NBA Thursday Night Predictions, Odds & NBA Picks for 11-02-2023

NBA Best Bet Today #1: ⭐ Philadelphia 76ers -8.0 (-110) at BetMGM

The 76ers sent James Harden to the LA Clippers on Tuesday, and four guys who have arrived in exchange are all questionable to play. Without Harden, the Sixers went 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS in Week 1, and Tyrese Maxey, who was named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week, averaged 30.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists through 38.7 minutes on the floor. If you like betting the NBA player props, keep your eyes on Maxey this season. 

One of those two wins came in Toronto last Saturday. Maxey and Joel Embiid each scored 34 points, and the 76ers made 50.0% of their field goals (10-for-28 from deep). The Raptors were outscored 50-34 in the paint and failed to cover a 4.5-point spread despite going 17-for-32 from downtown. Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, but Pascal Siakam had just 11 points on 3-for-8 shooting from the field. 

The Raptors (2-3; 3-2 ATS) snapped a three-game skid last night. They trounced the Milwaukee Bucks 130-111 at home, and the Raptors could easily struggle with fatigue on the second day of a back-to-back away from home. We’ll start the NBA predictions for Thursday night with the 76ers -8.0 (-110) at BetMGM, as Philadelphia aims for its fifth straight victory over Toronto. The Sixers are 3-1 ATS in their previous four games versus the Raptors.  

Betting Pick: Philadelphia 76ers -8.0 (-110) at BetMGM

NBA Best Bet Today #2: ⭐ New Orleans Pelicans -7.5 (-110) at Caesars

It’s an interesting day for the NBA predictions, as four teams will play on the back end of a back-to-back set, including Detroit and New Orleans. The Pistons (2-3; 3-2 ATS) suffered a 110-101 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, whereas the Pelicans (3-1; 3-1 ATS) outlasted the Oklahoma City Thunder 110-106 as 3.5-point road underdogs. 

The Pels erased a 22-point deficit last night and topped OKC despite shooting just 39.2% from the field. New Orleans has the eighth-best defensive rating in the league (105.6), and its offense can only play better after tallying 103.6 points per 100 possessions through the previous four games (29^th in the league). We like New Orleans in this spot, so the Pelicans -7.5 (-110) at Caesars is our next NBA pick for Thursday night. 

The Pelicans arguably have more depth than the Pistons which could be a decisive factor on the back end of a back-to-back for either team. New Orleans is undefeated in five straight games against Detroit and has covered in three of its previous four dates with the Pistons. Detroit has dropped two straight games by more than seven points, and it’s hard to trust this young Pistons team away from home. 

Betting Pick: New Orleans Pelicans -7.5 (-110) at Caesars

NBA Best Bet Today #3: ⭐Under 223.0 Points (-110) at FanDuel

According to NBA odds at FanDuel, the Magic (2-2; 3-1 ATS) head to Salt Lake City as slight 1.5-point underdogs with a total of 223.0 points. They’ve lost two straight games in LA and will try to finish a four-game road trip on a high note. Orlando kept it close against the Lakers 106-103 last Monday but fell apart against the Clippers 118-102 on the second day of a back-to-back. 

The Magic boast the fourth-best defensive rating in the NBA (103.8) while playing at the fourth-slowest pace (98.1 possessions per 48 minutes). The Jazz (2-3; 3-2 ATS), who average 99.0 possessions per 48 minutes (9^th), play without rest tonight, so we are taking Under 223.0 Points (-110) at FanDuel for the Magic vs. Jazz pick. Last night, Utah routed Memphis 133-109 on the road, and the Magic will look to slow things down when they take on the Jazz. 

Three of the last four meetings between Orlando and Utah have gone under and produced fewer than 223 points in total. The Jazz have dominated the Magic over the last few years, going 8-1 SU and 7-2 ATS in their last nine encounters. 

Betting Pick: Under 223.0 Points (-110) at FanDuel

NBA Best Bet Today #4: ⭐Phoenix Suns -7.0 (-110) at bet365

Last Tuesday, I was hoping for a perfect night of NBA picks, but the Suns ruined it with a 115-114 home loss to the Spurs. Playing as a 7-point fave, Phoenix led by as many as 20 points and entered the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead, but it wasn’t enough. The Suns fell to 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS on the season, while the Spurs improved to 2-2 SU and ATS. 

Bradley Beal and Devin Booker are both out indefinitely, but the Suns have to find a way to beat teams like San Antonio even with their star guards on the sidelines. Although covering a 7-point spread might be a tricky task, it’s hard to back the Spurs, who were trailing the Suns by double digits for most of their previous date. Hereof, we are taking the Suns -7.0 (-110) at bet365 for our final NBA pick on this small card. 

The Suns need to take better care of the ball after committing 19 turnovers last Tuesday. They are 4-0 ATS in their last four regular-season games when coming off a straight-up loss, so we’ll trust the injury-depleted Suns to bounce back in a favorable matchup against the Spurs, who are 0-4 ATS in their last four tilts when coming off a SU win. 

Betting Pick: Phoenix Suns -7.0 (-110) at bet365

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