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
Mavericks have won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery.
With just a 1.8 percent chance of success, Dallas leaped up in the lottery to nab the top pick in the 2025 draft. A little over three months after GM Nico Harrison traded away Luka Doncic, the Mavs will have a new young superstar to build around. Cooper Flagg is the expected top pick, and he will flawlessly fit Harrison’s mantra “defensive wins championships” that he has echoed tirelessly in every interview since trading Doncic. Assuming nothing changes, Flagg will join a loaded Dallas team that should be a contender in the stacked Western Conference next season. San Antonio, Philadelphia and Charlotte round out the top four picks in a talented draft class.
Brandin Podziemski had 11 points (3-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, one assist and four steals in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Podziemski was 3-of-14 from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts. His 22.5 field goal percentage in this series is the worst for any player (min. 35 attempts) since Pero Antic shot 16.7 percent in the Hawks vs. Pacers series in 2014, according to Josh Dubow of the Associated Press. Down 3-1 in the series now, the Warriors need Stephen Curry to return from his hamstring injury for Game 5, a miracle or both to get back in this series.
Jimmy Butler had 14 points (5-of-9 FGs), six rebounds, three assists and one block in Game 4 against the Timberwolves on Monday.
Despite the Warriors win in Game 1, Butler warned in postgame interviews that Stephen Curry is the team’s best player and it was going to be difficult to win games without him. After what’s transpired over the last three games, which the Warriors have all lost, he might’ve been underselling it. Butler wasn’t able to fill Curry’s shoes in Game 4. In fact, he was a team-worst minus-30 in 34 minutes in the seven-point loss. The Warriors will have their backs against the wall facing elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday.
Julius Randle had 31 points (11-of-21 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers in Game 4 against the Warriors on Monday.
Anthony Edwards had 30 points (11-of-21 FGs), four rebounds, five assists, two steals and six three-pointers in the Timberwolves’ 117-110 victory over the Warriors in Game 4 on Monday.
Derrick White had 23 points (6-of-12 FGs), three rebounds, two assists and six three-pointers against the Knicks in Game 4 on Monday.
White was the Celtics second leading scorer in Game 4, but he was the only consistent scorer for Boston outside of Jayson Tatum. The 30-year-old point guard got all of his points on six three-pointers and five free throws. Unfortunately for the Celtics it wasn’t enough as Boston was trailing when Tatum went down with a lower leg injury in the final minutes, essentially taking a comeback off the table. The Celtics will look to stave off elimination with their backs against the wall at home in Game 5 on Wednesday.