NBA Wednesday Night Best Bets: November 17th

NBA Wednesday Night Best Bets:

Odds available as at 2pm November 17th 2021. Odds may now differ

Brooklyn Nets vs Cleveland Cavaliers

The Brooklyn Nets have had a solid start to the season with 10 wins so far, but they are currently 3rd in the Eastern Conference. They are coming off a terrible performance against the Warriors, only scoring 99 points and shooting 38.6% from the field and 27.8% from behind the 3-point line. But the Nets are one of the best offensive teams in the NBA and are league leaders in 3-point shooting percentage with 39.3%. They usually bounce back after poor shooting performances, especially when playing at home, and this Cleveland squad is the best opportunity to do it again.

The Cavaliers have fared much better than expected this season, and are currently 5th in the east with 9 wins and 6 losses. The Cavs usually have trouble finding scoring opportunities, but they have established themselves as one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, allowing just 101.1 points per game, and forcing 15.2 turnovers per game. But their recent injury issues have made victory against the Nets next to impossible. Laur Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Jarret Allen, Evan Mobley, and Lamar Stevens will all miss this game, whilst Kevin love is questionable. This is a serious blow to the Cavaliers on both sides of the floor, and I don’t expect them to put up much of a fight. The -10.5 point handicap should be avoided in usual circumstances, but in this case, it is a value bet at 1.94 odds.

Tip: Nets -10.5 at 1.94 odds

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Orlando Magic vs New York Knicks

The Orlando Magic are the worst team in the east with 11 losses and just 3 wins this season. They have averaged just 99.9 points per game, and are 27th in the league in offensive rating this season.  In fact, they have the worst field goal percentage in the NBA in the last 6 games with just 39.7%, a 3-point percentage of just 28.4%, whilst scoring just 94.7 points per game. They are struggling to find their offensive rhythm, but their defensive effort has increased dramatically and they are now among the average teams in terms of defensive rating (18th).

The Knicks have had a solid start to the season, but their recent poor form has seen them drop down to 6th place in the east. They are once again experiencing offensive struggles, and have averaged just 100.0 points in their last 5 games. But their defence has been respectable throughout the season, averaging 6.1 blocks per game, and allowing 107.4 points per game. The Knicks are one of the slowest teams in the NBA with a pace rating of 96.9 (25th), and I don’t expect either team to have a very high-scoring game. Both squads have struggled to score recently, and at 1.93 odds, Under 208.5 points is a solid bet.

Tip: Under 208.5 points at 1.93 odds

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Milwaukee Bucks vs LA Lakers

The Milwaukee Bucks have had a disappointing start to the season largely due to injury issues and they are due to bounce back. After losing to the Celtics and Hawks on the road, the Bucks will be back in Milwaukee to take on the Lakers. Kris Middleton will finally rejoin the team and provide some much-needed help in spacing the floor and generating easy points. The Bucks have seen their share of adversity this season, but with most of their lineup healthy and rested after a 2-day break, they should be able to rally at home and start climbing up the Eastern Conference standings.

Much like the Bucks, the LA Lakers have also started the season off on the wrong foot and are currently 7th in the Western Conference with 8 wins and 7 losses. They have also been their share of injury issues, as LeBron James will miss their game against the Bucks, whilst Anthony Davis is questionable. They have been very inconsistent this season, and are the 3rd-worst team ATS. They have been one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA this season, allowing 112.5 points per game, and allowing opponents to shoot high percentages from everywhere on the court. With 17.3 turnovers per game, the Lakers are second-to-last in the league, and their offence struggles to get going anytime Lebron James is off the court. This will be a very difficult game for them, and I expect the Bucks to easily cover the spread in this one.

Tip: Bucks -7.5 at 1.99 odds

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Portland Trail Blazers vs Chicago Bulls

The Portland Trail Blazers are 9th in the Western Conference with 7 wins and 9 losses. Though they have consistently been near the top 10 in the NBA in offensive rating and overall scoring, their abysmal defensive effort has allowed opponents to score an average of 109.3 points per game,  with very high shooting percentages. In fact, the Blazers are 25th in the NBA defensive rating this season and 28th in opponent 3-point percentage with 38.4%.

The Chicago bulls are one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season and are currently 2nd in the standings. They are 10th in offensive rating in the league, scoring 108.6 points per game, but it’s their elite defence that has earned them 10 wins already. The Bulls have the 6th best defence in the league and are allowing an average of 102.7 (4th in NBA) points per game, whilst keeping opponents to low shooting percentages. The Bulls are excellent in pressuring ball handlers and forcing turnovers, with 16.4 forced turnovers per game, and 8.9 steals. At 2.21 odds, they provide excellent value in the Asian Handicap with +1.5 points, and I expect them to easily get the win in this one.

Tip: Bulls +1.5 at 2.21 odds

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