Our NBA betting tips are back on a big NBA Thursday slate, with a change of pace as Ace steps onto the court for a few valuable minutes this NBA season. Check out his best bets from the day's NBA action below!
Also, make sure to head over to our NBA Tips page regularly, as we’ll be providing free tips for all the major slates for each and every week of the 2023-24 NBA season!
NBA Betting Tips: Thursday, November 23rd 2023
Philadelphia 76ers at Minnesota Timberwolves
Target Centre, 12pm AEDT
Two teams who have made incredibly strong starts to the season meet here in what shapes as a fascinating contest, although a little disappointing for both teams not to be at full strength.
Many, including myself, were quick to write off the Timberwolves early in the Rudy Gobert era, though credit to them for how they finished last season, challenged Denver as much as any other team come the Playoffs, and have started this season incredibly strongly. Anthony Edwards is averaging just under 26 points a game, and is ably supported by Karl-Anthony Towns and Mike Conley offensively. Gobert continues to be near the top of the defensive player of the year rankings, and would have been one of the better match-ups out there for Joel Embiid and the 76ers.
Gobert won’t have to worry about Embiid here, as he misses today with a hip issue. The 10-4 76ers come into this one off a brutal home OT loss to the shorthanded Cavs last night, so a lot of the offensive load will be left to Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris. Maxey has been the breakout player of the NBA since James Harden took his talents to LA, however as the key focus in this one, and a quality defensive opponent in Conley, I fear without Embiid, the going is going to be far too difficult for the 76ers here.
Minnesota Timberwolves -7.5 points
$1.96 (1.25 units)
Chicago Bulls at Oklahoma City Thunder
Chesapeake Energy Arena, 12pm AEDT
The OKC Thunder were certainly ahead of their time last season when they made the play-in tournament and gave things a genuine shake. That late-season surge was certainly the catalyst for a strong showing this season, and we have certainly seen that off the top. The Thunder have won 7 of their last 8 games, including a 43 points win on Monday against the Trailblazers, and have done it with quality contributions from a number of players on their roster. They face the Chicago Bulls who, let’s be honest, are playing like a team that wants to be gutted and started again. For a team with the likes of LaVine, DeRozan, Vucevic, Caruso and White, there is a lack of fluidity or cohesion amongst the unit, and it’s hard to make a strong case to be able to support them. Caruso is a quality defender, but he can only do so much. Against a balanced Thunder side full of weapons, it’s hard to see the Bulls holding up given their current struggles.
Also backing: OKC Thunder -17.5 points @ $4.50 at Ladbrokes (0.2 units)
OKC Thunder -7 points
$1.90 (1 unit)
Golden State Warriors at Phoenix Suns
Footprint Centre, 2pm AEDT
I don’t think many of us had these two teams combining for 15-14 to start the season, yet here we are. It may also be a little surprising to see the Suns as only a slight favourite in the match-up with the likes of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal stepping on court for the franchise. We haven’t been able to see what the trio has been able to produce together with a large enough sample size to form an opinion here. What we do know though is that this is the Suns’ third game in four nights, with this run having kicked off with an overtime match-up with the Jazz. It’s not an idea situation for the Suns, who will be looking to maintain Durant and Booker for the back end of the season, however with Beal, Watanabe and Lee already out, the depth of Phoenix can be questioned a little.
The Golden State Warriors seemed to get their mojo back a touch on Tuesday, with a 5 point win over the Houston Rockets. They remain without Draymond Green, though the Warriors will have been grateful to see Klay Thompson find the bottom of the net a little more consistently, aided by the return to the starting lineup of Steph Curry. Though they miss Green, the core rotation of 9 players is still strong for the Warriors, and Chris Paul’s facilitation is helping significantly when Curry is on the bench.
This is a really tricky spot for the Suns, and one where I am keen to oppose them.
Golden State Warriors +2.5 points
$1.90 (1.25 units)
