NBA Best Bets for November 18: The Rockets Look to Keep Rolling in MIlwaukee
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Spread Astaire
- November 18, 2024
Top NBA Picks: Rockets +3.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
After an exciting sports weekend, the NBA is ready to keep the excitement going with an intriguing 8 game slate for Monday night action. Let’s take a look at the two best options to make winning picks, with the best NBA odds we could find.
Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
Monday, November 18, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Little Caesars Arena
Two teams that played yesterday will face off in Detroit, so the fatigue should not be a factor as it is when only one team is on the back-to-back. This makes for an interesting matchup between two tired teams when the Detroit Pistons take on the Chicago Bulls.
The Pistons are winners of 3 of their last four games including a 20-point win in Washington to finish their small road trip 2-1. Now they have an opportunity to make a statement against a local rival. In this game, the Detroit fans should be fired up.
Chicago’s Recent Struggles
The Chicago Bulls come in as losers of three of their last four, albeit they have played top teams in that time. They lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers twice, beat the New York Knicks, and then got pummeled 143-107 by the Houston Rockets yesterday. Losing to the 15-0 Cavaliers isn’t terrible, but the manner in which the Bulls lost to the Rockets is a cause for concern as they head to Detroit.
Chicago only shot 33.6% in the loss to Houston and gave up the most points ever in franchise history (143) to the Houston Rockets. Chicago has players who are excellent at offense yet their defense leaves a lot to be desired. The Bulls are 29th in the league at points against at 122.2.
Detroit’s Momentum
In this battle between two teams going in opposite directions, I will back the team that is moving in the right direction. Led by Cade Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons boast a plethora of young talent that is able to get it done on both sides of the floor. Jaden Ivey is an explosive, electric scorer in the vein of Russell Westbrook and De’Aaron Fox; he has elite athleticism in a league full of elite athletes.
Jalen Duren is also an excellent developing player. Duren provides the Pistons rim protection, and with Duren in the game anchoring the defense, the Detroit Pistons are much tougher to get scores against. Isaiah Stewart is also an important asset on their defense.
So while the Pistons might have some holes in the defense on the perimeter, their size and ability to help each other makes them tougher to score against.
I like Detroit to continue their good play and get the win at home. Our first play of the day is Detroit Pistons -3.5.
NBA Picks: Pistons -3.5 (-110) at BetOnline
Houston Rockets vs Milwaukee Bucks
Monday, November 18, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Fiserv Forum
After a slow first week of the season, the Houston Rockets have turned things around and are now 10-4, at third place in the Western Conference. They come into this game on a five-game winning streak, most recently winning in Chicago by 36 points.
Rockets Riding High
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has done a good job of establishing defensive values and fundamentals on this Rockets squad. He does have certain players who have defensive liabilities, but he ensures that they give the best effort, and does not base his rotations on defensive results, but does require consistent defensive effort.
On top of that, Houston has some really talented defenders as well. Players such as Tari Eason, Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson are all high-level defenders in the NBA. These players mean they can shut down a multitude of wing players on the opposition.
The Giannis Challenge
The question tonight is how they will fare against one of the most athletically gifted wings in the league, Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. None of these players have the size to match up with “the Greek Freak”. However, they could just focus on stopping the rest of the Bucks roster and letting Giannis get his when it comes to filling out the stat sheet.
For example, on Saturday, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, yet it was not enough as the Milwaukee Bucks fell 115-114 to the lowly Charlotte Hornets.
The Bucks are 4-9 this year, and although they do have one of the best players in the world in Antetokounmpo, the roster is old, it is poorly built, it lacks athleticism, and it is poorly coached.
Contrast that to the young style of the Houston Rockets and it’s tough to see how anyone would take Milwaukee as a favorite at this point. Although Milwaukee does have a slight rest advantage, Houston’s youthful athleticism will allow them to overcome this potential fatigue spot. We are going to take the team that is on the roll. Give me the Houston Rockets +3.5.
NBA Picks: Rockets +3.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
