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NBA Best Bets for November 25: Fade the Flailing Kings

Atlanta Hawks v Sacramento Kings
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Top NBA Pick: Thunder -4.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

Thunder -4.5 (-110)
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The NBA is back with a fun nine-game slate for Monday night action. Let’s choose the best games on the NBA odds board to make winning picks.

Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons

Monday, November 25, 2024 – 07:00 PM ET at Little Caesars Arena 

The Detroit Pistons are showing promise this season but are currently mired in a three-game losing streak. The Pistons’ most recent game was a 111-100 loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Before that, they lost in overtime to the Charlotte Hornets and last Monday they fell by 10 points to the Chicago Bulls. Still, after the disaster that was last season, the Pistons are much improved and the fan base is excited about this team’s improvement so far this season. The Pistons are built around Cade Cunningham, and he is continuing to make strides to become a top player in the league.

The Detroit Pistons are more balanced this year with some veteran leadership in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Tobias Harris. These veteran wings help Detroit close the closer games, and know what to do to avoid extended runs by opponents that can lead to blowouts. Detroit is a better mix of youthful talent and “veteran know-how” this season.

Raptors Look to Bounce Back

Detroit is facing another rebuilding team, the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors will come into this game on a rest disadvantage because they lost 122-108 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. This ended a two-game winning streak for Toronto in which they had beaten the Indiana Pacers and Minnesota Timberwolves at home. In spite of those two wins, Toronto only has four wins on the year and is one of the weaker teams in the league.

Some of Toronto’s troubles can be traced to injuries to their top two players, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. Barnes will be in the lineup tonight, but Quickley will be out until at least December 10th.

Barnes vs. Cunningham

Scotty Barnes’ return to the lineup has helped the team as he is a versatile two-way player. Barnes can defend the two through four effectively and will have his number called to match up against Detroit star Cade Cunningham. For Toronto to keep this game close, they’re going to need a big game from Barnes on both ends of the floor.

I’m taking the points in this game. I like Toronto to keep this one close.

The Raptors have been playing better since Barnes returned to the lineup and because of their poor play without Barnes, people are writing the Raptors off as the worst team in the East. However, they’re much better than their record suggests and they will prove that tonight. Our first play will be Toronto Raptors +5.

NBA Pick: Raptors +5 (-110) at BetOnline

Raptors +5 (-110)
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Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Sacramento Kings

Monday, November 25, 2024 – 10:00 PM ET at Golden 1 Center

Compared to their lofty expectations heading into the season, the Sacramento Kings are a disaster. With the addition of DeMar DeRozan, the Kings were expected to fight for a top-four playoff spot and to host a playoff series in the first round. The team is currently 8-9 and in 12th Place in the Western Conference.

The addition of DeRozan made no sense to this observer. Who watched the Sacramento Kings last year and said this team needs more scoring?? The Kings have a bunch of players who can fill up the bucket, but offer little to no resistance on the other end.

Weak perimeter defense can be made up through a strong rim protector, but Kings All-Star forward Damontas Sabonis is one of the weakest rim protectors in the league. The combination of weak perimeter play with no rim protection means opponents can score at will.

The latest team to take advantage of this fact was the lowly Brooklyn Nets. The 7-10 Nets got a win in Sacramento yesterday. Cam Thomas was the beneficiary of the Kings’ weak defense as he put up 34 points for the Nets in the win. The Nets can do something the Kings can’t…get stops! The Nets held the Kings to 15 points in the 4th, and the Kings offered no resistance to the Nets offense.

Though Challenge

This is foreshadowing for tonight’s game when the Kings will take on an even better defense, that of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder are one of the top defenses in the league and are proud of the effort they give on both ends of the floor. Even with wing defender Alex Caruso out of the lineup, the Thunder still have multiple players who can provide defensive resistance and jam up an opposing team’s offense.

The Thunder are coming off a 10-point win against the Portland Trail Blazers last Wednesday night. They will have a huge rest advantage coming into tonight’s game.

I like the Oklahoma City Thunder to cover the spread against the offensive-minded Kings. I’m going to take the team that puts in effort on both ends of the floor over the team that can’t be bothered with defense. Give me the Oklahoma City Thunder – 4.5.

NBA Pick: Thunder -4.5 (-110) at BetOnline

Thunder -4.5 (-110)
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*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.

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