The NBA regular season continues on Thursday night with a slate of seven games. Our Action Network NBA staff is ready for tonight with four best bets, including player props, totals and two bets on the spread. Find their best bets and predictions below.
NBA Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our NBA betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
| 9 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Timberwolves vs. Mavericks
By Joe Dellera
The Timberwolves are road dogs to the Dallas Mavericks tonight. Kyrie Irving remains out for Dallas, and Anthony Edwards (hip) is questionable for the Wolves.
The Wolves are being underrated in this spot. They’re better in Adjusted Net Rating (+4.2 vs +1.6), and their defense should continue to be one of the league’s best even if Edwards sits.
The Wolves are anchored by Rudy Gobert, and he should disrupt the Mavericks offense on the interior. If the Wolves have Jaden McDaniels (ankle – questionable), he’s another elite perimeter defender to throw at Luka.
I’ll grab the points with the road dogs and wouldn’t be surprised if this flips to them being favored if Edwards is ruled in.
Pick: Timberwolves +2
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Nets vs. Nuggets
By Chris Baker
The Nuggets will have a one-day rest advantage here, but Nikola Jokic specifically will have a little bit of extra juice after being ejected from the Bulls game after just 16 minutes of play on Tuesday.
Expect a motivated Jokic here as he was clearly frustrated after a questionable ejection. The refs may be a little tighter on their whistles with Jokic as he looks to earn free throws he likely deserves.
Focusing on this matchup, I expect Jokic to dominate Nic Claxton in the low post as Claxton still lacks the physical strength to guard Jokic. Jokic’s success against Claxton should force the Nets into rotations as they send help.
Additionally, Kentavious-Caldwell Pope will be out for this one. KCP has the highest Defensive Rating swing on the Nuggets as their defense is 7.2 points better per 100 possessions with KCP on the floor.
Mikal Bridges, Cam Thomas and Spencer Dinwiddie should have no issues getting to their spots with Jamal Murray and Reggie Jackson likely playing the bulk of the minutes in the backcourt against them for the Nuggets. Take Over 229.5 here and play this up to 230.5.
Pick: Over 229.5
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Nets vs. Nuggets
By Joe Dellera
Jokic was ejected for who knows what reason in the last game against the Chicago Bulls on Serbian night. He’s going to come out in this game fired up off of that experience.
He has also dominated against Nic Claxton recently, and last season he recorded 17 and 20 rebounds in their two head-to-head matchups. This is a particularly tough spot for the Nets as well considering they are coming off a close win yesterday against the Phoenix Suns and now need to travel to Denver.
This spread is 10 points, but I think the game stays a bit closer — which helps our prop bet as Jokic won't sit in a blowout here. Denver has a +3.5 Net Rating on the season, and Brooklyn only trails by a bit with a +3.0 Net Rating of its own. The Nets have been solid on the season, and the market is undervaluing them a touch.
Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 12.5 Rebounds
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Thunder vs. Kings
By Jim Turvey
I once again am here promoting a Thunder spread bet. Of course, that hasn't been too bad of a side to be on this season, with OKC sporting a matching 15-7 record both overall and against the spread–this market just can't quite get its mind around the Thunder’s success.
That's strange to a degree because there isn't a whole lot of fraudulence under the hood. The OKC Adjusted Net Rating from Dunks and Threes comes in at +4.3, fourth overall in the league, and is the equivalent of a 14-8 record, so the Thunder are one-win lucky but nothing crazy.
The Thunder have had a bit of shooting luck — I don't think this roster is the best 3-point shooting team in the league at 39.1 percent, which is where they have landed to date — but again, this is mostly at the margins, and I have this unadjusted as Thunder -1.5 in Sacramento.
The Kings have hardly been juggernauts at home this season, with a +1.1 Net Rating, while the Thunder have been far and away the best road team this season, with a +9.2 Net Rating that is lapping the field — the 76ers are second at +4.5 and the Heat are third at +2.2.
OKC is fully healthy, while Trey Lyles–who has actually been quite useful for Sacramento this season–is questionable for the Kings.
Consequently, my adjustments actually move this further toward the Thunder, giving plenty of leeway on this bet. I would play it up to a pick ‘em.
Pick: Thunder +2
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