NBA November Preview and Futures Betting Update
We are now a couple of weeks into the new NBA season and some intriguing betting trends have started to emerge. Anyone regularly backing the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat or the Utah Jazz to cover the spread will be in serious profit right now, whereas the Suns, the Celtics and the Lakers have disappointed bettors.
The NBA action will continue to come in thick and fast during an action-packed November. We have rounded up the most exciting games to look out for and provided a futures betting update.
Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
Thursday, November 3, at FTX Arena
Erik Spoelstra’s team has lived up to the preseason hype by winning five of its opening six games. Star player Jimmy Butler is averaging 25.3 points per game, so he has emerged as an early MVP candidate, while the defense is looking very miserly.
The Heat could rise to the top of the Eastern Conference table if they get the better of the struggling Celtics on Thursday. Boston has slumped to a three-game losing streak and it is 2-5 ATS this season, whereas Miami is currently 5-1.
It is also worth noting that the Heat had covered the spread by an extra 13.92 points on average so far this season, while the Celtics have fallen 8.21 points short on average. This should result in a comfortable win for Butler and co.
Utah Jazz vs. Atlanta Hawks
Thursday, November 3, at State Farm Arena
The Utah Jazz have stormed to the top of the Western Conference after going 5-1 in the opening weeks of the season. Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gobert have looked strong, and this team has real depth too.
The Jazz just secured an emphatic win against the Milwaukee Bucks, and they will be keen to maintain the momentum when they head to the State Farm Arena to face the Hawks. This will be a stern test of their mettle, as the Hawks have a strong home record, but key players including Trae Young have regressed this year, and the Jazz should prevail.
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Golden State Warriors
Friday, November 5, at Chase Center
The Dubs will bid to continue their strong start to the season when they welcome the Pelicans to the Bay Area on Friday. Stephen Curry remains the most lethal scorer in the business, while Draymond Green has impressed, and Klay Thompson is edging closer to a return, so things are looking up for this veteran team.
They have six straight home games to look forward to, and the visit of New Orleans should be entertaining. The Pelicans have made a dreadful start to proceedings, and they are struggling to deal with the absence of Zion Williamson. This could get ugly for the Pels if the group of guards continues to underperform.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
Monday, November 8, at United Center
The Chicago Bulls have surprised many NBA fans by surging to the top of the Eastern Conference with a 6-1 record. They inflicted a first defeat of the season upon the Utah Jazz, and they will be keen for another big scalp when they take on the Nets. However, they will have to do so without forward Patrick Williams, who is expected to be out for several months with a wrist injury, so the Bulls’ thin depth will be seriously tested.
Many expected the Nets to be sitting atop the Eastern Conference, but they have made a sluggish start to the season. There is still no sign of Kyrie Irving, James Harden has struggled, and the Nets are just 4-3 for the season. However, they are moving in the right direction, and they could earn a morale-boosting win in Chicago next Monday.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Tuesday, November 9, at Wells Fargo Center
An early season injury crisis has robbed the Bucks of a great deal of firepower, causing them to lose three games on the bounce. They will hope to have key players back in time to face the 76ers on November 9.
The Sixers have shrugged off the absence of Ben Simmons to go 5-2, and the playmaking ability of Joel Embiid has really shone through. The defense has also looked imposing during a recent three-game winning streak, suggesting that the 76ers will be very competitive against the reigning NBA champion.
Miami Heat vs. LA Lakers
Wednesday, November 10, at Staples Center
The Lakers have failed to live up to expectations in the early weeks in the season. They are 2-5 ATS and 1-4 ATS in their games at Staples Center. LeBron James has not yet found his rhythm, the newcomers have not clicked and the Lakers are still dealing with injury problems, but the form of Carmelo Anthony has been one bright note.
They will need to be at their very best if they are to pick up a win against this superb Miami Heat team. The Heat’s first west coast swing of the year will be an interesting barometer for its chances of glory this season, so we anticipate a fascinating battle between these teams.
Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks
Monday, November 15, at Madison Square Garden
The Knicks are looking very much like a playoff team after winning five of their opening seven games. However, their best performances have come on the road, so fans will be keen to see them sweep aside a struggling Pacers team at the Garden.
Kemba Walker and Derrick Rose have impressed, and Evan Fournier looks like a shrewd acquisition. The Knocks are currently third in offensive efficiency, with a defense in the bottom 10, so this could be an interesting game. The Pacers have suffered some narrow defeats in the opening weeks of the season, but they appear to be on the brink of finding their feet, so this could be another entertaining contest.
Dallas Mavericks vs. LA Clippers
Saturday, November 20, at Staples Center
The Mavs are currently sitting third in the west with a 4-2 record. However, they have gone 2-4 ATS, with a -7.92 differential, so betting on Dallas has been a relatively unrewarding pursuit so far.
The Clippers are also 2-4 ATS, and they are also 2-4 straight up. They have missed Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka, as any team would. Paul George has done his best to carry the load – his 42-point haul in a defeat against Portland was a particular highlight – but the supporting cast is not currently pulling its weight. The Clippers need to generate a serious improvement in every department.
Kristaps Porzingis has underwhelmed for the Mavs, and Luka Dončić has made a slow start to the season. These teams have seen the two biggest drops in offensive efficiency so far this season, so it will be interesting to see who prevails.
Houston Rockets vs. Boston Celtics
Monday, November 22, at TD Garden
Two struggling teams will meet at TD Garden on November 22. The Rockets are languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference after slumping to a four-game losing streak, while things are not looking much better for the Celtics in the east.
Houston has gone 3-3 ATS this season, while the Celtics are 2-5, having continually underperformed. This could be a game in which the Rockets cover.
Phoenix Suns vs. Brooklyn Nets
Saturday, November 27, at Barclays Arena
Many preseason predictions had these teams battling it out in the NBA Finals. The Nets were the clear favorites to win the NBA Championship – they still are, for that matter – while the Suns are the reigning Western Conference champions, with Paul George back in the desert.
However, the Suns are currently sitting outside the playoff places, and they have gone 1-4 ATS, with an average of 9.40 points below the spread. It will be intriguing to see how they cope with the trip to Brooklyn to take on the Nets.
Futures Betting Update
The Nets are still the favorites to win the NBA Championship, with PointsBet offering a market leading price of +325. The Lakers are next in the betting at +550 with BetMGM, followed by the Bucks at +850 with DraftKings and the Dubs at +1000 with Unibet.
Resorts Sportsbook is offering a best price of +2200 on the Miami Heat, which looks tempting after their fine start to the season. If you think the Chicago Bulls can continue to defy expectations, they are priced at +5000 with FanDuel.
BetMGM is now offering +275 on the Lakers to win the Western Conference, while FanDuel has +480 on the Warriors. The Nets remain the +150 favorites in the east, ahead of the Bucks, Heat and Sixers.
Curry is now the narrow favorite to be named regular season MVP. Unibet, Bet365 and SugarHouse Sportsbook will only go to +450 on him, but Resorts has +575. Giannis Antetokounmpo is +650 to secure the award for the third time, followed by Kevin Durant and last year’s MVP, Dončić, in the betting. You can find odds of +6000 on Butler, which could be a fun long-shot.
