The NBA is back in full swing with an excellent 10-game slate this Sunday, so our staff of basketball experts dug into the latest odds and identified the best betting value on the board for today's matchups.
Our betting experts have looked over the odds and made 5 NBA picks for today. Continue below for our NBA best bets and picks for Sunday, December 1.
NBA Best Bets for Sunday
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
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. | ||
Pacers vs. Grizzlies
By Joe Dellera
Ja Morant has been crushing this line all season, with a 60% hit rate and averaging 21.4 points and 9.1 assists per game. He continues to have a monstrous Usage Rate while he is on the floor even though he is averaging just 27.4 minutes per game.
This has also been a strong matchup for Morant, who is averaging 23.3 points and 11 assists per game in three games against Indiana over the last two seasons.
One of the keys is that Indiana is getting crushed at the rim. They allow the sixth-highest Rim Rate and fifth-highest shooting percentage at the rim. Considering Morant’s shot profile, this is an ideal spot.
Morant has seen his assists spike this season, and he always has ceiling potential along with a fairly high floor, so I’m comfortable with the combo prop.
Pick: Ja Morant Over 29.5 Points + Assists (-115)
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Magic vs. Nets
By Bill Marzano
The 14-7 Orlando Magic are playing their best basketball of the season right now, riding a five-game winning streak and having won 11 of their last 12.
The Magic just pounded the Nets the other night and these are always tough back-to-back spots that typically go the other way — but not today. The Magic have won both meetings against the Nets rather easily.
The Magic are just 5-7 on the road while posting a 9-0 home record, while the Nets are just 4-4 on their home court. The Magic continue to lead the NBA in scoring defense, allowing just 102 points while the Nets are allowing just under 115.
The Nets have posted a solid 13-6-1 ATS record this year but they simply haven't matched up well vs. the Magic this year. Look for the Magic to make it five straight in this series dating back to last year.
Pick: Magic -6.5 (-110)
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Heat vs. Raptors
Jakob Poeltl just went for 24 and 10 against the Heat.
He's averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds and is over 24.5 PR in six of his last eight games. The Heat are, again, a top-10 defense, but they're just a "meh" rebounding team, which is what you typically get when Bam Adebayo is the only true rebounder in your starting lineup.
The Heat allow the second-most opponent rebounds per 100 possessions in the NBA at 47.1. Poeltl has the Raptors up to seventh in boards per 100 at 46.2, and he has the team tied for first in offensive rebounds per 100 at 14.0. Poeltl is in the top 10 in offensive boards per 100 possessions and offensive rebound percentage, and he's tied for first with Ivica Zubac in just raw offensive rebounds with 86 this season.
Regarding points, Poeltl has scored 24 or more in four of eight outings, averaging 19 points per game during that span, despite only being limited to two points in an anomaly effort against the Pelicans.
Pick: Jakob Poeltl Over 24.5 Points + Rebounds (-120)
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Pelicans vs. Knicks
By Alex Hinton
The New York Knicks are returning home tonight after a 3-2 road trip. They will welcome the New Orleans Pelicans, who have dropped 16 of their last 18 games. Offensively, the Knicks stalled on the last two games on their road trip, scoring just 15 points in the first quarter against the Mavericks and Hornets. They did end up with 114 in Dallas but failed to crack 100 points in Charlotte.
However, I like their chances to bounce back tonight. New Orleans is 23rd in scoring defense, allowing 115.6 points per game. It is 27th in defensive rating overall this season and 29th on the road. The Pelicans have allowed at least 119 points in four of their last six games.
Meanwhile, the Knicks have already cracked 120 eight times this season, including in four home games. They lead the league in offensive rating at home and rank second overall in that category. The Knicks are getting about 70 points per game from Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and OG Anunoby.
All three will be in prime spots tonight, as New Orleans ranks 21st or worse in points allowed per game to point guards, power forwards, and centers. Towns and Brunson (off drives) should enjoy a lot of success in the paint, where New Orleans is 29th in points in the paint allowed per game.
As a 12-point favorite, oddmakers are projecting a comfortable Knicks win. If that is the case, they will likely score 120 points for the ninth time this season.
Pick: Knicks Team Total Over 119.5 Points (-115)
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Thunder vs. Rockets
By Matt Moore
I project this all the way down at 202, so I'm not going to care where the market moves on it between writing and publish.
Houston's over-under margin is -2.5, meaning the total points comes in on average 2.5 points lower than the closing total. Meanwhile, that number is -7 (!) for the Thunder. These defenses aren't just good, they're elite.
When Houston faces a team with a lower over-under margin than it, the under is 4-2 this season. OKC is 58% to the under on the road, while the Rockets are 52% to the under at home.
The Rockets don't have the size or shooting to run up the offense on OKC's switching defense, and the Rockets' physicality and good perimeter defense with Dillon Brooks and the Terror Twins, Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, will limit the engine of OKC's offense: dribble penetration.
I don't mind playing alternate lines here, and will probably have a sub-210 under ticket for a small amount.
Pick: Under 220.5 (-110)
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