The start of the 2024-25 NBA season is officially here. Make sure you check out the fantastic work of Jonathan Von Tobel, who will be writing NBA features for us twice per week this year. Also, try and listen to A Numbers Game every morning, as Kelley Bydlon often dishes out his favorite NBA picks. But I’ll be giving out NBA best bets and player props here as often as possible, and I’ll also occasionally write up features on big news that shakes up the league. So, make sure you check out my work throughout the season. With that out of the way, let’s get into some NBA best bets and NBA player props for Sunday, November 10th.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on November 10th
NBA Best Bets Today – November 10th
Boston Celtics at Milwaukee Bucks – 3:30 pm ET
The Bucks have been absolutely terrible this season. I’m completely aware of that. However, this feels like the ultimate buy-low spot for Milwaukee. When looking at our VSiN NBA Betting Splits, you’ll see that all of the action in this game is on Boston. The Celtics are the best team in basketball, and they’re currently second in the league in offensive rating and fifth in defensive rating. They’re also 8-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Bucks are a miserable 2-7 and they’re 20th or worse in both offensive and defensive rating. There are very few reasons to back Milwaukee here, and the spread is extremely small. To me, this is the oddsmakers begging bettors to take Boston. And while I’m not quite sure how the Bucks will get this done, I am definitely interested in jumping on the sharper side.
One thing that I do like when looking at this game is that Milwaukee is 5-0 straight-up as a home underdog since the start of last season. The Bucks are also 13-7 SU when looking to avenge a road loss against an opponent in that span. And if that’s not enough, Milwaukee is 5-3 SU when coming off a game in which the team scored 100 or fewer points. Well, I’m not even strictly looking to the Bucks to win this game outright. I’m putting a bigger play on +3.5 and hoping Doc Rivers’ group can keep this close, but I’m also sprinkling the moneyline.
We really should see a fired-up group after Giannis Antetokounmpo called out his teammates for a lack of effort in a 22-point loss to New York last game. The Bucks should also believe they can win this one, as they’re 3-1 SU versus the Celtics at Fiserv Forum over the last three seasons.
It’s also not like it’s impossible to find reasons to like Milwaukee here. While the Celtics have an elite defensive backcourt, Damian Lillard is capable of getting hot against any opponent. And if he and Antetokounmpo play well offensively while Milwaukee’s role players step up defensively, this should be a fun game.
However, I’m not going to sit here and try to sell you on backing the Bucks for on-court reasons. This handicap is simple for me. In betting, if it looks too easy, something isn’t right. And backing the Celtics looks way too easy.
Bet: Bucks +3.5 (-105 – 1.5 units) & Bucks ML (+144 – 0.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – November 10th
Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers – 9:00 pm ET
Ja Morant is out with a hip injury, so the Grizzlies have some on-ball opportunities to go around. Well, Scotty Pippen Jr. is going to get his chances. The 23-year-old has been a real surprise for Memphis, averaging 11.6 points, 6.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game in 26.0 minutes per game. Pippen also happens to be coming off a game in which he had 11 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in a win over the Wizards. Pippen is just the definition of a stat-sheet stuffer, as he contributes in a ton of different ways. Also, the energy he plays with has made him a favorite of head coach Taylor Jenkins.
With all of that in mind, Pippen was the first player I jumped to when looking to bet some NBA player props on this Grizzlies team. I always like to find players with increased opportunities due to injury, but Pippen is more than just that. He has had games in which he has gone Over this number without playing big minutes, but he should flirt with 35 or so here. He’s also facing a Blazers team that is just 21st in the NBA in offensive rating. So, he should play well offensively. Portland can also be guilty of being lazy, so his hustle will allow him to do the little things.
Bet: Pippen Jr. Over 27.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-115 – 1.5 units)
Added Plays
PARLAY: Timberwolves ML vs. Heat & Hornets +10.5 vs. 76ers (-115 – 1.5 units) – I’m adding a two-leg parlay with a big moneyline favorite and an alternate spread in a game that I think should be somewhat close. For the Minnesota part of this, I’m just backing a team that is much better than its opponent on both ends of the floor. The Timberwolves are fifth in the NBA in offensive rating and 11th in defensive rating. Meanwhile, the Heat are 13th in offensive rating and 20th in defensive rating. Minnesota also happens to have the best player on the floor in Anthony Edwards, and the team is playing at home. And for the second leg, I just don’t think the Sixers can be trusted to win by double digits against a Hornets team that has been solid to start the year. Charlotte actually has a net rating of -2.9, which is significantly better than Philadelphia’s -8.6. The Hornets have also been better when it comes to both offensive and defensive rating, and the absence of Miles Bridges isn’t enough to scare me off here. The Sixers are still without Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.
Suns +1.5 (-115 – 1.5 units) vs. Kings – Kevin Durant is out for the Suns, but I’m not sure he should make this big of a difference in the spread. Phoenix opened as a 5.5-point favorite and is now getting points at home. Let’s keep in mind that Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are both capable of shouldering much bigger offensive loads. Phoenix is also going to get Ryan Dunn back from an ankle injury, giving the team a good replacement starter for Durant. Dunn should be able to make life very difficult on either DeMar DeRozan or Keegan Murray.
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2024-25 NBA Record: 42-35 (+7.90 units)
