Category: NBA

The Toronto Raptors host the Charlotte Hornets on Monday following a successful road trip.

The latest: Look out, Toronto went 4-1 on the road and has now won seven of its last eight games. The Raptors are 8.5-point favourites against a Hornets squad that has dropped eight of its last 10 while playing awful defence.

Check out these Hornets vs. Raptors prop picks for the game on Nov. 17, featuring Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick and Ryan Kalkbrenner.

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Hornets vs. Raptors prop picks

Best bet: Barnes over 24.5 points and assists (-114)

I backed Barnes to clear his rebound and assist total (o/u 13.5) on Saturday, which he smashed.

The forward logged 11 rebounds and six assists while adding 14 points in a blowout victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Barnes can do it all, and I want to specifically tap into his abilities as a scorer and passer tonight against a brutal defence.

• Charlotte is 26th in defensive rating and 27th in opponent field goal percentage.

• The Hornets are giving up 128.5 PPG on the road, which is the most in the NBA.

• They are giving up the second-most points (26.9) and most assists (5.9) on a per-game basis to power forwards, per Fantasy Pros.

-> Full Hornets vs. Raptors props at NorthStar Bets

Barnes is running hot, averaging 18.8 points and 5.9 assists this month, and he’s a near lock to play 30-plus minutes a night.

This is the perfect matchup for him to keep rolling.

Key stat: Barnes has 20+ points/assists in 10 of 13 games, clearing this line six times.

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Additional NBA prop predictions

Dick 2+ threes (+110): Dick hasn’t cracked Toronto’s starting lineup yet, and he’s averaging career lows in points (7.5), threes (1.2), 3-point attempts (3.4) and 3-point percentage (34.1%).

That’s not great.

But what is great is his matchup. Charlotte’s defence ranks dead last in 3-point percentage (41.2%) and has allowed opponents to shoot 49.4% from deep over the past three games.

Dick is a pure shooter and should get a decent amount of run if this is a rout. And this line really isn’t asking much.

He’s also playing better lately, going 3-3 against this line in his last six games while shooting 39.1% from deep.

-> Bet on Gradey Dick here!

Kalkbrenner over 6.5 rebounds (+104): The Hornets are awful, but the rookie duo of Kon Knueppel and Kalkbrenner seem to be a promising part of their future.

I want to focus on Kalbrenner, the 7-foot-1, 256-pound centre out of Creighton.

He’s helped establish Charlotte as one of the best rebounding teams in basketball, and he’ll be the largest player whenever he’s on the court. Kalkbrenner’s size provides a solid rebounding floor to work with:

• 5+ rebounds in 10 of 12 games
• 6+ rebounds in eight of 12 games
• 7+ rebounds in six of 12 games

The Raptors are 19th in rebounding rate and give up 13.9 boards per game to centres. That’s on the lower end of the spectrum, but Kalkbrenner is averaging a healthy 26.5 minutes, which should be enough time to cash this wager.

Hornets vs. Raptors prop picks made at 9:48 a.m. ET on Nov. 17, 2025.

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The Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks are both rolling, but only one can come out of the Mortgage Matchup Center with a win on Sunday night.

The pregame narrative: Phoenix is on a five-game win streak, winning each of those games by at least nine points. Atlanta is a slight road favourite tonight, though, riding the hot hand of Jalen Johnson.

Check out my Hawks vs. Suns SGP predictions for Nov. 16, featuring Johnson and Dillon Brooks.

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Hawks vs. Suns SGP

Parlay: Suns +4.5 | Johnson over 37.5 PRA | Brooks 15+ points (+350)

Suns +4.5 (-175): It’s tough to bet against either of these teams right now, as they’re both 5-1 ATS in their past six games and 8-5 SU on the season.

But in an SGP format, I’m happy rolling with the Suns while banking a few extra points.

• Phoenix ranks ninth in net rating (+4.5), which is slightly better than Atlanta (+3.4, 12th)

• The Suns are 6-1 SU at home, covering this number each time. They’ve also covered a +4.5 spread in nine of their past 10 games overall.

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Both teams have been off for the past two days, but Phoenix should still have somewhat of a rest advantage.

The Suns have been at home since Nov. 13, while the Hawks are about to play in a fifth city in nine days.

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NBA SGP legs

Johnson over 37.5 points/rebounds/assists (-121): Johnson is making his ascent to stardom in Year 5 with the Hawks, and it’s even easier for him to do that with Trae Young on the sidelines.

Young (knee), who hasn’t played since Oct. 29, will sit out again tonight. Here’s what Johnson has accomplished in his point guard’s absence:

• 22.0 PPG
• 11.0 RPG
• 7.4 APG
• 38+ PRA in 4 of 7

-> Bet on Jalen Johnson to put on a show in Phoenix!

