Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – November 20th Edition

If you thought that adding Chris Paul to the Houston roster would be a mistake in terms of chemistry (like I did), then we’re both wrong so far, as the Rockets have rolled out to a 13-4 record. The Boston Celtics have now won 15 in a row, and so the hot play of Detroit and Toronto only have them 3 ½ games back of Boston in the East. Cleveland has won four in a row to shake off a slow start. Golden State is hanging with Houston atop the West, while Minnesota has rolled out to a 10-6 start. The Clippers aren’t looking so good in the post-Paulera, starting out 5-10 with an eight-game losing streak. Here are your online NBA betting picks for this week.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – November 20th Edition

After winning 15 in a row and beating the defending champs, the Celtics have taken over the No. 1 spot in the NBA Power Rankings. https://t.co/sl8CuZTzcj

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 20, 2017

Monday, November 20

Utah at Philadelphia (7:00pm ET, ROOT / CSN)

How about those Philadelphia 76ers? Yes, they lost at Golden State their last time out, but before that they had won seven of nine, including wins at Utah, the Clippers and the Lakers. Joel Embiid is emerging as a real force in this league — and he evaluates his fitness as only about 80% thanks to his extended rehab. Robert Covington’s extension gives the Sixers more consistency inside, and Ben Simmons may be the best rookie in the last two decades not named LeBron. Meanwhile, the Jazz are sitting at 7-10 and trying to figure out life after Gordon Hayward. NBA Betting Prediction: Philadelphia 108, Utah 101

Tuesday, November 21

Chicago at L.A. Lakers (10:30pm ET, NBA TV / WGN / TWCSN)

The Lakers have one of the most highly publicized rookies in recent years in Lonzo Ball. He became the youngest player ever to post a triple-double a couple weeks ago, at 20 years and 20 days, but he has been riding the pine for Luke Walton recently thanks to some hiccups in his play — and some inconsistencies in his shooting. The Lakers welcome a Chicago team that is just dreadful so far, winning just three of their first 14 and trying to put together team chemistry after trading Jimmy Butler for a pupu platter. NBA Betting Prediction: L.A. Lakers 110, Chicago 99

Wednesday, November 22

Brooklyn at Cleveland (7:00pm ET, YES, FSOH)

Brooklyn sits at 6-10 in the East but have dropped three of four. Their competition has been tough, though, as two of those losses have been to Golden State and Boston. They put up 42 in the third period against the Warriors in that loss, but they just couldn’t get the defensive stops when they needed them as Stephen Curry also scored 39. They face a Cleveland team that has lost Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert in addition to missing Isaiah Thomas still, but they have won four in a row against some of the league’s bottom-feeders (Dallas, New York, Charlotte and the Clippers), showing that LeBron can carry this team against a lot of the NBA’s lower-level competition. NBA Betting Prediction: Cleveland 105, Brooklyn 98

Friday, November 24

Detroit at Oklahoma City (8:00pm ET, FSDE+ / FSOK)

The Pistons are right there near the top of the East, racing out to an 11-5 record so far this season. In their win over Minnesota on Sunday, Andre Drummond continued his dominant play inside, posting 20 points and 16 boards. Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley each chipped in 18 points, as the Pistons continue to show that scoring balance that will help them in a physical Eastern Conference. They head down to Oklahoma City to take on a Thunder team that brought in Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to give Russell Westbrook some help, but the team is still coming up short in crunch time against the league’s best. They lost in San Antonio, 104-101, as George missed a late three. The Thunder have won three of four since dropping four in a row, so things look like they’re clicking. The Pistons just may be the Thunder’s first elite victims of the young season. NBA Betting Prediction: Oklahoma City 109, Detroit 102