NBA Best Bets & Player Props November 21: Deandre Ayton Looks for Revenge Against the Phoenix Suns
Another tremendous Tuesday is scheduled for the NBA today. Tuesday in November means In-Season Tournament games, and they have been exciting games to watch. There are five games today; Toronto Raptors at Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers at Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers at Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers. The Toronto Raptors have played only one In-Season Tournament game thus far and could make a good run at the wild card spot with a big win tonight.
The nationally televised games are the Cavs at the 76ers beginning at 7:30 PM ET, followed by the Jazz at the Lakers with a 10:00 PM ET tip-off. Those games have a live betting boost if you are inclined to watch either. Two teams can advance out of the group stage with a win tonight, and they are the Indiana Pacers and the LA Lakers. Today’s Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets focuses on a bet from each game. However, the bet of the night features a proposition bet on a former first overall pick. It is at plus odds, and has an interesting backstory.
Bet of the Night
Deandre Ayton Double-Double (+115 at BetMGM) 2 UNIT Wager
Do you believe in revenge games? That will be the narrative for the former 2018 1st overall pick, Deandre Ayton. The former Phoenix Sun center was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers and makes his return to ‘El Valle’ tonight. Ayton had some verbal jabs about how thrilled he was to be in Portland and made it clear that he believed that the Suns did not want him to excel.
There are several avenues to a double-double (recording ten or more in two statistical categories), but for Ayton, it will likely be points and rebounds. Luckily he averages 12.2 points and 11 rebounds per game. Despite having single-digit rebounding games, his 143 rebounds are the ninth most in the Association. Ayton has seven double-doubles this season, and is playing against his former team, will be in the building where he has played the most minutes of his NBA career, and should have some extra juice tonight. Double up on Deandre’s double-double.
Prop Bets of the Night
Race to 10 points - Los Angeles Lakers (-140 at DraftKings)
If the Los Angeles Lakers win tonight, they will become the first team to advance from the group stage. They are so heavily favored that there is not any value on the money line, and the spread is at -7.5. It is possible for the Lakers to cover, but it seems too far of a spread in a competitive In-Season Tournament game. There is however this line on DraftKings. The LA Lakers to get to ten points in the first quarter before the Utah Jazz.
The logic for this is Lebron comes out with intensity. The Crypto.com Arena will be rocking, and although it is not Thanksgiving this is a pressure game. Lebron James has a history of rising up in pressure games, and he should deliver with a fast start. Anthony Davis is questionable but expected to play. The big man should control the paint against smaller Utah Jazz players, and limit the Jazz’s early second-chance opportunities.
Tyrese Haliburton - OVER 11.5 Assists (-165 at DraftKings)
Tyrese Halliburton was on fire before the bizarre loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday. He has covered this prop in all but three games this season, including last Sunday. T. Halliburton is currently one of the best players in the league. His double-double line is at -370, something extremely difficult to do as a point guard. His point line is jumping from 23-24 points with a hook, and to avoid that his assists line is recommended.
The total on this game is set at an astronomical 251.5 points, 15 points higher than any other game today. The Atlanta Hawks allow the seventh most points in the league with 117.9 per game, and the Indiana Pacers give up 123.8 per game… third most in the league. There should be several assists opportunities for the league’s assists leader in tonight’s matchup. In addition to that, if the Pacers win tonight, they clinch their In-Season Tournament group, and advance to the knock-out round. Halliburton should have a great bounce-back game and cover this prop.
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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 Celtics have converted two-way G JD Davison to a standard contract.
Davison was drafted 53rd overall in 2022 and has been with Boston his entire career, though he has spent most of his time with their G League affiliate in Maine. He has made 15 appearances in the NBA this season and will likely play a significant role in the regular season finale on Sunday. The 22-year-old will remain with the Celtics on a standard deal heading into next season, but he will likely spend most of his time in Maine once again.
Jaylen Brown received pain management injections in his right knee but is expected to be ready for the first round of the playoffs.
Brown, who has missed Boston’s last two games and will remain out for the season finale on Sunday, will have nearly two weeks between his final regular season appearance and Game 1 of their first round series. They will host either the Magic or the Hawks in the first round. It isn’t a good sign that he had to receive injections, but at this point, it isn’t expected to impact his postseason availability.
Dorian Finney-Smith shot 6-of-9 from the field in Friday’s win over the Rockets, scoring 18 points with three steals and six three-pointers in 30 minutes.
Friday’s victory secured the three-seed in the West for the Lakers, which would mean a second-round matchup with Houston if both teams got out of the first round. For that reason, Finney-Smith’s last two performances against the Rockets were notable. After shooting 6-of-11 from three in the Lakers’ March 31 win over Houston, he was 6-of-8 on Friday. From a fantasy standpoint, Finney-Smith provided the three-pointers and steals on Friday that many managers expect from him. We’ll see if he plays against Portland on Sunday, as nothing will be on the line for the Lakers.
Austin Reaves tallied 23 points (9-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), seven rebounds, six assists, two steals and three three-pointers in 33 minutes in Friday’s win over the Rockets.
Luka Doncic recorded 39 points (13-of-19 FGs, 8-of-14 FTs), eight rebounds, seven assists, one steal and five three-pointers in 31 minutes in Friday’s win over the Rockets.
Reed Sheppard amassed 14 points (5-of-14 FGs), three rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and four three-pointers in 41 minutes in Friday’s loss to the Lakers.