State between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs.
I'll be betting Rockets big man Alperen Sengun to stay under seven assists. On the season, Sengun is averaging 6.4 assists per game, but that number has dipped to 5.5 per game in the month of January.
This is a high-leverage game for both teams, and Sengun is expected to score rather than facilitate. San Antonio's defense is also strong, ranking fourth in points per possession allowed and seventh in effective field goal percentage allowed, meaning even when Sengun does look to distribute, those shots should be well contested.
While Sengun has cleared this number in both prior meetings against San Antonio, I'm not viewing that as a deterrent. Instead, the increased assist line creates a better buy-low opportunity on the under in this spot.
Best Bets:
- Toronto Raptors Moneyline (-120 at Lucky Rebel)
- Indiana Pacers vs Chicago Bulls Under 236 (-110 at Lucky Rebel)
- Donovan Mitchell Under 7.5 Assists (-130 at Lucky Rebel)
- GG Jackson Over 2.5 Rebounds (-130 at Lucky Rebel)
- Alperen Sengun Under 6.5 Assists (-122 at Lucky Rebel)
NBA Record: 105-84-1 (+10.42 units)
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Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.
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