Fantasy Alarm NBA Best Bets was ridiculously close to the sweep last night. The Los Angeles Lakers gave us a panic by going down by 15 points before halftime. However, Luka Doncic gutted out a 44-point performance for the glory and pride of an NBA Cup game. The +146 odd best bet of the Chicago Bulls moneyline was the easiest win of the night. They destroyed the New York Knicks, and the Bulls are a team to monitor for bets going forward.

The bad news is the Philadelphia 76ers lost by one point, instead of winning by the one-point spread. In the last second of the game Joel Embiid attempted a deep three, but it was not successful. The Denver Nuggets looked as if they were cruising to an easy win, but nay. The referees are ramping up for the ear piece (direct communication) to review in New York. Nikola Jokic was bear hugged with five seconds remaining in the game, but apparently that is an acceptable form of a jump ball. It wasn’t all the referee’s fault, Denver played sloppy at the end. The Nuggets never put the Portland Trail Blazers away.

In all seriousness, if a bettor notices the referees calling it obviously more tilted for one team in the final three to four minutes of a game. CASH OUT! Yes, we all collectively bet on SPORTS, but the outside control to impact a game is a paradigm shift in how the game is officiated. One that we as a betting community must monitor. The NBA (like the MLB, NFL, and other sports) is legally defined as entertainment. Which means it can be fixed, and there are several examples of outside forces, referees, and players doing what they can to “fix a narrative”.

Back to the column. Fantasy Alarm flipped another profitable day. Even with two teams losing their best bet, EV and plus odd wagers can take a bankroll a long way.

 

 

 

NBA Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 11/1

Orlando Magic vs Washington Wizards Prediction: Saturday 11/1

Game Time: 7:00 PM ET | TV: NBA League Pass | Location: Capital One Arena | Odds: ORL -9.5 | O/U 235.5

Prediction: Bilal Coulibaly Over 4.5 Rebounds

(+100 Draftkings Sportsbook) 2.0U

The Washington Wizards got a boost when Bilal Coulibaly returned to action. He played his first game of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder two days ago. He was impactful, playing 21 minutes, scoring 16 points, dishing out four assists, and earning eight rebounds. The rebounds are the focus of this double unit best bet.

First and foremost, the young Frenchman is a great basketball player. Second, he is a 6’ 7” guard, and there aren’t too many of those in the Association. Last year, Coulibaly earned 5.0 rebounds per game and played 59 games. His rebounding average from last year is probably what the sportsbooks are basing his line on, due to so little data from this season. We are taking advantage of their hesitance.

Coulibaly earned 8.0 rebounds against the Thunder who have two great rebounders. Today, he plays the Orlando Magic who are a middle-of-the-road rebounding team. They allow 43.2 rebounds per game and Colibaly has a significant height advantage over the Magic’s back court. Look for him to play with energy and contribute with both points and rebounds. 

 

 

 

Houston Rockets vs Boston Celtics: Saturday 11/1

Game Time: 8:00 PM ET | TV: NBA League Pass | Location: TD Garden | Odds: HOU -5.5  | O/U: 225.5

Prediction: HOU -6.5

(+100 FanDuel Sportsbook)

The Houston Rockets take their talents to TD Garden to play the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were in a battle against the Philadelphia 76ers last night. They won 109-108, leading from beginning to end, but were never able to rest. They were outscored in both the third and fourth quarters, and had to defend an impressive comeback attempt. They held their breath as Joel Embiid attempted a game winning field goal as time expired.

The Rockets come from the Western Conference, where offense is the game. Houston averages 127.8 points per game, Boston averages 113.3. Houston is well rested and Boston played on the road in a competitive NBA Cup game yesterday. Houston has size advantage and should control the defensive glass as well. Tease the spread up one point to -6.5 for even odds, and put a unit on Houston to cover. 

 

 

 

NBA Prop Bets Today, 11/1

Ryan Rollins Over 14.5 Points

(-106 FanDuel Sportsbook)

Ryan Rollins has been the surprise of the season. Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has a track record of getting the best out of his back court. Rollins is the latest example of that, and could be the key piece to getting both the Bucks and Rivers another championship.

As for today, Rollins and the Bucks host the Sacramento Kings. The Kings have allowed 116.8 points per game this season, and feature a good (but old) back court. Rollins has an offensive mismatch over the Kings' illustrious back court. Be it threes, mid-range, or taking it to the rim. His points have increased in every game this week, but scoring over 32 points is not needed. Just his average of 18.6 per game. Put a unit on Rollins to score 18 or more points without Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Naji Marshall Under 9.5 Points

(-132 FanDuel Sportsbook)

Naji Marshall is a great ball handler, and averaged a career best 13.2 points per game in his first season with the Dallas Mavericks. Anthony Davis is out for this game, and Marshall could see an increase in minutes. He is averaging 23.6 minutes per game this season, but only 6.8 points per game.

The Mavericks lost their best offensive player, but Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, Max Christie and D’Angelo Russell average over ten points per game. Marshall plays off the ball, and is usually forced to create his own field goals. Dallas averages the least amount of points per game in the Association (107.8), and the Detroit Pistons allow eighth-fewest points per game (114.2). The data indicates the under is the best bet.

Dallas versus Detroit is the only nationally televised game. Expect great defense from the Pistons, and a lack of scoring from the Mavericks. Marshall has scored over nine points just once this season. Put a unit on him to score less than 10 points today.

 

 

 

Get $300 in Bonus Bets Today At FanDuel Sportsbook When You Sign Up

Ready to bet the board? FanDuel Sportsbook is offering new users up to $300 in bonus bets after a winning $5 wager—perfect for tailing these picks. Sign up now, deposit $10+, and bet on any NBA market. If it hits, unlock the bonus for more action. Restrictions apply; 21+ in eligible states. Gamble responsibly—call 1-800-GAMBLER if needed. Let's make November profitable!

Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy G. -
*All bets placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise.