The NBA has an 11-game slate on Friday, and two matchups that stand out the most are the Magic-Bulls and Hornets-Cavaliers. The Bulls will look to take advantage of their matchup at home against the injured Magic, while the Cavaliers are hoping to get back in the win column against a LaMelo Ball-less Hornets squad. Let’s dive into the best NBA bets for Friday, Nov. 18.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Magic-Bulls Bets
The Orlando Magic face off with the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Friday after dropping six road games in a row. Chicago has not started the season out strong, holding a 6-9 record and losing five of its last six games. Tonight is a perfect spot to get back in the win column against a hobbled Magic roster. Orlando comes into this one after falling to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 126-108. If it is unable to find a way to make stops against the Bulls, there could be a similar result on Friday.
The Magic have not been dealt a good hand, with injuries early on this season. Their rookie sensation, Paolo Banchero, is expected to be sidelined for another week while he nurses a sprained ankle. Fortunately for Orlando, Gary Harris and Wendell Carter Jr. are both expected in the lineup on Friday. Harris has yet to make an appearance this season, so tonight will be his season debut. Cole Anthony remains out with an oblique injury. The absences of Banchero and Anthony take a hit on this Magic offense, as they make up more than 35% of the teams scoring. Orlando is averaging 109.9 points per game on 47.5% shooting from the floor. It has struggled to consistently knock down jumpers from beyond the arc shooting just 33.6% from deep as a team – 24th in the NBA.
The Bulls are scoring 110.7 points per game on 46.8% shooting from the field. DeMar DeRozan leads the team in scoring, with 24.1 points per game. One of Chicago’s strengths has been their ability to get to the free-throw line, shooting 84% as a team from the charity stripe, which ranks third. The Bulls have struggled to defend teams on the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 38.3% from deep. Luckily, the Magic do not attempt a ton of 3’s, ranking 27th in the league in attempts with 30.3 per game.
Chicago is playing better at home than on the road to start the year. The Magic are still going through the growing pains of a young team and have yet to cover on the road, going 0-5-1 against the spread with an average margin of -9.2 points. Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner will be in for a challenge trying to stop DeRozan and Zach LaVine. The Magic are an auto fade without Banchero in the lineup. Take the points with the Bulls and watch for them to cruise to victory on Friday.
Best NBA Bet for Magic-Bulls: Bulls -8.5
Hornets-Cavaliers Bets
The Charlotte Hornets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on Friday. The Hornets have dropped nine of their last 10 games, moving their record to 4-12 on the season. Charlotte won 112-105 against Orlando on Monday, but this did not come without bad news. Ball re-injured his ankle in the final minutes on Monday, forcing him to sit out once again tonight. Cleveland begins a four-game home stand and will look to take advantage of the opportunity by snapping a five-game losing streak.
The Hornets are in a rut, dropping 10 of their last 11 games as they have tried to play without Ball and Terry Rozier. Offensively, the Hornets have struggled without Ball running the show. They are averaging 108.2 points per game this season without him in the lineup. They rank 27th in field goal percentage and 26th in 3-point shooting percentage. In addition to the absence of Ball, the Hornets will be without Gordon Hayward (shoulder), Cody Martin (knee) and Dennis Smith Jr. (ankle). Charlotte is averaging 109.2 points on 44.8% shooting and allowing 114.8 points to opponents.
The Cavaliers started the season as one of the hottest teams but have come back down to earth after losing five straight games heading into tonight’s matchup. Cleveland has also been dealing with injuries to key starters to begin the season. Jarrett Allen is questionable after missing the last two games due to an illness. Keep an eye on his status leading up to tip-off. Aside from Allen, Dean Wade is the only other Cavalier with an injury designation. He is listed as doubtful, dealing with a knee injury. Cleveland is averaging 114.7 points on 47% shooting and allowing 109.2 points to opponents.
Tonight’s game is the perfect opportunity for the Cavaliers to get right, with the Hornets coming into town. Cleveland’s defense ranks sixth on the year but has fallen off, ranking 30th over the last five games. Look for coach J.B. Bickerstaff to turn their defensive efforts around in an easier matchup against struggling Charlotte offense without Ball and Hayward in this matchup. The Cavaliers love to play at a slower pace, so expect them to control the tempo in this one. Both teams are averaging around 223 combined points per game this season. The Hornets will put up fewer points than average, and this game should end in the 215- to 219-point range. Have confidence in taking the under in tonight’s matchup.
Best NBA Bet for Hornets-Cavaliers: Game Total UNDER 221 Points
