Our free NBA Picks are out for Saturday, November 13th, 2021! Make sure you check our NBA Picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free NBA Picks for the five best games on today’s schedule!
Miami Heat @ Utah Jazz – 5pm ET
The Miami Heat are in the middle of a five game road trip when they take on the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The Heat are looking to put an end to a three game losing streak, which includes losses to the Nuggets, Lakers and Clippers. The Jazz are coming off a loss last time out, 100-111, to the Pacers, which takes their season record to 8-4.
Denis Kirilov
The Miami Heat will play the Utah Jazz in the main event on Saturday night in the NBA. They were among the teams with the best start to this season. Utah was with a record of 7 wins and 1 loss, while Miami started off with 6 wins and 1 loss. However, after this amazing first couple of games, their form declined and they went on to lose a lot more in the process. The Jazz suffered defeats against the Heat, the Magic, and the Pacers, while Miami took losses to the Celtics, the Nuggets, the Lakers, and the Clippers. Their game on November 7 was a treat to watch as it came down to the wire with Miami taking the victory home, 118-115. Donovan Mitchell dropped 37 points, but his effort from the 3-point line was far from satisfying. On the other hand, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Kyle Lowry, and Bam Adebayo finished the game with a decent FG% which led their team to the final victory.
I think that this game will be a lot like the other one with one small exception. Jimmy Butler is uncertain for this upcoming fixture and even if he is included in the team, he might not feel ready to put up big numbers due to his ankle injury. However, it promises to be a tight contest that will once again squeeze both teams’ stamina and energy. I will go with the Utah Jazz this time as I believe we will see them taking revenge for their loss earlier this season. Vivint Smart Home Arena is ready to shine once again and the Jazz will also have to make up for the loss to the Pacers in their previous game.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Utah Jazz (-300)
Michael Lantz
In a battle between two of the NBA’s best, the Miami Heat travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz. This is their second meeting of the season, after they faced off one week ago in Miami. The Heat walked away victorious in that one 118-115, but not before the Jazz made it interesting, as they went on a 37-31 run in the fourth to finish the game within three. Since then the Jazz have been in a bit of a funk. Seen as one of the league’s most complete teams, they’ve suffered losses to the lowly Orlando Magic and an Indiana Pacers team that’s struggled with allowing second chance points and points off turnovers. Unfortunately Utah continued in their struggle to create turnovers, as Indiana only turned the ball over ten times. They also were outmuscled, as Indiana outrebounded them 53-37. They did a poor job exploiting Indiana’s weaknesses ultimately losing 100-111.
Eric’s getting comfy in these top 10 dunks list 👀#DunksOfTheWeek | @WasatchFord pic.twitter.com/FBGMQbiIQT
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 13, 2021
Utah now faces a Miami Heat team that’s almost opposite in those statistics that Indiana struggles in. The Heat are amongst the best in not giving up second chance points or points in the paint. They’ve been a very good defensive team, but that’s taken a noticeable hit since Jimmy Butler went out with a day-to-day injury. In two games in LA, Miami gave up an average of 116 points over the two games he was out/partially out. Utah can be very multidimensional in their scoring, and with them being at home and Miami possibly not having Jimmy Butler, the Jazz can’t let opportunity slip through their fingers two games in a row.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz (-300)
Noah Dunlap
These are two of the best teams in the NBA, and despite a recent losing streak by Miami (all on the road against solid competition), this is sure to be a great matchup. Bam Adebayo is playing phenomenal basketball, and Tyler Herro looks as if he’s slowly getting back into rhythm this year. Now the one question in this one is whether Jimmy Butler will be back in the lineup, as he’s been dealing with a minor ankle injury that has kept him out of action for a few days. If Butler plays, I think Miami has a chance in this one, but without him that hope seems to subside quite a bit.
As for Utah, they’re still one of the most balanced teams in the league, as Rudy Gobert crowds the paint, while Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, and Joe Ingles take care of the perimeter. That’s why I think it’s important for Jimmy Butler to play in this one. Without Butler’s presence on both ends of the floor, I think Utah’s guards have the chance to run free. Look for Utah to win a close one even if Butler plays, but that number rises if he doesn’t. With the uncertainty up to this point, simply stick to a Jazz moneyline for this one.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Utah Jazz (-300)
Philadelphia 76ers @ Indiana Pacers – 7pm ET
The Philadelphia 76ers start their six game road trip when they take on the Indiana Pacers, who have a single game at home before going on the road again. The 76ers will be desperate to put an end to their current three game losing streak on Saturday night, and they have lost to teams like the Knicks, Bucks and Raptors. The Pacers have won four of their six games so far in November, and last time out they got a 111-100 win over the Jazz.
