NBA Betting Picks for Wednesday 11/1/23: Hornets Look to Sting Home Favorite

The 82-game NBA regular season offers us a wide variety of betting options, including point spreads, moneylines, and totals. The Association features 1,230 regular season games, which can make sifting through the odds an overwhelming task.

However, various advanced statistics can help narrow the choices. numberFire's NBA power rankings and daily projections paired with advanced stats from the NBA can help give the inside track to winning big.

While utilizing some of the mentioned tools, which NBA odds from FanDuel Sportsbook look like the best bets today?

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

NBA Best Bets

Milwaukee Bucks at Toronto Raptors

Under 224 (-110)

The Milwaukee Bucks against the Toronto Raptors could be a potential playoff matchup with the Bucks at -7000 to make the postseason while the Raptors are +200, per FanDuel's NBA playoff odds.

Milwaukee's offense has excelled, ranking sixth in field goal percentage (FG%) and fourth in made field goals per game. After finishing 4th in defensive rating last season, the defense has dropped to 25th in rating. The addition of Damian Lillard, who has a 119.2 defensive rating, has dampened the backcourt's defense as expected.

The trade-off has been a strong offense. Lillard is averaging 23.3 points per game (PPG), and he erupted for 39 points on opening night. The Bucks' pace has also gotten quicker; it was 10th last season and now plays at the 3rd-quickest pace.

The Raptors are a contrast in style, holding the slowest pace in the NBA and the fourth-best defensive rating mark. The under has hit in three of four Toronto games. I like that trend to continue tonight.

While Milwaukee certainly touts a dangerous offense with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard, the Raptors rank second in opponent made field goals per game and first in opponent shooting efficiency. They are also first in opponent three-point percentage, and the Bucks rank ninth in three-pointers attempted per game.

Plus, Toronto has the tools to potentially slow Antetokounmpo. Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes will likely draw the matchup, and they hold defensive ratings of 105.3 and 98.1.

Charlotte Hornets at Houston Rockets

Hornets Moneyline (+118)

The Charlotte Hornets and Houston Rockets will likely be among the Association's worst teams yet again. According to FanDuel's NBA win total odds, the Hornets have a 29.5 projected win total while the Rockets are at 30.5.

Following a season-opening 116-110 win against the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte has lost back-to-back games with an average margin of 12 points. Houston has not been much better, though. They are 0-3 outright and against the spread (ATS). The NBA's offensive and defensive ratings prove the Hornets have been the better team.

Charlotte is 21st in offensive rating and 19th in defensive rating; this isn't great by any means, but it's miles better than the Rockets' marks. Houston is 29th in offensive rating -- a terrifying sight for a team that continues to spend high draft picks on top scoring prospects (Jalen Green and Jabari Smith). They are also 27th in defensive rating. Dillon Brooks, who has a 108.9 defensive rating, can only do so much on the defensive end.

It's harsh, but simply put, the Rockets have not been good. Don't get me wrong -- the Hornets still have plenty of areas to improve. For instance, LaMelo Ball has been extremely disappointing as a scorer with 14.3 PPG and a concerning 31.8 effective field goal percentage (eFG%).

Still, Charlotte should have enough to pull off the upset on the road. Terry Rozier ranks fourth on the team with a 108.5 offensive rating while averaging a team-best 22.3 PPG. PJ Washington has also excelled with a 58.9 eFG% and 17.7 PPG. Mark Williams (11.0 PPG and 8.3 rebounds per game (RPG)) has led the paint attack with a 77.8 eFG%.

The Hornets rank second in points in the paint per game, and Houston holds the fourth-worst mark in opponent two-point percentage. Charlotte's offense seems poised for an efficient day in the paint, potentially leading to an upset win. With FanDuel's 50% Profit Boost for any NBA wager tonight, the Hornets moneyline could be even more intriguing.

Denver Nuggets at Minnesota Timberwolves

Nuggets -2.5 (-110)

In the 2023 NBA Playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves fell in five games against the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Despite Denver winning five of the previous six head-to-head matchups while going 4-2 ATS, the Nuggets are only 2.5-point favorites for tonight's rematch.

Minnesota has not been that impressive with a 1-2 record while ranking 24th in offensive rating. The T-Wolves are leaning on their defense with the ninth-best rating. This is nearly the same exact rankings from last season (23rd and 10th). They didn't make any notable offseason upgrades, and that's been evident through three games.

Anthony Edwards remains the clear top scoring option at 25.3 PPG paired with a team-best 110.0 offensive rating among qualifying players. Karl-Anthony Towns has still not found his footing since dealing with a calf injury last season. The three-time All-Star is totaling only 15.7 PPG with a 40.7 eFG%; he is certainly capable of much more after reaching 24.0 PPG in four of the previous five seasons.

I'm not sure how Minnesota could come up with a cover or win against the defending champions. The Nuggets are fully healthy and 4-0. Nikola Jokic has shown no signs of slowing down at 26.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG, and 8.5 assists per game (APG). Additionally, Reggie Jackson (96.4), Peyton Watson (99.3), and Christian Braun (100.7) have been excellent defenders off of the bench with impressive ratings.

Denver ranks 5th in offensive rating and 15th in defensive rating. The T-Wolves pace of play (seventh-quickest) could come back to bite them against the Nuggets, who boast a highly efficient offense led by Jokic. Give me Denver to cover the point spread.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.