Month: November 2024

We’ve got another exciting Eastern Conference matchup on Thursday’s NBA schedule as the Charlotte Hornets will host the Detroit Pistons. Charlotte is 5-9 overall and 4-3 at home, while Detroit is 7-9 overall and 4-4 on the road. The Hornets barely hold the edge in the all-time series with 65 wins versus 64 losses, including a victory on Nov. 6. Detroit is 8-6-1 against the spread (ATS) in the 2024-25 NBA season, while Charlotte is 7-7 versus the line.

Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Detroit is favored by 1.5 points in the latest Pistons vs. Hornets odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 221 points. Before entering any Hornets vs. Pistons picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 109-74 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Detroit vs. Charlotte. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Pistons vs. Hornets:

Hornets vs. Pistons spread: Hornets +1.5
Hornets vs. Pistons over/under: 221 points
Hornets vs. Pistons money line: Hornets: +119, Pistons: -141
Hornets vs. Pistons picks: See picks at SportsLine
Hornets vs. Pistons streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Hornets can cover
The Hornets were just a bucket shy of victory on Tuesday and fell 116-115 to the Nets despite a quality game from Brandon Miller, who went 11 for 17 en route to 29 points plus three steals and two blocks. He was one of six players in double-figures as Miles Bridges chipped in with 21 points, while Tre Mann had 19 points and six assists off the bench.

LaMelo Ball leads the team with 28.4 points, which ranks seventh in the NBA as he’s the conductor of a prolific offense from beyond the arc. Charlotte ranks second in the NBA in both 3-pointers made and attempted, and it also crashes the glass, ranking sixth in offensive boards and in total rebounds. The Hornets have also performed much better versus the spread recently, going 5-2 ATS over their last seven games. See which team to back here.

Why the Pistons can cover
Meanwhile, the Pistons took a 122-112 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Bulls on Monday, despite the performance of Jalen Duren, who dropped a double-double on 15 points and 22 rebounds. Cade Cunningham had a double-double of his own with 26 points and 10 assists, while offseason acquisition Malik Beasley had 21 points off the bench.

After ranking 26th in both defensive rating and points allowed last season, Detroit has made great strides on that end of the court as it ranks ninth in both categories this season. It also gets to face a Hornets team with both offensive deficiencies — as no team makes or attempts fewer free throws than Charlotte — as well as a team with multiple injuries. Centers Mark Williams (foot) and Nick Richards (rib) are both out for Charlotte, leaving the team without an active player on its roster taller than 6-foot-9. See which team to back here.

How to make Hornets vs. Pistons picks
The model has simulated Pistons vs. Hornets 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in over 50% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

The Los Angeles Lakers (10-4) will try to extend their six-game winning streak when they host the Orlando Magic (9-7) on Thursday night. Los Angeles has won its last four games by six points or fewer, including a 124-118 win over Utah on Tuesday. Orlando had its six-game winning streak snapped in a 104-93 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday as it prepares to wrap up its three-game road trip. These teams split the season series last year, with both contests taking place within the first two weeks of the campaign.

Tipoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers are favored by 4.5 points in the latest Lakers vs. Magic odds, while the over/under is 216.5 points, per SportsLine consensus. Before entering any Magic vs. Lakers picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 109-74 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Los Angeles vs. Orlando. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Magic vs. Lakers:

Lakers vs. Magic spread: Lakers -4.5
Lakers vs. Magic over/under: 216.5 points
Lakers vs. Magic money line: Lakers: -199, Magic: +166
Lakers vs. Magic picks: See picks at SportsLine
Lakers vs. Magic streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Lakers can cover
Los Angeles has surged to third place in the Western Conference standings with its current six-game hot streak, trailing only the Warriors and Thunder. The Lakers are coming off a 124-118 win over Utah on Tuesday, powered by a rookie record-tying nine 3-pointers from Dalton Knecht. He hit triples on four consecutive possessions in the third quarter, scoring 21 points in the period.