Denis Kirilov
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers will meet for the first time this season on Saturday. Philly started off the season quite well, being one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. However, since Joel Embiid’s positive COVID-19 test, they have been a different team that struggles against opponents of their caliber. They lost consecutively to the Knicks, the Bucks, and the Raptors, all in their Wells Fargo Center. At least Seth Curry is expected to make his return against the Pacers which will bring more enthusiasm within the roster.
On the other hand, we saw a totally different Indiana Pacers’ squad against the Utah Jazz on Thursday with Malcolm Brogdon going in for 30 points and 9 rebounds. Their defense also played a huge role in covering Donovan Mitchell and Jordan Clarkson. Clarkson was denied 12 times in his 14 attempts. It will definitely be a tough call, but I think that the Pacers have what it takes to defeat a stressed 76ers’ team. My pick here is also based on the fact that both Curry and Harris might be out of rhythm with these absences recently and Philly certainly needs to be on at least 90% in this match.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Indiana Pacers (-126)
Michael Lantz
The Philadelphia 76ers have had it rough as of late. They got off to a great start on the season, but have fallen victim to a COVID spread within the locker room that’s led to some of their star players missing time. Joel Embiid and Matisse Thybulle continue to observe the league’s protocol while waiting to return, but the 76ers were thrilled to have Tobias Harris return on Thursday night. Harris’ return to the lineup gives Philly more firepower, but as those individuals were injured, they were pleased with how guys like Tyrese Maxey, Seth Curry and Shake Milton stepped up. This team continues to fight through adversity on the season and they hope it makes them stronger as things progress.
As for the Indiana Pacers, they continue to fluctuate. They’ve been back and forth between wins and losses; now after a big victory against the Utah Jazz, it’ll be up to the Pacers to show they can be consistent. A win against a resilient Sixers squad could be just what they need. They have all the pieces to be a great team in this conference, plenty of depth, scoring, etc, they just need to play better as a unit, and not give other teams opportunities off mistakes. Despite never being able to count the Sixers out, I think the Pacers pull it off at home, after a confidence boosting win against the Jazz.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Indiana Pacers (-126)
Noah Dunlap
The Indiana Pacers are currently showing why betting on the NBA is so hard to do. They started the year as one of the league’s most disappointing teams, as the offense was underwhelming and the defense was non-existent, but they slowly seem to be waking up and playing better basketball, including getting a big win over Utah in their last outing.
For Philadelphia, after a solid start, they’ve run into issues, both from Covid and injuries wreaking havoc through their roster. They do finally have Tobias Harris back, but they lost Joel Embiid in the process. They’ve got help from other players throughout the roster battles, as Seth Curry and Tyrese Maxey have shown the ability to put up numbers when needed, but I’m extremely hesitant about those two, with a recovering Tobias Harris, being able to lead their own team against teams that can score in bunches, which the Pacers can absolutely do. I’m looking for a high scoring affair in this one, with Indiana coming out on top by a slight, slight margin.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Indiana Pacers (-126)
Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic – 7pm ET
The Washington Wizards end their short two game road trip when they take on the Orlando Magic on Saturday night. The Wizards will be looking to continue to build on their impressive three game winning streak, which includes wins over teams like the Grizzlies, Bucks and Cavaliers. The Magic, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing loss to the Nets, 90-123.
Denis Kirilov
The Washington Wizards travel to Orlando in an attempt to extend their winning streak to 4 games. They’ve recently defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference right behind the Chicago Bulls with 8 wins and 3 losses. Their team is well-balanced as plenty of players can cover for some of their teammates who are not having a good game. Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrel, Bradley Beal, Spencer Dinwiddie are all great players with promising years ahead of them. Moreover, they can rely on the help of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Daniel Gafford, and Raul Neto.
On the other hand, the Orlando Magic is struggling at the bottom of the table in the East with just 3 wins and 9 losses. They have quite surprisingly managed to defeat the Utah Jazz at home, 107-100. However, in their next game they were trashed by the Brooklyn Nets by 33 points and this further proved that the Magic can’t transfer their consistency from one game to another. On top of that, Michell Carter-Williams, Jonathan Isaac, and Markelle Fultz are still injured and will miss the game against the Wizards. Keeping all this in mind, I think this will be a one-sided match with Washington taking the final victory.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Washington Wizards (-176)
Michael Lantz
The Washington Wizards continue to impress, as they’ve won three straight games to improve their overall record to 8-3. After a rough year with the Lakers, Montrezel Harrell is excelling in Wes Unseld Jr.’s system, as he looks a lot like the player that took home the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2020. His ability to assist Bradley Beal in scoring and play a presence inside has been very beneficial for the Wizards as they continue to make big moves in the Eastern Conference standings.