Johnson is a double-double threat as a rebounder every night, but he’s also leading the Hawks in assists with Young out. The 23-year-old does it all, and he’s flirting with a 60.0 FG% in the process.

According to Fantasy Pros, the Suns are allowing the fourth-most points and the second-most assists to small forwards. Johnson should go off.

Brooks 15+ points (-186): Speaking of going off, how about the start Brooks is having this season?

The Mississauga, Ontario native has been a reliable scorer in all seven games with the Suns, who he was traded to this offseason in the Kevin Durant deal.

Brooks is getting to the line at a career-best rate (7.1 free throws per 100 possessions), and he’s cashing in at a career-best 93.3% clip.

Adept free-throw shooting will raise the floor for any scorer, and in Brooks’ case, it has helped lift him to 15+ points in every game so far. He’s averaging 20.3 PPG with his new team.

Brooks also happens to be coming off his top-scoring output of the season — 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting — so I’m happy to bet on him staying hot.

Hawks vs. Suns SGP made at 11:10 a.m. ET 11/16/2025.

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Cooper Flagg is still the odds-on favourite to win NBA Rookie of the Year, and he doesn’t need high volume as a 3-point shooter to stay in that spot.

Today’s NBA props narrative: I’m fading Flagg’s 3s prop on Sunday evening as one of my three NBA prop bets. Elsewhere, Nic Claxton should take advantage of arguably the best possible matchup available to him.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Nov. 16, featuring Franz Wagner.

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NBA prop picks Nov. 16

Best bet: Flagg under 1.5 threes (-136)

I think Flagg will score his fair share of points tonight. I just don’t think they’ll be from outside.

Flagg and the Mavericks face the Portland Trail Blazers, who typically don’t let opponents thrive from 3-point land.

Portland allows the second-fewest 3-point attempts (33.0/game) and the third-fewest makes (11.6/game).

Where the Blazers typically get gashed is in the midrange, which happens to be where Flagg thrives.

-> Bet on tonight’s five-game NBA slate

• According to Cleaning The Glass, Portland allows the third-highest FG% from all midrange shots (48.5%).

• Flagg attempts 40.0% of his shots from the midrange, which ranks in the 87th percentile in the NBA.

If Flagg was on a heater from beyond the arc, fading him at 1.5 threes might give me pause. But he’s shooting 26.9% on 4.0 attempts per game this season, so he’s better off trying to score from inside.

And based on how Portland sets up its defence, Flagg is better suited to get buckets inside the arc anyway.

Key stat: This under is 8-5 on the season, cashing in five of Flagg’s past six games.

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Best NBA picks

Wagner over 1.5 threes (-130): With Paolo Banchero set to miss his second consecutive game, I’ll gladly pay some extra vig for a line this low.

• Last time out (with Banchero on the sidelines), Wagner shot 3-of-9 from 3-point range.

• In 21 games sans-Banchero since the start of last season, Wagner has averaged 6.7 attempted 3s and is 12-9 vs. this line.

-> Bet on Franz Wagner in Magic vs. Rockets

Desmond Bane hasn’t panned out yet as a long-range assassin for the Magic. Wagner, who’s shooting 35.5% from deep so far this season, has surprisingly been the more reliable shooter between the two of them.

Both should have an opportunity to produce against the Houston Rockets, who allow the fourth-most attempted 3s per game (39.8).

Wagner is 8-5 vs. this prop and should land on the winning side again tonight.

NBA player prop predictions

Claxton over 24.5 points/rebounds (-132): Claxton has taken a step up as a scorer this year and a step back as a rebounder. But I like his chances to excel in both statistical categories tonight.

Here’s how opposing centres have fared against the Washington Wizards so far this year, per Fantasy Pros:

• 4th in PPG (25.77)
• 1st in RPG (18.42)

-> Check out Sunday’s NBA prop market

Claxton is averaging a career-best 15.0 PPG on a career-high 9.7 field goal attempts.

As a rebounder, his 6.9 RPG average is his lowest since the 2021-22 season. But the ineptitude of the Wizards should help.

Claxton is 6-2 vs. this prop in his past eight games, averaging a combined 24.9 points/rebounds.

NBA prop picks made at 9:20 a.m. ET on Nov. 16, 2025.

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A heavyweight NBA matchup takes place in Minnesota on Saturday when the Timberwolves host the Denver Nuggets.

The pregame narrative: Denver has been nothing short of elite this season, and catches a strong Minnesota team playing on a back-to-back. The T-Wolves are slim home favourites and look to avenge a road loss to the Nuggets back in October.

Check out my Nuggets vs. Timberwolves SGP predictions for Nov. 15.

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Nuggets vs. Timberwolves SGP

Parlay: Nuggets moneyline | Murray 20+ points | Edwards 3+ threes (+310)

Nuggets moneyline (+114): Nikola Jokic (wrist) is questionable to play tonight. Needless to say, his status impacts my confidence in this wager.

