NBA Best Bets & Player Props November 2: Scottie Barnes Highlights Today's Top NBA Picks

It is Thursday, which is typically the slowest NBA day of the week. However there are four games tonight, and plenty of bets could be placed for each of them. Three best bets stick out in the Association tonight. The tip off for each game is set an hour apart and begins at 7:00 PM ET. Regardless of which timezone you are in, you can keep track of an entire game. In order of tip-off time, they are; Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons at New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic at Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns. Tonight’s bets have two prop bets focused on young superstars. One is a top five draft pick and the stability of a franchise in a state of change. The other is a former number one overall draft pick who has covered tonight’s bet in all four games of the season. The third bet is a two-leg parlay.
NBA Best Bets & Player Props November 2
NBA Bet of the Night
Scottie Barnes OVER 26.5 Points and Rebounds -110 at DraftKings
Scottie Barnes is on a tear to begin the season. He has led the Toronto Raptors to a 2-3 start, despite being heavy underdogs in their wins. They crushed the Milwaukee Bucks last night and S. Barnes played his fewest minutes of the season by eight minutes. The 2021 fourth overall pick played only 28 minutes and still managed to cover the prop bet put forth tonight. In fact, in his last four games, his combined points and rebound have been; 33, 32, 32, and 32. Tonight’s line is set at five below, and perhaps it is because of the reigning MVP, Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid. However, the Raptors are in back-to-back games and Barnes appears he was rested in anticipation for this game.
Philadelphia is allowing 107.7 points per game, and Toronto Raptors starting point guard Dennis Schroder has 46 assists, second most in the league. Barnes is a top-five fantasy player in multiple positions, he should continue his streak of stat-stuffing games. He has had eight or more rebounds in every game this season, and 20 or more points in four of his last five.
NBA Player Prop of the Night
Paolo Banchero OVER 3.5 Assist -140 BetMGM
The Orlando Magic continue their Western Conference tour, tonight against the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are playing the second of back-to-back games but crushed the Memphis Grizzlies yesterday. The Magic are 2-2 and not playing their best basketball, but able to make great runs. They are 1.5-point underdogs on BetMGM but are even on the money line. This should be a close game with rising stars on both teams. Paolo Banchero has not been shooting that well, making 17 of 45 possible shots (37.8%).
However, he is passing the ball well, with four or more assists in every game this season. The Jazz play tough defense and ball movement will be important. P. Banchero is averaging over 30 minutes per game and barring foul trouble should see over that tonight. Trust the 2021 first overall pick to keep his average tonight, and get over four assists.
NBA Parlay of the Night
Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns ML -160 BetMGM
The Philadelphia 76ers are FINALLY FREE of the James Harden drama. New Head Coach Nick Nurse has a great group of talent, and is already getting the most out of Tyrese Maxey… So why sweat James Harden? The loss of PJ Tucker will not be easily replaced, but the 76ers added great depth pieces and have a starting five in rhythm. The 76es are 8.5-point favorites on BetMGM Sportsbook, and although the Toronto Raptors have great players they do not have someone to slow down the offense of Joel Embiid, which will be a problem.
The Phoenix Suns are basically in a ‘do over’ against the San Antonio Spurs. Coach Greg Popovich, and the young Spurs, took advantage of the Phoenix Suns lack of focus and ability to close out the game. The Spurs scored four points in the last seconds of the game, outscored the Suns 33-19 in the fourth quarter, and literally stole the game. The Suns really controlled the game up until the fourth quarter where the youth of San Antonio could be seen. The Suns are 8.5 favorites as well, and they should correct the mental errors and win their game tonight.
The 76ers and Suns have large spreads to cover, have championship head coaches, and both are expected to make deep runs into the playoffs… implying they are good teams. Good teams win the games they are supposed to, trust the money line parlay.
Remember to check out Fantasy Alarm for all your NBA Fantasy needs as well. Basketball stats, rankings, DFS picks, tools to help your lineups, and of course the NBA DFS show with Jon and James.
Thank you for reading.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy
*All Bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise
Player News
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Spurs signed Jordan McLaughlin to a one-year, $3 million deal.
Acquired from the Kings in early February as part of the three-team trade that also sent De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio, McLaughlin averaged 6.9 minutes per game in 18 appearances for the Spurs. Even with Chris Paul no longer in the picture, the fantasy outlook for the veteran guard will not change much in 2025-26. San Antonio used the second overall pick in last month’s draft to select Dylan Harper, and they can also use reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle on the ball in addition to Fox.
Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports Dylan Harper (groin) is expected to make his summer league debut on Saturday.
Harper suffered a minor groin injury before the California Classic and did not play in San Antonio’s three games in San Francisco. While he will also miss Thursday’s opening game in Las Vegas against the 76ers, the second overall pick in last month’s draft will reportedly make his summer debut on Saturday against the Mavericks. Fans and fantasy managers have seen San Antonio’s other first-round pick, as Carter Bryant played in two of the team’s three games in San Francisco.
ESPN’s Marc Spears reports VJ Edgecombe (thumb) will not play in Philadelphia’s NBA 2K26 Summer League opener on Thursday against the Spurs.
Thursday’s summer league matchup was supposed to include the second and third overall picks in last month’s draft, but neither may be available. San Antonio’s Dylan Harper missed his team’s three games in California with a groin injury, and Edgecombe has been officially ruled out with a sprained left thumb. After scoring 28 points in his first game in Salt Lake City, the former Baylor guard missed the next two games with the thumb injury. The good news for Edgecombe and the 76ers is that his non-shooting hand is the one affected. Whether Edgecombe will see any action in Las Vegas is unknown, but he has been going through on-court workouts and will be re-evaluated on Saturday.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports Devin Booker and the Suns have agreed to a two-year extension worth $145 million.
With Kevin Durant traded to the Rockets and Bradley Beal likely being bought out of his contract, Booker will continue to shoulder the load as Phoenix’s franchise cornerstone. Wednesday’s extension means his contract will run through the 2029-30 season, strengthening the commitment between player and franchise. Booker will again be worthy of consideration within the first 25 picks of 12-team fantasy drafts. While he finished last season ranked just outside the top 30, the Suns’ cornerstone was a top-20 player in 2023-24.
Law Murray of The Athletic reports the Clippers have waived Seth Lundy.
Signed to a two-way contract by the Clippers on March 1, Lundy did not appear in a game during the 2024-25 season. The team’s decision to waive the 2023 second-round pick will not impact the Clippers’ rotation or fantasy basketball.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that Dominick Barlow has signed a two-way contract with the 76ers.
Barlow averaged just under 11 minutes per game across 35 appearances for the Hawks last season. The backup big man started four games and averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 boards in 20 minutes. He’ll compete for backup minutes in Philadelphia with the likes of Johni Broome, Adem Bona and Trendon Watford, among others.