Another week of NBA begins, and there are eight games on the slate for Monday. The Trail Blazers-Bucks game stands out, as Damian Lillard will be forced to sit out for the next few weeks. Another intriguing game on tonight’s slate is the Knicks-Thunder. Can Josh Giddey pull off another triple-double like he did in their first matchup a week ago? Let’s dive into the best NBA bets for Monday, Nov. 21.
Best NBA Bets Today: Game Tips & Betting Predictions
Trail Blazers-Bucks Bets
The Portland Trail Blazers kick-off a four-game road trip with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. The Blazers will face the Bucks without Lillard, their leading scorer, leaving Milwaukee as a double-digit favorite for tonight’s matchup. Both teams are coming off a loss in their previous outings. Tonight’s focus will be on Blazers guard Anfernee Simons. Simons is second on the team in scoring with 22.5 points per game, and his play tonight will be the determining factor in whether or not this game will be a blow out. One betting line that presents value is Simons assists. Look for him to go under 5.5 assists on Monday.
The Bucks are led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is averaging 29.5 points, 12 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. Milwaukee is 11-4 on the season and sits second in the Eastern Conference — 1.5 games behind Boston. The Bucks have the top-rated defense in the league. Giannis and Brook Lopez do an excellent job at defending the paint, allowing the second-fewest points in the paint to opponents. These efforts translate into fewer opponent assists, where Milwaukee is allowing the fewest assists per game to opponents (21.4). The Bucks also allow the fewest assists to shooting guards at four per game. Simons is averaging four assists per game on the season, right in line with the Bucks average allowed to shooting guards.
Without Lillard, the Bucks will be able to put Jrue Holiday on Simons. Portland managed to fight through the early part of the season when Lillard missed time with a calf injury, and now it must step up to the test once again with him set to miss a few more weeks with a new ailment. Knowing the Bucks’ strength in the paint, anticipate the Blazers trying to win this game from beyond the arc. This will fall on the shoulders of Simons, who is second in the league in 3-point attempts with 10.5 per game. With his assist total sitting at 5.5, there is plenty of value in taking the under. Simons has only finished with six assists or more in five of his 14 games thus far. The Blazers have surprised many around the league this season, but tonight’s matchup will not be easy without Lillard in the lineup.
Best NBA Bet for Blazers-Bucks: Anfernee Simons UNDER 5.5 Assists
Knicks-Thunder Bets
The New York Knicks visit Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder Monday night. The Knicks are coming off a disappointing loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Thunder hold a 7-9 record on the season and come into tonight’s matchup as a 2-point favorite. These two teams faced off just over a week ago in a thrilling 145-135 victory for the Thunder inside Madison Square Garden. The Knicks will try and get revenge tonight on the road in Oklahoma City. Giddey was the star in their previous matchup, posting his first triple-double of the season, with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Tonight, look to take his over 7.5 rebounds on Monday.
The Knicks are playing the final game of a five-game Western road trip, and they are coming off a bad loss. The loss dropped the Knicks to an 8-9 record on the season. After tonight, New York does not play again until Friday, which could mean this team is looking ahead. New York is led by Julius Randle, who is averaging 20.5 points per game. Offseason acquisition Jalen Brunson is paying off, as he is averaging 20.0 points per game and leading the team in assists with 6.5 per game. New York’s defense allows the most rebounds per game to opponents (57.0), and it is even worse when playing on the road (60.1). Both teams are top 5 in shot attempts per game, which presents plenty of opportunities for rebounds. New York has the fifth-worst field goal percentage as a team.
The Thunder have owned the Knicks in recent history, winning seven of the last eight contests. Oklahoma City lit up the Knicks for 145 points just eight days ago. Look for this dominance to continue, as the Thunder are back at home after a successful road trip and two days off to rest. Giddey leads the team in rebounds, averaging 7.1 per game. Aleksej Pokusevski, who is second on the team in rebounds, has been ruled out for Monday with an ankle injury, and his absence opens up 5.2 rebounds per game. Giddey is averaging 15.7% of the team’s total rebounds, and he should easily pull down nine rebounds in tonight’s matchup.
Best NBA Bet for Knicks-Thunder: Josh Giddey OVER 7.5 Rebounds
