NBA Multi bet of the Weekend| November 3-5

This weekend in the NBA brings an intriguing slate of games, with many of the championship favourites set to play on Saturday and a couple of teams badly in need of a win also looking to right the ship after some early season woes. Saturday Australia time will see just under half the league’s teams play across seven games, so let’s jump in and take a look at three of the best bets and a potential multi from that action. 

November 4, 11.10am AEDT, United Center 

Let’s kick things off with a longer odds player prop. Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas is the target here, a man who first put his stamp on the league late last season with an extraordinary string of three consecutive 40+-point games. This guy can get hot like few other players in the world, and the early signs are that he’ll be given plenty more opportunity to sizzle in season 2023-24. He started this season with three 30-point games in a row – 36, 30 and 33 – before regressing to a 13-pointer in the Nets’ fourth of the season. Importantly, however, even in that last game he played 34 minutes and took 19 shots – the problem was that he missed 15 of those. Obviously going 4-19 isn’t ideal, but what would be of greater concern for his capacity to score would be if he seemed likely to take on a diminished role once he cools down – which he doesn’t. Thomas should still take plenty of shots in a lot of minutes this game, and I like Cam Thomas to score 30+ points at $4.20 with PlayUp. The reason for going for this relatively high number is simply that he can be an all or nothing type of player – there’s every chance he once again only scores 10 or 15 points, but if he does get going then 30 is well and truly on the cards at good odds.  

November 4, 1.10pm AEDT, Ball Arena 

The Nuggets endured their first loss of the season in their last outing, being comprehensively beaten by the Timberwolves in an uncharacteristically bad performance. Prior to that, however, they’d looked every bit the reigning champions, winning their first four games. There’s no reason they won’t be able to this season replicate what they did last season, and importantly, that included a dominant home record. They went 34-7 at Ball Arena in 2022-23 and were even better during the playoffs, and they’ve managed two wins from two games at home so far this season. Of course, who they’re playing matters a lot and the Mavericks have got off to a great start to the season with four consecutive wins, but the fact remains that they’re a very top heavy team. Luka Doncic is a freak and he alone will lead this team to plenty of victories, and his backcourt partner in Kyrie Irving is pretty handy too, but Irving is questionable for this game after having missed the past two. Even if he plays, the Nuggets are a much more well-rounded team, and on a home floor on which they’re rarely challenged they can cover the line of -6.5 at $1.89 with GetSetBet.

November 4, 10.10am AEDT, Gainbridge Fieldhouse 

This one is a little speculative, but it’s worth the risk. The Cavaliers are a much better team than the Pacers; they’re coming off a 51-win season and with a young team should be able to continue to develop this season, while the Pacers still have a way to go before they’re competing anywhere near the pointy end of the season. The Cavs haven’t started the season the way they’d want to with three losses in five games, but they’ve been hamstrung by injuries to Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, arguably their three most important players. Mitchell is now back, while Garland and Allen are both questionable for this game, with Allen appearing more likely than not to play. If they all suit up, the Cavs will be a much heavier favourite than they currently are, making this 3.5-point line very good value. But even if they don’t, the Cavs, with Mitchell back leading the charge, have a good chance of covering the line, particularly given the Pacers’ performance in their last game – in which they conceded 155 points to Boston. I’m happy to take the Cavaliers -3.5 @ $1.90 with BoomBet, hoping that they have at least one of Allen and Garland back but confident they can cover even if they don’t.