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As the calendar flips to a new year, the sports slate offers no shortage of opportunity. New Year’s Day brings a full menu of NHL and NBA action, with teams looking to set the tone for 2026 while bettors search for value across the ice and hardwood. 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: Under 5.5 Goals
Rundown: The Los Angeles Kings (16-13-9) begin the new year by welcoming the Tampa Bay Lightning (23-13-3) to Crypto.com Arena for a clash between two teams trending in opposite directions.
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Los Angeles enters tonight’s contest looking to turn the page on a difficult stretch after dropping seven of its last nine games, while Tampa Bay aims to keep momentum rolling in pursuit of a sixth straight victory. The Kings are coming off a 5-2 loss in Colorado on Monday, while the Lightning arrive fresh off a 4-3 overtime win over Anaheim on New Year’s Eve.
This matchup features two of the NHL’s elite defensive units, with Los Angeles ranking second and Tampa Bay fourth in goals allowed per game. Together, the teams surrender just 5.2 goals per contest, a figure that sits below tonight’s projected total. Los Angeles’ defensive consistency has also translated at the betting window, where 22 of its 38 games (57.9%) have stayed under 5.5 goals.
As the season approaches its midpoint, the Kings’ biggest issue remains finishing chances at the net, ranking 29th in goals per game. Los Angeles has failed to score more than two goals in nine of its losses, including five one-goal performances during that span. The ineffectiveness on special teams has hindered Los Angeles’ offense, ranking dead last on the power-play, converting at a 14.4% clip.
Expect a methodical, defense-driven game where scoring chances are at a premium, keeping the goal total under the number.
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Second Pick: Utah +12.5
Rundown: The Los Angeles Clippers (11-21) look to extend their winning streak to six as they host the Utah Jazz (12-20) in an opening-day rematch at Intuit Dome.
Los Angeles enters New Year’s Day carrying momentum from the close of 2025, riding a five-game winning streak marked by dominant performances. During the stretch, the Clippers have outscored opponents by an average of 21.0 points per game, highlighted by a 41-point dismantling of the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 30. Kawhi Leonard has fueled the run, pouring in 88 points over his last two contests to lift a Clippers offense that still ranks 27th in the NBA in scoring.
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Leonard and company should find plenty of scoring opportunities against Utah’s league-worst defense, which allows an NBA-high 127.1 points per game. While the defensive shortcomings have limited Utah’s ability to stack wins, they haven’t hurt at the betting window. The Jazz enter with an 18-14 ATS record and have covered six of their last 10 games, thanks largely to a sixth-ranked offense capable of keeping games competitive late.
Despite covering seven of their last 10, Los Angeles still owns a subpar 13-19 ATS mark on the season. The Clippers’ struggles against the spread have been most evident at home, where they are just 5-10 ATS at Intuit Dome. The recent surge has boosted Los Angeles, but it has yet to fully erase the struggles that have defined much of the season.
Expect Los Angeles to exploit Utah’s defensive issues, but look for the Jazz’s offensive firepower to keep things tight enough to cover the spread.
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