Top NBA Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/16)
We’re headed for another Thursday night in the National Basketball Association, we have just a pair of games scheduled for broadcast on NBATV. After going 2-0 in last Thursday’s column, it was a losing night on Saturday. It can be a roller coaster ride, but let’s aim for a little more consistency. Let’s get started!
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Thursday’s Best NBA Bets
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit
Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat
The Nets (6-5) head down to South Beach looking to equal their season-high for consecutive wins. Brooklyn picked up back-to-back victories and covered against the Washington Wizards and Orlando Magic.
Brooklyn lost its most recent game on the road in a 121-107 match against the Boston Celtics and failed to cover an 11.5-point spraid. That was a rarity, as Brooklyn is a healthy 9-1-1 against the spread (ATS) in 11 games overall. On the road, the Nets are 3-2 straight-up (SU) in five games and 4-1 ATS. That includes a 109-105 at the Kaseya Center in Miami back on Nov. 1 in the first meeting. Brooklyn won outright as a seven-point underdog and the Under of 223 connected.
The Heat picked up victories in six consecutive games after a four-game losing streak from Oct. 27-Nov. 1. In fact, the team’s most recent straight-up loss was against the Nets. Miami has also covered three of the past four games overall, although it failed to cover in a 111-105 win on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday. The Heat just narrowly missed the cover as 6.5-point favorites at most shops as the Under (222) also cashed.
Miami has struggled offensively. They’ve averaged 109.6 points per game - ranked 24th in the NBA - and have shot 45.9% from the field - ranked 22nd. The Heat are above-average from the perimeter with a 36.4% shooting percentage from behind the 3-point line and rank third in the NBA with a stellar 84.6% free-throw percentage. Miami doesn’t leave a lot of points on the court, at least from the charity stripe.
Defensively, Miami is one of the better teams in the NBA. The Heat allow just 109.8 PPG (seventh in the NBA). Oddly enough, Miami is 21st in defensive field-goal percentage (47.4%) and 28th in defensive 3-point percentage (38.6%).
The Nets are 12th in the NBA with 114.2 PPG and rain in triples at a 38.0% pace - good for third in the league. Defensively, the Nets allow 112.5 PPG, but they’re fifth in both defensive field-goal percentage (45.1%) and defensive 3-pointer percentage (33.3%).
Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game with a hip, while Miami’s Caleb Martin is likely to play with a knee ailment. Heat guard R.J. Hampton is out with a knee.
The Nets have won five straight meetings in this series and covered four of those games, including the first meeting this season. The Under has cashed in four of the past six and seven of the past 10 meetings overall. Until the Heat start winning regularly against Brooklyn, you have to take the Nets and the points.
Bets: Nets +4 (-110) and Under 217 (-110)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors
The big news from San Francisco is that Draymond Green has been suspended for five games by the NBA for his actions in an altercation on the court in Minnesota. He will be sidelined for the Warriors and Stephen Curry is also on the shelf due to a knee injury.
Oklahoma City is looking for a season-high three-game winning streak. The Thunder dusted the Phoenix Suns in the most recent road game on Sunday, winning 111-99 as a 3.5-point underdog. OKC polished off the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama on Tuesday in a 123-87 as a 10-point favorite. The Thunder are 5-1 ATS in the past six games and cashed the Under in three consecutive games.
The last time these two teams met on Nov. 3 in Oklahoma City, the Warriors outlasted the Thunder in an entertaining 141-139 match with a total of 280 points. OKC covered the 6.5-point number and the Over (225) easily connected.
It’s a little difficult to handicap the Warriors in this spot, although they are on a four-game losing skid. Curry only missed Tuesday’s game, so they have been at full-staff for most of the slide.
The Thunder covered in the first meeting, and it is a good bet to pick up the win in Frisco on Thursday. The Thunder are 3-1 ATS on the road, although the lone non-cover was in Sacramento on Nov. 10 as a road favorite. So, tread a little lighter.
Bet: Thunder -3 (-112)
Make sure to check out our other best bets for Thursday:
- NFL Thursday Night Football Player Prop Bet Picks
- Top 4 Picks for NFL Thursday Night Football
- NBA First Basket Scorer Odds, Picks & Predictions
- Top NBA Odds, Picks, & Predictions
- Top NHL Odds, Picks & Predictions
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Cameron Lynch is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Cameron, check out his archive and follow him @captron26.