NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/7)
The NBA has three games on the slate for Thursday night. All three games have a tip-off time of 8 p.m. ET for the tripleheader, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Chicago Bulls, which can be viewed or streamed on NBA TV.
The Utah Jazz and Milwaukee Bucks, as well as the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs, also square off.
Let’s get that bankroll in the blank with our best NBA picks for Thursday, November 7.
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Thursday’s Best NBA Picks
NBA odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All NBA picks are for 1 unit
Minnesota Timberwolves (-360) at Chicago Bulls (+280) | O/U 227.5 (-110/-110)
The Timberwolves (4-3) travel to meet the Bulls (3-5) at the United Center.
Minnesota is coming off a dominant 114-93 victory over Charlotte at home, cashing as an 11-point favorite. That emphatic win halted an 0-4 against the spread (ATS) skid. The Timberwolves were just 1-5 ATS to open the season. The under (225.5) cashed thanks to the defensive effort, snapping a 3-0 run to the over, too.
For Chicago, it is licking its wounds after a 119-99 loss at Dallas on Wednesday. It now faces a tough turnaround at home. The Bulls have lost and failed to cover three in a row and are 3-5 straight up (SU)/ATS on the season, with the over going 5-3. Against Western Conference teams, Chicago has managed just a 1-4 SU/ATS mark, with a 3-2 edge to the over.
The Bulls have dominated this series in recent seasons, sweeping the series last year, including a thrilling 129-123 overtime win in the Windy City on February 6. Chicago has won five of the past six installments, too, while going 5-1 ATS.
However, while they’re worth mentioning, series trends can sometimes be deceiving, and what’s going on lately this season is what matters. Chicago was paddled 114-95 by Oklahoma City at home in the only game on no rest after a road game this season.
Meanwhile, Minnesota is rested, having been off since Monday, when it won and covered. The Timberwolves are 2-0 SU and 1-1 ATS in two games against Eastern Conference foes.
Let’s roll with the Timberwolves laying the points, as the Bulls are in a bit of disarray at the moment.
Picks: Timberwolves -8.5 (-110)
Portland Trail Blazers (+145) at San Antonio Spurs (-135) | O/U 227.5 (-110/-110)
The Trail Blazers (3-5) and Spurs (3-5) hook up in a battle between two teams searching for their fourth win of the season.
Portland is looking to sweep the Gulf Coast after getting it done 118-100 in New Orleans on Monday night as a 1-point underdog as the under (218.5) cashed. The Blazers have played .500 ball in the past six games after dropping the first two of the campaign. Portland is a healthy 5-1-1 ATS in its past seven outings while cashing low in four of the past five outings.
The Spurs were hammered 127-100 in Houston on Wednesday night. They now face a quick around, similar to the Bulls. While it’s certainly a quick hop, skip and a jump from Houston, it’s still tough playing on the road the night before, getting smoked and then having to come back home and play again. San Antonio has lost and failed to cover two in a row while going 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS in the past six.
When playing on no rest, San Antonio has won its only previous game, beating Utah 106-88 on Halloween. That win came on the heels of another road game, though, so this is their first time playing at home on no rest after a road game.
Portland has a slight 4-3 SU/ATS edge in the previous seven meetings in this series, though the Spurs have won the past two, including a 116-100 blowout in the most recent battle on January 26 last season as a 5-point favorite. The under has cashed in two of the past three, although the over has hit in five of the past seven meetings.
The Blazers have struggled on offense, hitting just 43.1% from the field to rank 29th in the NBA, while scoring only 108.3 points per game (PPG). The defense is so-so, ranking 15th in points allowed at 113.0 PPG.
The Spurs are also terrible offensively, scoring just 104.5 PPG, while hitting three-pointers at only a 32.1% clip. Defensively, San Antonio has been excellent, allowing just 108.5 PPG. This is a great under play. We’ll also side with the Trailer Blazers on the Moneyline, since they’re more rested.
Pick: Trail Blazers Moneyline (+145) & Under 217.5 Points (-110)
Daniel E. Dobish is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Daniel, check out his archive and follow him @danieledobish.