Happy Friday everyone! It is the beginning of the weekend, it is payday for several people, and the NBA has seven games going tonight. These are seven special games too, tonight is the first set of matches in the ‘play-in tournament’. This is a new idea the NBA is utilizing to ensure competitive games in the regular season, and bring a new level of excitement to the game. Similar to the FIFA World Cup, tonight is the first set of group games. You must advance from the group stage to play in the in season tournament December fourth through ninth. Each player on the in-season tournament champions gets $500,000 and a trophy, some would say that is motivation. There are some great matchups tonight with the New York Knicks traveling to the Milwaukee Bucks in a match of inconsistent play. The Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers, and Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets. Today’s Fantasy Alarm best bets include a teased spread, a proposition on a big man, and a fun, big pay off, same game parlay on ESPN’s game of the night. 

 

NBA Best Bets & Player Props November 3

NBA Bet of the Night

TEASED STRAIGHT BET: Golden State Warriors -2.5 -165 MGM

The Golden State Warriors have a new energy about them, and are playing familiar basketball with a 4-1 record. Clutch shots, great passing, and a healthy Draymond Green have created a great rhythm. The spread on MGM Sportsbook is currently -5.5 with a moneyline of -225, not too bad if you prefer the moneyline. Draymond Green has publicly stated how happy everyone is to go to ‘work’ together, and declared that the Warriors are going to win the in season tournament. There are likely several other teams with the same thought, but probably not all of them. Some may have injuries and roster management issues, others will be seeking trades for a championship run, and some may not care much at all. Although the Warriors should win this game, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a young starting five, that when scoring can keep pace with the best of any team… even the ‘Splash Brothers’. The Warriors are healthy, have the top point scorer, Steph Curry, and fourth leader in assist, Chris Paul. Put a unit on the Warriors to win by 2.5 or more… After all that’s only one shot for Steph.

NBA Player Prop of the Night

Deandre Ayton OVER 10.5 Rebounds -135 MGM

DeAndre Ayton is personally benefiting from the trade to the Portland Trail Blazers. He has expressed how happy he is to be with Portland, where “...he feels wanted, and with an organization that wants him to succeed.” That is a powerful statement, and Ayton has delivered with powerful performances. D. Ayton is the number one rebounder in the NBA. He has 70 rebounds in five games. Even more impressive is that he has done that in 140 minutes of playing, that is a rebound every two minutes! He gives great effort when on the floor and is once again a force around the rim. The Memphis Grizzlies come into Portland without a true center. Memphis has been a team to target for rebounds against this season, and with the Association's leading rebounder squared against them… It should be an easy cover. 
*Pro Tip his double-double line is -135 too, if you prefer to not have the hook on the rebound line, AND believe he gets 10 points you can go this route as well. 

NBA Parlay of the Night

3 Leg - Luka Doncic AND Nikola Jokic to have a triple-double, DEN moneyline +1500 DK 0.5 Unit

Ball Arena is going to be rockin’ tonight, as the Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets is the featured game on ESPN. This match features two of the best teams in the Western Conference, and arguably the two best players on the planet. Former Yugoslavia is filled with some of the best basketball players in the world. Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are the best of the region and can carry Serbia and Slovenia, low populated countries, to an Olympic medal. For tonight’s purpose they need only accomplish the most difficult feat in the NBA… a triple double. Luckily these two make it look as simple as a layup. There have been a grand total of five triple doubles in the NBA this season… Luka and Jokic have four of them. Nikola has 123 thus far, and Luka Doncic has 53…They could be alongside Russell Westbrook as the best to ever record one of the most difficult statistics across all sports. It is the first group stage game for both teams as well. Denver is coming off an embarrassing loss at Minnesota, and Dallas has not played a team to the level of Denver this season. Denver is a difficult place for opposing teams to win at, and the Nuggets have rarely lost back to back games in 2023, only five times in a calendar year. Cheer on the two stars of their team to achieve the triple-double and for Denver to win the game.

Remember to check out Fantasy Alarm for all your NBA Fantasy needs as well. Basketball stats, rankings, DFS picks, tools to help your lineups, and of course the NBA DFS show with Jon and James.

 

Thank you for reading.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky - Iggy

*All Bets to be placed at 1 unit unless specified otherwise