But if the big man suits up, I think the Nuggets should roll to a victory.

Denver is a cut above Minnesota in just about every aspect. It ranks second in both offensive and defensive rating, and is second in net rating (+13.3), right behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

That +13.3 rating, if it holds, would be third all-time behind the 1995-96 Bulls and OKC.

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The Nuggets have won six straight games and already thrashed the. T-Wolves earlier this year.

Minnesota is 8-4, but seven of those wins are against bottom-10 teams in the league (Pacers, Nets, Hornets, Jazz twice, Kings twice).

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NBA SGP legs

Murray 20+ points (-186): Murray dropped a season-high 43 points against the T-Wolves in October, largely by exploiting their awful mid-range defence.

Even if you took away all five of his 3s and six of his free throws, he still cleared this number.

Minnesota is allowing opponents to shoot 43.8% from the mid-range, which ranks 20th, according to Cleaning the Glass.

-> Bet on Jamal Murray on Saturday night

The Canadian loves to work from that area of the court, and is averaging a career-high 17.0 field-goal attempts per game.

Edwards 3+ threes (-315): Backing Edwards to reach this milestone feels like a safe way to close out the wager. And it gives us a nice boost thanks to some negative correlation.

The sixth-year guard is coming off a rare 1-for-7 game from deep. You can bet on a regression to the mean tonight.

• Before Friday, Edwards led the league in 3s per game (4.1) while shooting 50.0% from deep.

• Last season, Edwards averaged 4.1 makes on 39.5% shooting.

• This year, Edwards has 3+ threes in six of seven games where he’s played 5+ minutes.

Edwards wasn’t in the lineup against Denver earlier this year, but is 4-0 against this line when he plays the Nuggets while averaging 5.0 threes.

Nuggets vs. Timberwolves SGP made at 12 p.m. ET 11/15/2025.

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There are five NBA games on Saturday. Chet Holmgren and Luka Doncic headline my prop predictions.

Today’s NBA props narrative: Holmgren is part of an Oklahoma City Thunder squad which is decimating opponents left and right. I like his chances of contributing from deep. Elsewhere, Doncic should be productive as a passer on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Check out my top NBA prop picks for Nov. 15, featuring a fade on Ja Morant.

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NBA prop picks Nov. 15

Best bet: Holmgren 2+ threes (+125)

Holmgren isn’t a huge 3-point shooter, but these odds are too good to pass up.

• He is averaging a career-high 1.6 threes per night on a respectable 37.8% shooting.

• Holmgren is 4-5 against this line, but plays a Charlotte squad last in 3-point defence (40.9%).

The lanky forward stands at 7-foot-1 with an even longer wingspan. That makes his jumpers hard to defend, and I can’t see anyone on the undersized Hornets contesting him at the perimeter.

Ryan Kalkbrenner is equal to Holmgren in height, but he’s primarily an interior defender and didn’t play last night, so there’s no guarantee he’ll be in the lineup today.

-> Bet on tonight’s five-game NBA slate

On top of that, Lu Dort (shoulder) is questionable, and Aaron Wiggins (thigh) is out. Those two combined for 3.8 threes per night.

Key stat: Charlotte is allowing 2.46 threes per game to power forwards, per Fantasy Pros.

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Best NBA picks

Doncic over 8.5 assists (-110): Doncic is in MVP form. The Slovenian is averaging 33.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game.

He had a relatively quiet night on Friday, scoring just 24 points on 6-of-12 shooting. But he did add 12 helpers in the victory, and is now 4-2 against this line in November.

Doncic has had at least seven assists in every game this month, which gives us a reliable floor to work with.

-> Bet on Luka Doncic & the Lakers

I’m not worried about him taking a step back on no rest, even with him playing 40 minutes yesterday.

The point guard is in the best shape of his career, and was productive on the second leg of back-to-backs last year. He averaged 8.9 assists on no rest, compared to 7.4 assists on one day of rest and 6.7 assists with two days off.

The Milwaukee Bucks are allowing the ninth-most APG to opposing PGs.

NBA player prop predictions

Morant under 21.5 points (-132): Long gone are the days of Morant averaging north of 25 points a night.

• The point guard has seen a drop in scoring in four straight seasons from his 27.4 PPG average in 2021-22.

• He’s netting just 18.9 PPG this year while shooting 35.2% from the field and 16.7% from deep.

-> See tonight’s NBA prop market

Morant has gone under this mark in six straight games, and is shooting an absymal 28.7% in November. I really don’t understand why this line is so high.

The Memphis Grizzlies battle the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, which is no easy matchup.

Cleveland gives up the fewest PPG to opposing PGs.

NBA prop picks made at 12:10 p.m. ET on Nov. 15, 2025.

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