TST Best Bets- December 30, 2025

With the calendar nearing its turn, Tuesday’s NBA slate offers a chance to cash tickets before the new year arrives. From contenders looking to close 2025 on a high note to struggling teams looking to build momentum, tonight’s matchups present value worth attacking as the NBA pushes toward the heart of the season. Here are tonight’s best bets brought to you by BetOnline.ag. Click here to join. All new players get a 50% welcome bonus and up to $250 in free bets.

First Pick: Lakers +2.5

Rundown: The Los Angeles Lakers (20-10) welcome the Detroit Pistons (24-8) to the Crypto.com Arena for a battle of two first place teams.

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Los Angeles enters tonight's matchup looking to build off an emphatic 24-point win over Sacramento, a performance that halted a three-game slide and quieted swirling headlines surrounding the Lakers. Luka Doncic and Lebron James combined for 58 points and lifted Los Angeles to one of its most dominant performances of the season. Head coach JJ Redick will need to lean on Doncic and James to carry the load for Los Angeles’ offense, who will once again be without guard Austin Reaves after he suffered an injury to his left calf against the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day.

Despite covering just four times in its last ten contests, Los Angeles is 17–13 ATS this season with seven wins against the spread coming at home. The Lakers will be tested against a Detroit defense that ranks fifth in the NBA in points allowed, giving up just 112.9 per game. That resistance also creates opportunity for Los Angeles, however, as the Lakers are a dominant 16–3 against the spread when they eclipse Detroit’s season-long points-allowed average.

On Detroit's side, tonight presents a chance to bounce back after consecutive losses to Utah and Los Angeles (Clippers) after dropping just six of its first 30 contests to begin the season. Cade Cunningham has proven to be Detroit’s most lethal offensive weapon, averaging 26.5 points per game in 29 starts.

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Detroit’s ability to grind out close wins has boosted its spot in the standings, but it hasn’t translated at the betting window. The Pistons sit at 17–15 against the spread and have covered just 10 of 23 times when laying 2.5 points or more. Additionally, Detroit has shown to be less effective away from home, covering the spread in just eight of 17 matchups (47.1%).

Expect a postseason-level intensity between two of the NBA’s best teams, with the game coming down to the final possession in the closing seconds.

Second Pick: Clippers -9.5

Rundown: The Los Angeles Clippers (10-21) host the Sacramento Kings (8-24) in a clash between two teams looking to get back in the playoff mix in the Western Conference.

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Los Angeles enters Tuesday's contest riding a four-game winning streak, all victories coming by double digits. Forward Kawhi Leonard is fresh off a career-high 55 points in the Clippers’ 13-point triumph over the Detroit Pistons. The streak has propelled Los Angeles up the standings, now sitting just three games back of the 10th and final play-in spot.

Despite a 12–19 ATS record on the season, Los Angeles’ recent surge has seen the Clippers cover seven of their last 10 games. That momentum should continue against a Sacramento defense ranked 26th in the NBA in points allowed, creating favorable scoring opportunities. On the other end, the Clippers’ 12th-ranked defense has fueled the four-game run, surrendering just 99.5 points per game during that stretch.

Meanwhile, Sacramento’s struggles on both ends of the floor have led to on-court dysfunction, resulting in just eight wins through 32 games. Sacramento’s 27th-ranked scoring offense has limited its ability to consistently keep pace with opponents. That challenge becomes even steeper without leading scorer Zach LaVine, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. The lack of offensive production has carried over to the betting market, as the Kings own a subpar 11-21 record ATS this season.

Anticipate Los Angeles to build on recent momentum, extending its win streak to five in a commanding double-digit victory at the Intuit Dome.