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 Tuesday, November 19th. Also, make sure you check out the picks page (linked right below) before games tip off. I occasionally add picks throughout the day.
MORE: Check out our Pro Picks page for everything our experts have on November 19th
NBA Best Bets Today – November 19th
New Orleans Pelicans at Dallas Mavericks – 8:30 pm ET
The Pelicans have looked a little more competitive recently, as they have covered in back-to-back games heading into this one. However, the team has also been playing some low-scoring games. In fact, two of New Orleans’ last three contests have failed to reach the 200-point mark, and the other only saw 203 total points scored. The Under has now hit in three consecutive Pelicans games, plus four of the team’s last five. And over the last five games, New Orleans is playing at the slowest pace in basketball. So, I’m thinking we’ll see another ugly-looking game tonight.
The Mavericks aren’t exactly going to look to push the tempo themselves. They play faster than the Pelicans, but they’re still just 13th in the league in pace this season. And if New Orleans wants to slow this thing down and try to win a half-court game, Dallas will be happy to oblige. The Mavericks should be able to out-execute a shorthanded Pelicans squad, even if Luka Doncic (questionable) ends up sitting this one out.
The Under is also 20-10-1 when Dallas is favored by 10 or more points under Jason Kidd. So, the Mavericks don’t exactly play exciting games when they take on inferior competition.
Bet: Under 222.5 (-110)
NBA Player Props Today – November 19th
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers – 10:30 pm ET
Austin Reaves has quietly been a flamethrower this season. The fourth-year guard is averaging 18.0 points per game and he’s shooting 36.3% from 3 on 7.8 attempts per game. JJ Redick was vocal in the offseason about wanting certain guys to get their 3s up, and it’s clear that Reaves was one of them.
Realistically, backing Reaves to go Over tonight’s 2.5 mark would be a good bet under any circumstances. He has made at least three triples in seven of the 13 games Los Angeles has played this season, and he has also done so in four of his last five games. The one game he didn’t hit three 3s was the last game the Lakers played, and Reaves shot nine triples in that one. He’s just not shy about letting them fly, and he’s knocking them down at a good clip.
However, the reason I absolutely love this play tonight — and am willing to deal with significant juice — is that LeBron James is doubtful for Los Angeles. That should mean that Reaves will have a higher usage rate than usual. And he’ll have it against a Jazz team that is allowing more 3s per game (14.6) than all but three teams in the NBA. This Utah team struggles to defend the perimeter, and that should play into the hands of a trigger-happy Reaves.
Bet: Reaves Over 2.5 Made 3s (-142)
Teasers/Parlays/Late Added Plays
PARLAY: Celtics ML vs. Cavaliers & Thunder ML vs. Spurs (-125 – 1.5 units) – I did a quick video on this over on VSiN’s IG, but I’m parlaying the two favorites in tonight’s TNT doubleheader. I wanted a little something on this set of games, but I didn’t feel comfortable laying the points in either spot. However, I’d be pretty surprised if Boston and Oklahoma City don’t add to the win column. The Cavaliers are 15-0. That’s great. They have been awesome on both sides of the floor, and Kenny Atkinson has everybody operating at a higher level than last year. But the core of this Cavaliers team is still the same. And I think it’s going to be hard for the Cavaliers to win with the double-big lineup. You’re also probably going to see the most inspired effort of the season from Boston, as the defending champions will want to prove that the Eastern Conference still runs through Beantown.
The second game is more straightforward. Victor Wembanyama is doubtful for the Spurs, making it hard for San Antonio to exploit the fact that Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren are both out for Oklahoma City. That leaves the Thunder with their massive advantage on the perimeter, on both ends of the floor. That will be overwhelming for the Spurs.
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2024-25 NBA Record: 61-53 (+8.67 units)
