Our NBA predictions for Monday, Nov. 2, highlight the best bets from 11 game previews, including Cavaliers -3.5, Heat moneyline, and Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points.
Explore each analyst's case below and find more expert analysis in our free NBA picks.
NBA top picks at a glance (Monday, Nov. 2)
| Matchup & time | Top pick & analyst |
|---|---|
| Thunder vs. Cavaliers 7 p.m. ET |
Cavaliers -3.5 Zak Hanshew |
| Hawks vs. Pacers 7:30 p.m. ET |
Hawks -5.5 Shawn Krest |
| Nets vs. Knicks 7:30 p.m. ET |
Nets +14.5 Ed Scimia |
| Wizards vs. Magic 7:30 p.m. ET |
Wizards +2.5 Quinn Allen |
| Pistons vs. Hornets 7:30 p.m. ET |
Pistons -4.5 Quinn Allen |
| Bulls vs. 76ers 7:30 p.m. ET |
76ers -10.5 Juan Carlos Blanco |
| Bucks vs. Timberwolves 8 p.m. ET |
Over 233.5 Tom Oldfield |
| Celtics vs. Rockets 8:30 p.m. ET |
Rockets -4.5 Tom Oldfield |
| Jazz vs. Spurs 8:30 p.m. ET |
Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points Quinn Allen |
| Heat vs. Lakers 10 p.m. ET |
Heat moneyline Chris Walder |
| Raptors vs. Clippers 10 p.m. ET |
Raptors -5.5 Chris Walder |
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Thunder vs Cavaliers pick: Cavaliers -3.5
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: NBCSN
- Analyst: Zak Hanshew
Top pick: Cavaliers -3.5
Zak Hanshew backs Cleveland to cover against an Oklahoma City team missing Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Jalen Williams.
The Thunder have scored fewer than 100 points in consecutive games, while the Cavaliers have led the league in offense over their last three outings.
With Cleveland positioned to exploit Oklahoma City's depleted defense, Hanshew would lay up to 6.5 points in his Thunder vs. Cavaliers predictions.
Hawks vs Pacers pick: Hawks -5.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBA League Pass, Prime Video
- Analyst: Shawn Krest
Top pick: Hawks -5.5
Shawn Krest sees Atlanta as better equipped to handle its injuries than an Indiana team missing Tyrese Haliburton, T.J. McConnell and Ivica Zubac.
The Pacers enter on a four-game losing streak and the second night of a back-to-back, while Atlanta's recent losses have come against stronger opposition.
The Hawks' league-leading assist production and ability to force turnovers underpin his -5.5 selection in our Hawks vs. Pacers predictions.
Nets vs Knicks pick: Nets +14.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: YES, MSG
- Analyst: Ed Scimia
Top pick: Nets +14.5
Ed Scimia likes Brooklyn to stay within a generous spread against a Knicks team that has opened 2-4 straight up and 1-5 against the spread.
New York ranks 29th in true shooting percentage at 53.1% and has yet to win by more than 14 points, leaving little room for a comfortable cover.
Scimia expects the Knicks to win but would back Brooklyn at +12.5 or better in his Nets vs. Knicks predictions.
Wizards vs Magic pick: Wizards +2.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: DAZN-ORL, Monumental+
- Analyst: Quinn Allen
Top pick: Wizards +2.5
Quinn Allen is taking the points with Washington against an Orlando side missing Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. The Magic are winless in three home games and playing on a second consecutive night, while the Wizards last played Friday and allow seven fewer points per 100 possessions.
Washington's defensive edge and healthier lineup drive the +2.5 pick in his Wizards vs. Magic predictions.
Pistons vs Hornets pick: Pistons -4.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: WMYD, WSOC-ABC
- Analyst: Quinn Allen
Top pick: Pistons -4.5
Detroit's 5-1 start both straight up and against the spread includes five wins by at least eight points, giving Quinn Allen confidence in laying 4.5 at Charlotte.
The Hornets rank last in scoring and offensive rating and have averaged just 90.7 points during a three-game losing streak. After the Pistons forced 25 turnovers in the previous meeting, Allen sees another chance for their defense to control the game in his Pistons vs. Hornets predictions.
Bulls vs 76ers pick: 76ers -10.5
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- TV: NBA League Pass
- Analyst: Juan Carlos Blanco
Top pick: 76ers -10.5
Juan Carlos Blanco expects Philadelphia's defense to separate it from a Chicago team surrendering a league-high 129.3 points per game.
The Sixers have allowed just 104.9 points per contest, while the Bulls have been outscored by an average of 21.3 points on the road.
With LeBron James returning from a one-game absence, Blanco backs Philadelphia -10.5 and would play up to -11.5 in his Bulls vs. 76ers predictions.
Bucks vs Timberwolves pick: Over 233.5
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV: DAZN MIN, My24 Milwaukee
- Analyst: Tom Oldfield
Top pick: Over 233.5
Tom Oldfield likes Over 233.5 in a matchup between two of the league's top 10 teams in pace. Milwaukee has allowed 126.2 points per game and gone Over in five of its first six, while Minnesota has gone Over in all three games since Anthony Edwards was ruled out.
Both clubs rank in the top five in field-goal attempts per game, giving Oldfield reason to play the total up to 234.5 in his Bucks vs. Timberwolves predictions.
Celtics vs Rockets pick: Rockets -4.5
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- TV: League Pass
- Analyst: Tom Oldfield
Top pick: Rockets -4.5
Houston's rest advantage, rebounding and perimeter defense make Rockets -4.5 Tom Oldfield's choice against Boston. The Rockets are 6-1 against the spread and 3-0 ATS at home, while the Celtics are traveling from Orlando for their third game in four days.
Houston is limiting opponents to 30.1% from 3-point range and can turn to Amen Thompson to defend Jayson Tatum, with Oldfield willing to lay up to 5.5 in his Celtics vs. Rockets predictions.
Jazz vs Spurs pick: Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points
- Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
- TV: Jazz+, DAZN-SAS
- Analyst: Quinn Allen
Top pick: Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points
Victor Wembanyama has topped 24.5 points in three straight games, including 36 against Utah and 43 against Minnesota. He's taken at least 21 shots and made at least 50% of his attempts in each of those outings, giving Quinn Allen confidence in his scoring volume and efficiency.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic unavailable, Utah's depleted frontcourt provides another favorable matchup for Allen's top pick in our Jazz vs. Spurs predictions.
Heat vs Lakers pick: Heat moneyline
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV: Spectrum Sports Network
- Analyst: Chris Walder
Top pick: Heat moneyline
Chris Walder is backing Miami to win outright against a Lakers team playing with no rest and for the third time in four days. The Heat have won back-to-back games while posting 129.9 points per 100 possessions over that stretch, and Los Angeles has averaged 20.5 turnovers in its last four outings.
The Lakers' fourth-quarter struggles create another opening for the rested visitors in Walder's Heat vs. Lakers predictions.
Raptors vs Clippers pick: Raptors -5.5
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- TV: ClipperVision, TSN
- Analyst: Chris Walder
Top pick: Raptors -5.5
Chris Walder likes Toronto to cover against a Clippers side with five consecutive losses and an offense that ranks 26th in efficiency. Los Angeles is also allowing opponents to shoot 49.4% from the field and 38.3% from deep, while Toronto ranks third in offense over its last three games.
Even without Kawhi Leonard, Walder expects the Raptors to have enough scoring to pull away in his Raptors vs. Clippers predictions.
More NBA picks
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Check the NBA injury report before finalizing today's picks.
All of today’s matchups are also on the NBA scores and matchups page, and the full pick archive lives in free NBA picks.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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