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 Tuesday, November 26th. 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 26th
NBA Best Bets Today – November 26th
Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat – 7:30 pm ET
The Bucks are hot right now. Milwaukee has won six of its last seven games, and team is riding a four-game winning streak into tonight’s meeting with Miami. However, all six of those games were won at Fiserv Forum. Role players tend to be most comfortable when playing at home, so it’ll be interesting to see how they look in a road game against a solid defensive team. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez can be trusted to produce anywhere, but the Heat will have some things to throw at that trio. And at some point, Milwaukee will need consistent help from another source. I’m not sure the Bucks will get it.
I’m also not very sold on Milwaukee’s defense. The Bucks have climbed to 11th in the NBA in adjusted defensive rating (111.6), but this is still a group that has its issues on the perimeter. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a game in which Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier get going for Miami. And if Bam Adebayo can knock down a few corner 3s and pull Lopez away from the basket, it’ll be open season for the Heat when it comes to getting shots at the rim.
Milwaukee is also just 8-21 straight-up on the road under Doc Rivers, and that includes a 1-14 record when the Bucks are road underdogs. Meanwhile, the Heat are 435-163 SU as home favorites under Erik Spoelstra. That includes a 53-23 record over the last three seasons.
Bet: Heat ML (-130)
Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns – 10:00 pm ET
The Suns haven’t played since November 20th. That could mean that they’ll be a little rusty when this game tips. However, it also means that Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are back in action. Let’s not forget that this is a Suns team that started the season 8-1 and looked outstanding on both ends of the floor — at least late in games. Sure, Phoenix has been struggling without the two stars, but that doesn’t really matter anymore. The Suns need to be treated like the team they were to start the year, especially with this being a big game for them in regards to the NBA Cup.
Los Angeles is currently 2-0 with a point differential of +11 in West: Group B, and Phoenix is 1-1 with a differential of -8. That said, the Suns can really use a win in this game, and they can honestly use a win by a decent margin. Considering the latter, I don’t blame anybody for laying the points here. However, I’m just going to take Phoenix on the moneyline, as the team does tend to play with its food a bit.
It’s just hard to ignore that the Lakers are coming off two miserable losses in a row. First, Los Angeles let a late lead slip against an Orlando team that was without Paolo Banchero. Then, the Lakers got absolutely obliterated by a Nuggets team that is no longer the juggernaut it once was.
For as good as JJ Redick has been about bringing structure and creativity to the Lakers offense, the team is just 27th in the league in adjusted defensive rating (115.6). And if Los Angeles isn’t more buttoned up defensively, winning this game at the Footprint Center will be very difficult.
The Suns are also 5-3 SU when playing at home this season, while the Lakers are 3-4 SU on the road. Phoenix also hasn’t lost as a home favorite under Mike Budenholzer yet.
Bet: Suns ML (-130 – 2 units)
NBA Player Props Today – November 26th
Chicago Bulls at Washington Wizards – 7:00 pm ET
The only player prop I’m taking tonight is Josh Giddey to knock down two or more triples against the Wizards, and I’m only risking a half-unit on it. Giddey is shooting only 28.6% from 3 in November, but he has taken at least four 3s in nine of the 13 games he has played this month. So, even though he hasn’t been making shots, he hasn’t allowed it to impact his volume. And Giddey also happens to be coming off a game in which he went 2 for 4 from deep against the Grizzlies, so he might be feeling somewhat confident entering this one.
The reality is that Washington is allowing more 3s per game (14.3) than all but five teams this year. And opponents are shooting 36.9% from deep against the Wizards. This team does not defend the perimeter very well, meaning Giddey should get even better looks than usual. And he usually gets good ones, as teams flat out ignore him in the corners.
There’s just a very good chance that Giddey ends up taking five or six 3s tonight. If he does, I feel pretty good about him burying two.
Bet: Giddey Over 1.5 Made 3s (+185 – 0.5 units)
Teasers/Parlays/Late Added Plays
Rockets vs. Timberwolves Under 220 (-108)
Jazz +3 (-110) vs. Spurs
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2024-25 NBA Record: 77-67 (+6.65 units)
