NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (11/2)

The National Basketball Association has 10 games on tap Saturday. The slate kicks off at 6 p.m. ET with the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets tangling in the Queen City. We have just a single nationally-televised game, as the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards battle in Mexico City on NBA TV at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Let’s get that bankroll in the black with our best NBA picks for Saturday, Nov. 2.

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Saturday’s Best NBA Picks

NBA odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All NBA picks are for 1 unit

Miami Heat (-420) at Washington Wizards (+330) | O/U 224.5 (-110/-110)

The Heat (2-2) and Wizards (2-2) square off in the nation’s capital - and that nation is Mexico. We have a tip-off time of 9:30 p.m. ET from Arena Ciudad de Mexico in a game that will be played at elevation. It is the 33rd game played in Mexico since 1992.

In this series, Miami has won three of the past four meetings, while going 7-3 straight up (SU), although Washington is 4-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in the previous six meetings. The over is 5-2 in the past seven in this series and 7-3 across the past 10 meetings.

It’s been hit or miss for the Heat so far, going 2-2 SU, while going just 1-3 ATS in four outings in the early portion of the season. Miami has been off since Wednesday when it was on the short end of a 116-107 score against the New York Knicks at home as a 1.5-point underdog as the over (214.5) cashed.

The Heat have managed 107 or fewer points in three of their four outings while allowing 116 or fewer points in all four games to date. It’s early and subject to change dramatically, but Miami is 27th with 106.0 points per game (PPG) while hitting at just a 43.6% clip in field-goal percentage. On defense, the Heat allows just 109.0 PPG to rank sixth in the league, while allowing teams to hit just 43.3% from the field, ranking fourth in the NBA.

For the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma will miss the game due to a groin injury. Washington just swept a home-and-home with the Atlanta Hawks in a pair of high-scoring victories and covers. The over is 3-1 in the past four games for Washington, too, going for at least 116 points, while allowing 119 or more in all four outings to date.

We’re going to back the Wizards catching the points, as they’re playing with a lot of confidence. Let’s also lean on the over despite the fact the game will be played at elevation.

Picks: Washington Wizards +9 (-110) & Over 224.5 Points (-110)

Portland Trail Blazers (+530) at Phoenix Suns (-750) | O/U 224 (-110/-110)

In the Valley of the Sun, the Trail Blazers (2-4) and Suns (4-1) meet at the Footprint Center.

Portland is smarting after suffering a 137-114 loss at Moda Center against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night. Now, the Blazers must hop a plane for Phoenix, playing on no rest. That’s looking like a recipe for disaster. The non-cover against the Thunder halted a 3-0-1 ATS run for the Blazers, though. The over (221) cashed, giving Portland a 3-3 mark on totals. However, in road games, the under is 2-0 and the Blazers have managed just 102.0 PPG while allowing 108.0 PPG.

Portland lost 111-98 at Sacramento in its only previous game in the second end of a back-to-back this season. Portland is pushing at most shops as a 13-point underdog while the under (231) connected.

For the Suns, they’re on a three-game winning streak, while covering two of those outings. As a favorite, Phoenix is just 1-2 ATS this season, while the over is 3-2. At home, the under has cashed in both games at Footprint Center.

We’re going to strongly recommend the under for this battle, as the Blazers had a tough turnaround. They hit the under in their first game on no rest earlier. The under has hit in both games at home for the Suns.

As far as the line, we’d suggest taking the Trail Blazers catching the dozen points or so, but go lightly. Phoenix has won four of the past five in the series, but Portland is a respectable 4-3 ATS in the previous seven meetings. We’d only recommend betting the under rather aggressively, though. The under is 6-2 in the past eight meetings in this series between Western Conference rivals.

Picks: Under 224 Points (-110)

Daniel E. Dobish is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Daniel, check out his archive and follow him @danieledobish.