The Silcoff Selections: Best NHL & NBA Bets For January 2, 2026

The Silcoff Selections are here for January 2nd, 2026. With all the action in sports tonight, here are some of my favourite plays across the hardwood and ice tonight.

NBA:

Denver Nuggets vs Cleveland Cavaliers Under 238.5 Points (-110)

Denver is coming off a hard-fought win in Toronto but took another major hit with Jonas Valančiūnas going down, on top of already losing Nikola Jokić for the next month with a hyperextended knee. While Cleveland is capable of lighting up the scoreboard, it’s hard to trust this Denver offense to consistently generate points with so many key pieces missing. That imbalance pushes me toward the under, as the Nuggets may struggle to keep this total inflated.

Orlando Magic Moneyline @ Chicago Bulls (-200)

Chicago will be without Josh Giddey, their primary offensive engine, which is a significant blow to their ability to generate consistent scoring. Orlando has been playing solid basketball as of late and has won seven of the last ten matchups against the Bulls. With the Magic trending in the right direction and Chicago shorthanded, I like Orlando on the road in this spot.

NHL:

Vegas Golden Knights Moneyline @ St. Louis Blues (-155)

St. Louis will be without Dylan Holloway and will be turning to Joel Hofer in goal, which puts them at a disadvantage against a deeper Vegas roster. The Golden Knights simply have more talent across the lineup and are better equipped to control play at both ends of the ice. In this matchup, I’ll side with the superior team and take Vegas on the road.

Minnesota Wild Moneyline @ Anaheim Ducks (-130)

Minnesota has dominated this matchup, winning nine of the last ten games against Anaheim. Coming off a 4–3 shootout loss to the Sharks on New Year’s Eve, this feels like a strong bounce-back spot for the Wild. With that track record and motivation to start 2026 on the right foot, give me Minnesota on the road.