shout to Mo BAMBA pic.twitter.com/wKNOPE1NHe
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 12, 2021
Their next opponent is the Orlando Magic, who’ve mustered up a 3-9 record on the season. Despite a lot of disappointment, the Magic have had a silver lining in Mo Bamba. Critics were about ready to deem the 2018 first round pick as a bust because he wasn’t an instant success like fellow draftees Luka Doncic and Trae Young. But, in his fourth season, Bamba is averaging nearly 12 points and 9 rebounds per game while also averaging 2.2 blocks. Additionally, he is now averaging close to four three point attempts per game and is shooting over 40% from behind the arc, proving he can spread the floor on offense. As much as I like Bamba to continue his rise, I’m not sure Orlando has enough firepower to take on this Wizards team that seems to be clicking on a lot of levels. From the scoring success of Bradley Beal, to the reemergence of Harrell, to the trusty veteran play of Spencer Dinwiddie, this Wizards team should continue to roll.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Washington Wizards -4 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
If the Washington Wizards continue playing the way they have to start the year, this game shouldn’t be all that close. The Wizards have been playing really good basketball, to the surprise of many, and they’ve been heavily reliant upon new additions to do it. Guys like Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell have been instrumental in the Wizards currently sitting at second in the Eastern Conference, and I’m not sure why anyone would expect that to slow down against a team like Orlando, who has been agonizingly painful to watch to start their year.
One of the only positives that the Magic has to look at so far this year is the emergence of Mo Bamba as a legitimate NBA starter. After struggling for the first three years of his NBA career, the big man has managed to elevate his game in year four. The problem is that he doesn’t have much help, as the rest of the roster is extremely young, and that youth has led to problems getting consistent production that can lead to positive results. I expect Washington to come out and take care of business in this one, letting the experience of Bradley Beal and Montrezl Harrell lead the way.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Washington Wizards -4 (-110)
Detroit Pistons @ Toronto Raptors – 7:30pm ET
The Detroit Pistons wrap up their three game road trip in Toronto when they take on the Raptors. The Pistons are looking to get just their second win on the board for the month of November, after winning just one of five games so far. The Raptors snapped a three game losing streak last time out against the 76ers, winning 115-109, and this takes their record for the season to 7-6.
Denis Kirilov
The Toronto Raptors will have a potential easy task on Saturday facing Detroit in Scotiabank Arena. Keeping in mind the teams they have played against; I would say that the Raptors are off to a surprisingly good start to their campaign. They managed to outclass teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, the Washington Wizards, the New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers, and the Boston Celtics. Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby are on fire at the moment, and the rookie, Scottie Barnes, also displays his skills. They will become an even better team as the time passes by, a team that should not be underestimated by anyone.
On the other hand, the Detroit Pistons are finding it hard to put their two and two together as they are dead last in the East with 2 wins and 9 losses. In addition to that, their victories came against some of the weakest teams in the NBA – the Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic. In most of their other games, they were defeated by a double-digit number and had absolutely no chance to contest the win. It’s obvious that the team is struggling at the moment and things are not looking bright at least for the near future. In their last match they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers scoring just 78 points and having a quarter where they put up just 11 points. They rarely go beyond the 100-point mark and I doubt they will do it against the Toronto Raptors. My pick here goes in favor of the Canadian team and I hope they will cover their spread.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors -8.5 (-110)
Michael Lantz
After an ugly loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors got back on track with a 115-109 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. Their guard play courtesy of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. combined for 52 points as the Raptors used a big second half to take down a resilient Sixers squad. Now the Raptors take on a young Detroit Pistons team on Saturday night in “The North”.
Detroit was thrilled to get their second win of the season on Wednesday night as they took out the Houston Rockets 112-104 in a battle of the top two picks (Cade Cunningham vs Jalen Green). They unfortunately followed that up with a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Still, the Pistons have to be pleased with what they’ve started to see from Cunningham. After missing the first few games with a sprained ankle, Cunningham came into the season looking off.
Luckily, ever since he got a double-double against the 76ers on November 4th, he’s looked better each game. Even in the Cavs game when he only scored 9 points, his shot selection looked better as he went 50% from the field. Even though there are some positives with this young Detroit team, I don’t expect them to be able to handle a gritty Toronto team that’s been great at defense and causing turnovers. Expect them to challenge this Pistons team quite a bit and take the cake at home.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors -8.5 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
Toronto, easy. The Raptors have looked surprisingly good so far this season, as they’ve quietly put up one of the best starts in the Eastern Conference. The same can’t be said for the Detroit Pistons, who are arguably the worst team in basketball. For the Toronto Raptors, Fred VanVleet is trying to show that he’s a guy who can lead a team himself, and he’s getting help from unexpected guys like OG Anunoby, Gary Trent Jr., and Scottie Barnes, and right now that combination of veteran experience and youth is working for them.
