The 2024-25 NBA season is underway. 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. And try to 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 Wednesday, November 13th.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on November 13th
NBA Best Bets Today – November 13th
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks – 7:30 pm ET
The Knicks are coming off a big road win over the 76ers in the Group Stage of Emirates NBA Cup action. However, New York had to quickly head back home for this meeting with Chicago. And this feels like a lot of points for the Knicks to be laying on the second night of a back-to-back. While New York won by 12 against Philadelphia last night, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart all played at least 37 minutes. And though Jalen Brunson did finish the game, he did sprain his ankle early in the contest. That said, the Knicks, who really play a six-man rotation, will likely be a little fatigued and banged up coming into this one.
This version of the Bulls is also a tough matchup for the Knicks. New York has lost last year’s elite defensive identity, as the team is 22nd in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions (116.1). So, this Chicago team should be able to generate some easy offense in this one. And that could come by way of playing through Nikola Vucevic a little more. Towns has been absurd offensively for the Knicks, but he also has a lot of trouble defending around the basket. So, the Bulls would be wise to test him with a heavy dose of Vucevic. The big man is a good face-up player, but he can also be a load with his back to the basket. And if the Knicks have to send help that way, Vucevic is a good passer and will find an open teammate. The Knicks are also allowing 13.7 triples per game, so they’re not defending the 3-point line particularly well. That should mean that guys like Zach LaVine and Coby White will get opportunities here.
It also helps Chicago that New York starts Hart, who isn’t much of an offensive player. That will be a good spot for the Bulls to hide Josh Giddey, who is one of the worst defensive players in any starting lineup right now. Chicago has been solid defensively around him, but this matchup could make the Bulls defense look a bit better.
It’s just hard to imagine this being a game that turns into a lopsided Knicks win. Chicago has been a good bet in this spot over the last three years, going 15-9 against the spread as a road underdog of 6.5 to 12 points.
Bet: Bulls +8.5 (-112 – 1.5 units)
Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets – 7:30 pm ET
This is an interesting game for a lot of reasons. Boston surprisingly comes into this one having struggled a bit, as the team has lost two of its last four games and has failed to cover in six of its last 10. The Celtics also lost outright as 16-point favorites against the Hawks last night, with Atlanta being as high as +900 on the moneyline before that game started. Meanwhile, the Nets have been one of the biggest surprises of the season, as they’re 9-2 ATS and have been competitive in pretty much every game they have played. That includes a road game against the Celtics the other night, when Boston lost by four as a 13.5-point underdog. Now, the Celtics will head to Brooklyn looking for revenge, but they’ll be doing so after having played a tough game last night. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White all played at least 36 minutes. Meanwhile, the Nets had an off day. So, rest will favor Brooklyn here.
Another thing that favors the Nets is the supreme confidence of Dennis Schroder and Cam Thomas. I thought those two would struggle against Jrue Holiday and Derrick White in their last meeting, but they combined to score 51 points on 20 for 45 shooting in the overtime loss. And the reality is that those two defenders intimidate a lot of players, but that’s not the case for Schroder and Thomas. Those two Brooklyn guards believe they can score on anybody, so they remain calm even with two of the best on-ball defenders on the planet bumping chests with them. On top of that, Brooklyn has some nice length on the perimeter, which helps against Tatum and Brown.
The Celtics should get back in the win column. This team is too good to lose two games in a row, especially against losing opponents. But I don’t see any reason Brooklyn can’t keep it somewhat close against a Boston team that isn’t in high gear on either end of the floor.
Bet: Nets +8.5 (-108 – 1.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – November 13th
Indiana Pacers at Orlando Magic – 7:00 pm ET
The Magic are a solid rebounding team. They’re currently ninth in the league in rebounding percentage (51.1%). However, they are missing some size along their frontline, as Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. are both out. They’re also not as good of an offensive rebounding team as they are an overall rebounding team. Orlando is outside the Top 15 in the league in offensive rebounding percentage. With that in mind, this isn’t as tough of a matchup as it seems for Bennedict Mathurin’s rebounding hopes. So, I’m playing him to go Over 5.5 boards in this game.
Mathurin has just been awesome on the glass this season, grabbing at least six rebounds in seven of the 10 games he has played. Mathurin has also brought in at least six boards in six consecutive games. He’s just big and strong at the shooting guard position, and he’s aggressive in aiding in the dirty work. That said, I love Mathurin to have at least six rebounds again. He actually just had 11 rebounds in a meeting with this Orlando team on November 6. The only thing to worry about here is that Rick Carlisle can pull players out of his rotation in the blink of an eye. So, Mathurin might do something small to land himself in the doghouse. But he has played at least 32 minutes in six straight games, and he has played 38.5 minutes per game over the last two games. So, I’m trusting his spot in the rotation is solidified at this point, especially with him having scored at least 20 in three straight games. He’s an absolute stud.
Bet: Mathurin Over 5.5 Rebounds (-135)
Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings – 10:00 pm ET
Just three days ago, the Kings beat the Suns by nine in overtime. In that game, Sacramento made a clear decision to leave Tyus Jones open from 3. And while Phoenix ended up losing the game, Jones did make a ton of shots. He was 6 for 10 from deep in that game, and he ultimately finished with 22 points in 40 minutes of action. Well, I’m going to Jones to score at least 12 points when these teams meet again. I’m not expecting Jones to hit another six triples here. But I can see him making two or three. He has made at least two 3s in five of the 11 games that Phoenix has played this season. He has also made at least three 3s in three of the last six games. And if Jones does knock down a couple of outside shots, he really should go Over his point total. He has been getting to his floater rather often this season, and this matchup should allow him to do that a couple of times. The Kings don’t have great defenders along the perimeter, and they also lack rim protection. So, Jones should be able to get himself into the paint to float some shots up over Domantas Sabonis, or whoever meets him at the basket.
Bradley Beal also happens to be questionable for this game. He felt something in his calf late in a win over the Jazz last night. That could mean that the Suns will lean a little more on Jones on the ball. And honestly, with Kevin Durant out, Jones should have the ball in his hands a lot anyway. Phoenix can beat Sacramento’s shaky defense by running a ton of pick-and-rolls. That should give Jones the opportunities he needs to cash this.
Bet: Jones Over 11.5 Points (-120)
Added Plays
TEASER: Bucks ML vs. Pistons & Grizzlies +12.5 vs. Lakers (-138 – 1.5 units)
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2024-25 NBA Record: 48-42 (+6.93 units)
