The 2024-25 NBA season is underway. Make sure you check out the fantastic work of Jonathan Von Tobel, who will be writing NBA deep-dive 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 Thursday, November 21st. 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 21st
NBA Best Bets Today – November 21st
Minnesota Timberwolves at Toronto Raptors – 7:30 pm ET
It seems like there’s a real chance Scottie Barnes will play tonight. If he does, I actually think Toronto is live to win this game outright. But even if he’s not out there, I’m comfortable grabbing the 7.5 and trusting in the Raptors to keep this close. Last season, Minnesota was unflappable on the road, as the team was 26-15 and had a net rating of +4.3 when playing away from home. However, this season, the Timberwolves are 3-4 and have a net rating of -2.3 on the road. That’s interesting in this specific matchup, as the Raptors are 3-4 with a net rating of -2.8 at home. There’s not a huge difference there.
Toronto also happens to be coming off two full days of rest, so Minnesota’s three full days of rest isn’t as big of an advantage here as it would be normally. On top of that, while the Raptors have Barnes questionable and both Immanuel Quickley and Kelly Olynyk out, the Timberwolves have Mike Conley and Donte DiVincenzo listed as questionable tonight. Would it really surprise you if this ended up being a game in which the team chooses to play it safe with one — or both — of those guys?
I’m also just not as down on the Raptors as others are. While they are 3-12 on the season, they are 10-5 against the spread. They’re also 5-2 ATS at home, and all three of their straight-up wins have come in Toronto. They also have had some bad luck late in games, as they are 1-6 in crunch-time situations. So, don’t make the mistake of treating the Raptors like the Jazz and Wizards. They’re a competitive team.
Bet: Raptors +7.5 (-105 – 1.5 units)
NBA Player Props Today – November 21st
Detroit Pistons at Charlotte Hornets – 7:00 pm ET
Miles Bridges is averaging 22.5 combined points and rebounds per game this season, and that’s exactly where his points and rebounds prop sits tonight. However, I’m going Over on the number and I’m not thinking twice about it. Bridges is coming off a game in which he had 21 points and three boards against the Nets, marking the fourth consecutive game in which he went Over tonight’s number. One of those games happened to be a 27-point, seven-rebound performance against this very Pistons squad. And I don’t see any reason he can’t do it again here. Detroit has been a much-improved bunch defensively this year, but the team is weakest on the wing. Bridges will be covered by either Tim Hardaway Jr. or Tobias Harris, and both of those matchups are very exploitable. So, when the starters are on the floor for both of these teams, Bridges should cook. The best defensive options that Detroit has for him come off the bench, and that’s really not something to worry about.
Bet: Bridges Over 22.5 Points + Rebounds (-125)
Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs – 8:00 pm ET
Chris Paul isn’t getting enough love for his play this season. The 39-year-old is averaging 10.7 points, 8.5 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game this season, and he’s shooting 46.7% from the floor and 39.7% from deep. Paul wanted to use this season to prove that he is still a starting-caliber player in this league, and he has done just that in the early portion of the year. Paul has also been the steadying presence that San Antonio needed in late-game scenarios, and he has the Spurs looking feisty in the hunt for a Play-In Tournament spot. Of course, none of that is relevant when it comes to NBA player props tonight. I just wanted to give the “Point God” his due. But I do love Paul to go Over 24.5 combined points, rebounds and assists against the Jazz.
With Victor Wembanyama out against the Thunder last game, Paul had 14 points, 11 assists and five rebounds in an upset win. Well, Wembanyama will be out again for the Spurs, so San Antonio will once again be asking for more out of Paul. And Paul has delivered a big performance against the Jazz already this season, as he had 19 points, 10 dimes and seven boards in a 106-88 win over Utah on Halloween.
This is just a dream matchup for Paul at this stage in his career. Utah is allowing more assists per game than all but three teams in the NBA this season, so there will be passes to be made for one of the greatest passers in the history of the sport. The Jazz are also giving up more 3s per game than all but four teams in the league, so Paul should have some opportunities to knock down some triples.
Lastly, there isn’t a team in the league with weaker perimeter defenders than Utah. So, Paul shouldn’t face too much pressure in this one. Collin Sexton will probably clap and get in his face, but that’s more bark than bite.
Bet: Paul Over 24.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-120 – 1.5 units)
Teasers/Parlays/Late Added Plays
Franz Wagner Over 1.5 Made 3s (-113) vs. Lakers
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2024-25 NBA Record: 64-56 (+6.86 units)