Knecht has been outstanding since joining the starting lineup four games ago, averaging 24.3 points per game while drilling 21 3-pointers on just 31 attempts. The Lakers are off to a 7-0 start at home and are one of three teams in the NBA without a loss at home. Anthony Davis leads the team with 30.7 points and 11.4 rebounds, while LeBron James is averaging 23.5 points, 9.4 assists and 8.1 rebounds. See which team to pick here.

Why the Magic can cover
Orlando was able to stay in the Los Angeles area after losing to the Clippers on Wednesday, softening the blow of having to play back-to-back road games. The Magic had their six-game winning streak come to an end in that outing, but they have still been impressive even with Paolo Banchero sidelined due to an oblique injury. They held all of their opponents under 100 points during the hot streak, while second-year guard Anthony Black has five double-digit scoring games in his last eight contests.

He had a team-high 17 points on Wednesday and a season-high 20 points in a win over Phoenix on Monday to kickstart the three-game road trip. Black also has 17 assists over his last two games, providing a spark with Banchero sidelined. The Magic have covered the spread in six of their last seven games, while the Lakers have only covered three times in their last 10 games. See which team to pick here.

How to make Lakers vs. Magic picks
The model has simulated Magic vs. Lakers 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.

The Toronto Raptors will host the Minnesota Timberwolves in a cross-conference matchup on Thursday’s NBA schedule. Toronto is 3-12 overall and 3-4 at home, while Minnesota is 8-6 overall and 3-4 on the road. The Wolves have won two straight over the Raptors, including a 112-101 victory in late October. The Raptors are 9-6 against the spread (ATS) in the 2024-25 NBA season, while Minnesota is 6-8 versus the line.

Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Minnesota is favored by 8 points in the latest Timberwolves vs. Raptors odds, per SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 225.5 points. Before entering any Raptors vs. Timberwolves picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 5 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 109-74 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning more than $3,000. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps has seen huge returns.

The model has set its sights on Minnesota vs. Toronto. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Timberwolves vs. Raptors:

Raptors vs. Timberwolves spread: Raptors +8
Raptors vs. Timberwolves over/under: 225.5 points
Raptors vs. Timberwolves money line: Raptors: +267, Timberwolves: -340
Raptors vs. Timberwolves picks: See picks at SportsLine
Raptors vs. Timberwolves streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Raptors can cover
Having struggled with seven defeats in a row, the Raptors finally turned things around against the Pacers on Monday. They walked away with a 130-119 victory over Indiana, led by RJ Barrett, who had 39 points and nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Jakob Poeltl dropped a double-double on 30 points and 15 rebounds, which was his third in a row with at least 30 points.

The Austrian is having a breakout year in his ninth NBA season, averaging career-highs in both points (17.1) and rebounds (11.9). His activity on the glass is a big reason why Toronto leads the NBA in offensive rebound percentage, and those extra possessions could be sources of easy points with Minnesota ranking in the bottom 10 in field goal percentage allowed. Additionally, the Raptors could get back Scottie Barnes (eye) who is questionable after missing the last 11 games, while Minnesota may be without Mike Conley (toe) and Donte DiVincenzo (back), who are each listed as questionable. See which team to pick here.

Why the Timberwolves can cover
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves skirted by the Suns 120-117 on Sunday thanks to a clutch shot from Julius Randle with less than a second left. For the game, Randle posted 35 points plus seven assists, while Anthony Edwards had 24 points plus six assists. The Wolves went 17 for 39 beyond the arc (43.6%), and the 3-point shot has been a strength for the team all year.

Minnesota ranks fifth in both 3-point attempts and 3-point percentage, so it’s combining both a high volume with a high efficiency. The team is even better at defending the 3-point line, as it allows the fewest made 3-pointers per game. The Timberwolves also have an advantage with recent spread success as they are 5-3 ATS over their last eight games, after beginning the year by covering in just one of their first five games. On the other hand, Toronto began the year 6-2 ATS but is just 3-4 versus the line since then. See which team to pick here.

How to make Raptors vs. Timberwolves picks
The model has simulated Timberwolves vs. Raptors 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick where one side has all of the value. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.