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 20th. 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 20th
NBA Best Bets Today – November 20th
Philadelphia 76ers at Memphis Grizzlies – 8:00 pm ET
It seems like tonight will be the official beginning of the Big Three Era for Philadelphia. Tyrese Maxey is listed as questionable for the Sixers, and that’s a start considering he has missed the last few games with a hamstring injury. ESPN has also reported that he’ll either return tonight or Friday. If he does end up playing, Philadelphia should be able to get back in the win column. But if he doesn’t, I still like the team’s chances. That’s why I’m comfortable with the juice and going big in this spot.
While the Sixers seem like they are banged up, the Grizzlies are very banged up. Ja Morant’s return is on the horizon, but he won’t be out there tonight. It also seems like an ankle injury will keep Zach Edey out of this one, and the same might be true for Vince Williams. The Edey news is big. He’s one of the few players in the league with the size to body up Joel Embiid. Without him, Embiid should be able to feast around the basket. And there’s really nobody to test Embiid on the other end of the floor.
Speaking of Embiid, the big man said that he’s going to be much more aggressive in hunting his own shots moving forward. And that should be a good recipe for success for the Sixers. It’s nice that Embiid wanted to make his teammates comfortable when he returned from his knee injury, but the big man’s ability to dominate games offensively is a big part of the Sixers identity. He needs to set the tone with his game-wrecking play, and Paul George and the new Sixers role players can figure out how to play off that. It shouldn’t be the other way around.
As far as this game goes, I love the fact that Philadelphia is allowing just 109.4 points per 100 possessions per game with Embiid on the floor. That number would be good for a borderline top-five defense in the league. So, the Sixers should be able to slow down a Grizzlies team that is missing key offensive pieces. Memphis is just 21st in the league in offensive rating over the last five games, so the team is hurting right now.
Philadelphia just needs to figure out the offense. But that should be easier with less start-and-stop from the stars. Guys should only get more comfortable playing with one another from here, and there should be more purpose after the “meeting heard ’round the world.”
I just think we’re going to see an inspired effort from the Sixers. That’s usually what you get after these behind-the-scenes blow-ups. And if Maxey does end up playing, good luck to Memphis being the first team to have to defend Philadelphia with both him and rookie Jared McCain. I’m extremely bullish on the future of that backcourt.
Bet: Sixers ML (-137 – 2 units)
NBA Player Props Today – November 20th
Atlanta Hawks at Golden State Warriors – 10:00 pm ET
Andrew Wiggins is averaging only 15.2 points per game this season, and he’s still a player that comes and goes offensively. But Wiggins did score 22 points against a good Clippers defense last game, and he shot 7 for 12 from the floor and 2 for 4 from 3 in that one. So, he should be rather confident entering this meeting with the Hawks. And you really can’t ask for a better matchup than this. Atlanta is a bottom-10 team in defensive rating (115.6) this season, and the team also happens to play at the third-fastest pace in basketball. So, this team likes to get up and down the floor, but it really can’t defend. That should be a dream for Wiggins. It means extra possessions — especially with the Warriors being fifth in pace — and also transition opportunities.
It’s also very likely that Dyson Daniels, the Darrelle Revis of this Hawks defense, sticks Steph Curry in this one. And honestly, there isn’t a single other defender in the Atlanta lineup that makes for a daunting matchup. So, Wiggins should be able to create some shots for himself, in addition to the ones that are spoon fed to him.
Bet: Wiggins Over 16.5 Points (-110 – 1.5 units)
Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Clippers – 10:30 pm ET
Franz Wagner is playing like an All-Star this season — and possibly even an All-NBA performer. He’s averaging 22.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game, and he has been perfectly fine operating as the top offensive option for a Magic team that is without Paolo Banchero. However, it’s easy to forget that Wagner is also an awesome defensive player. And that’s why it’s hard to believe that you can get +140 odds on him to record two steals against the Clippers tonight. Wagner has had at least two steals in seven of the 15 games that Orlando has played this season, and there’s no reason he can’t do it again here. The Clippers are averaging 16.8 turnovers per game this year, and that’s the fourth-highest mark in the NBA. They also have the second-highest turnover rate (17.0%), and opponents are averaging a league-high 10.3 steals per game against them.
Bet: Wagner Over 1.5 Steals (+140)
Teasers/Parlays/Late Added Plays
Nothing yet. However, I am monitoring a lot. So check out the Pro Picks page, or come back to this article at around 6:30 pm ET. I’m specifically interested in either Brandon Boston Jr. 3s or Points + Assists. I also want to back Orlando on the moneyline, but I’m hoping for a -145 price.
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2024-25 NBA Record: 62-55 (+6.70 units)
