Happy Wednesday, basketball fans! Nick Marro here, providing you with my best bets for today’s (11/16) NBA slate. I plan to provide these ‘Nick’s Picks’ articles about twice a week for the entirety of the 2022-2023 season. I don’t like playing heavy juice, so all of my picks will be priced at line of (-150) or better. Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter with any questions.
We turned in a 2-1 record last time out. I recognize that some of you may know me better for MLB picks. As the seasons change, so will be the sport that I target for coverage. Now that MLB is over, we continue to shift our focus to the NBA.
MLB Season Record: (57-51)
NBA Season Record: (5-4)
Overall 2022 Bets Record: (62-55)
Indiana Pacers @ Charlotte Hornets @ 7:00 EST
Nick’s Pick: Indiana Pacers ATS, +2.5 (-110)
The Hornets come into this match-up with one of the worst Home records in the NBA at a terrible 1-5. The Hornets rank 28th in Effective Field Goal percentage with a terrible 50.5% mark. They’re tied for 28th in Offensive Efficiency and they have only won one of their last nine games played.
The Pacers have won three of their last four games played. The Hornets will be without both Gordon Hayward and Dennis Smith Jr. in this match-up and while they should improve with the return of Lamelo Ball, Ball’s minutes have been monitored as he works his way back from injury. I like the Pacers to pull off a win on the Road here, so there is clear value in getting 2.5 points on the plus side as underdogs.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Milwaukee Bucks @ 8:00 EST
Nick’s Pick: Milwaukee Bucks, ATS, -3.5 (-110)
The Bucks come into this match-up with a 6-2 record Against the Spread at Home this season. They have a 9-4 record against the spread overall and the Cavaliers have a spotty 4-4 record Against the Spread on the Road. Giannis is off of the injury report for the first time in over a week. There’s a chance Jrue Holiday returns to the lineup and the Bucks sit at 7-1 overall at Home this season.
Even if they don’t get Holiday back, I like the Bucks here to cover this -3.5 point spread. They rank 1st in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency and they’ve been a nightmare match-up for Road teams so far in 2022-2023.
Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks @ 8:30 EST
Nick’s Pick: Houston Rockets ATS, +10 (-110)
Dallas will be on a back-to-back here, and they come into this matchup at an ugly 3-8-1 Against the Spread so far this season. Both Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie played 40+ minutes on Tuesday, there’s a chance we see them rested a bit more here so I recommend getting in on this play quickly.
The Rockets have been mostly terrible this season, but they do carry a respectable 6-7-1 record Against the Spread. Getting 10 points here knowing there’s a chance this line dramatically improves, I’m comfortable backing the underdog.
-Nick Marro
Twitter: @NickMarroDFS