The NBA Cup is back with an enticing six-game slate.
Our basketball betting experts have gone through the odds and identified 5 NBA picks for today's contests. Continue reading for our NBA best bets and props for Tuesday, Nov. 19.
NBA Best Bets Today
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Cavaliers vs. Celtics
The game of the season so far lines up pretty well for a good Evan Mobley game and I think he will stretch one out a bit in a potentially high-powered showing between the Cavs and Celtics.
Mobley has at least one made 3 in two of his past four games and is shooting more of them so far this season than he was at this time last season. I still think there's room for him to grow from deep, but because the Celtics average 50 3s a game, Cleveland — who is sixth in makes and first in 3-point percentage — may elevated its volume. I think Mobley will play a small role in that and stretch Boston's defense.
Pick: Even Mobley Over 0.5 3s
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Cavaliers vs. Celtics
By Joe Dellera
Tatum and the Celtics face off against the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers. You can check my full game analysis here.
I expect Tatum to thrive on the glass. He has recorded double-digit boards in nine of his past 10 games against the Cavaliers, averaging 10.9 rebounds per game.
There will be minutes where Cleveland runs Mobley at the five, and given the switchability there, that will open up even more rebound opportunities for Tatum.
While we would expect Cleveland to be an elite rebounding team, the Cavaliers are just middle of the pack in terms of Rebound Percentage. While the raw totals are lower, Tatum is the clear rebound leader for the Celtics, even with Neemias Queta seeing some extended run.
I will grab Tatum to exceed 8.5 rebounds and play some 10+ (+160 Bet365).
Pick: Jayson Tatum Over 8.5 Rebounds
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Hornets vs. Nets
The Nets are a bottom-seven defense and bottom nine in net rating.
For all their overachieving, they're still one of the weaker defensive teams in the NBA.
LaMelo Ball has gotten over 40.5 PRA in five straight games and has a great match-up tonight. This is a simple handicap.
Pick: LaMelo Ball Over 40.5 PRA
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Thunder vs. Spurs
By Joe Dellera
The Spurs take on the Thunder in a game where Victor Wembanyama is doubtful. However, that should open up some more opportunities for his teammates.
Chris Paul has been a leader this season and is averaging 10.4 points and 8.4 assists per game. While we all expected the Paul-Wembanyama pick-and-roll to feed families, we simply haven't seen as much of that as we expected.
When Wembanyama is off the floor, Paul's Usage nearly doubles, he scores seven more points per 100 possessions and while his assists per 100 drop, that’s a bit skewed from the most recent game without Wembanyama, where Paul's teammates converted on just 3-of-11 potential assists.
This 16.5 PA mark is one Paul has exceeded in 57% of his games this season, but in 9-of-11 against the Thunder over the past few seasons, including their matchup back in October. Couple that with the fact that the Thunder are highly exploitable on the interior and I think Paul will have no issues finding his teammates to score.
I’ll grab Paul to exceed 16.5 points and play some double double, which is best built out as 10 points/10 assists (+700 Bet365).
Pick: Chris Paul Over 16.5 PA
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Jazz vs. Lakers
By Joe Dellera
The Lakers face off against the Utah Jazz in their NBA Cup matchup and Anthony Davis is primed to score.
The Jazz will be without their best interior defender, Walker Kessler, making their already bad defense (29th), worse. Davis should have a field day.
The books keep refusing to make Davis' points prop a 30-point line. despite him averaging 31.1 points per game this season. That's even skewed down because he left the game against Toronto early (injury), but had already scored 22 points in just 25 minutes. He has exceeded 28.5 points in 9-of-12 games this season, and given the Lakers’ seeming inability to put teams away, he should see plenty of run tonight.
While I don’t think he will play 45 minutes, I do think the Lakers will play their stars a bit extra and pump up the point differential in the NBA Cup.
I’ll back Davis to stay hot and exceed 28.5 points.
Pick: Anthony Davis Over 28.5 Points
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