Detroit’s roster just isn’t good. They’re extremely young, and I honestly question whether many of the young guys on the roster are going to end up capable of being legitimate NBA players. They’re coming off a loss to Cleveland where they only managed to put up 78 points, and the offensive struggles have been a consistent theme for this team throughout the season. I wouldn’t expect that to change, and I’m looking for Toronto to run away with this one, probably in a large way.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Toronto Raptors -8.5 (-110)
Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Clippers – 10:30pm ET
The Minnesota Timberwolves end their four game road trip when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. It will be two Los Angeles teams in two games for the Timberwolves, after getting their first win of November last time out, against the Lakers, which brings their season record to 4-7. The Clippers are on a roll alright! They have won six games in a row, all their games in November so far, which takes their season record out to 7-4.
Denis Kirilov
The Minnesota Timberwolves had an encounter with the other Los Angeles team, winning the game by 24 points. Now, they will have to face the Los Angeles Clippers in an attempt to make it 2 ouf of 2 and leave the Staples Center undefeated. Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, and D’Angelo Russell are playing on a very high level at the moment, but their defense is what lets them down. They are one of the teams who conceded the most points per game and this led to their 6-game losing streak. The Timberwolves will have a tough time in the NBA this season, but in order to build a competitive team, they will need to be strong and live through this period.
On the other hand, the Los Angeles Clippers are once again title contenders, but they will need Kawhi Leonard in order to contest the Championship. Paul George and Reggie Jackson are delivering for the Clippers in their last few games which is something that their fans really enjoy. The team is in a 6-game winning streak ahead of this fixture and they will look to further extend it after the end of this game. They defeated the Timberwolves twice during this campaign and the wins were more than convincing. Keeping in mind both teams’ great offensive lineup, I believe we will see another high-scoring game from them as they will have to make up for their last meeting which finished 104-84.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Over 222 (-110)
Michael Lantz
The Minnesota Timberwolves may be 4-7, but man are they fun to watch. Last year’s first overall pick Anthony Edwards has already taken a massive leap from his rookie season, scoring 26 points per game. In addition to Edwards, all-stars Karl Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell continue to put on offensive shows as KAT is averaging an all-too-familiar 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Russell is still averaging 17 points—which is impressive considering how much the team is now relying on Edwards for offensive production instead of him.
These three have provided quite the entertainment on offense, but the Timberwolves have also been great at causing turnovers, which could be largely attributed to the addition of Pat Beverly. But a big thing that’s keeping the Timberwolves down is their lack of aggression down low. Overall, their defense is pretty middle of the pack, but they’ve had a huge issue in rebounding as they’ve allowed the most opponent rebounds per game.
📊 18 PTS / 7-10 FG / 11 REB@ivicazubac makin’ his presence known in the paint. pic.twitter.com/N8vNe8jgSg
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 12, 2021
That being said, they had a huge confidence boosting win on Friday night, as they took out the L.A. Lakers in Staples Center. Sure, the Lakers are without LeBron James, but their stacked squad still has Anthony Daivs and Russell Westbrook playing. But, even with those two active, Minnesota absolutely ran them into the ground, at one point going on a 50-13 run. Now the Wolves will have to play consecutive games at the Staples Center as they take on a very good Clippers team—who they’ve already lost to twice this year.
The Clippers are hot right now, winning six straight, which included those two against the Wolves. They’ve recently had big victories over the Heat, and lethal offenses like the Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trailblazers. The Clippers are getting an MVP worthy performance from Paul George this year and Reggie Jackson continues to impress with his play, stepping up as George’s right hand man. The Clippers will look to get their seventh straight against a team they’ve already dominated this year.
The Timberwolves are maturing in front of our eyes, but even after a big Lakers win, I don’t see them going back-to-back at the Staples Center after a late game on Friday night. The Clippers have beaten Minnesota by double-digits in both those victories, so until Minnesota can show me they can make it a little more of a game—give me the Clips.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers -6.5 (-110)
Noah Dunlap
Can Minnesota keep the LA momentum going, after beating the Lakers in an absolute blowout? If they do, it’ll have to be to end the six game winning streak that the LA Clippers are currently on. For the Timberwolves, they’ve been heavily reliant upon their stars, such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Edwards, and D’Angelo Russell, but that, at times, has proven to be enough to get decent results, including last night against a struggling Lakers squad.
The question is can they perform at that same level against a team that has looked like one of the best teams in basketball over the past two weeks. For the Clippers, Paul George has been playing like an MVP candidate, but has also been getting solid help from role players like Reggie Jackson and Nicolas Batum. While I’m not sure about the long-term sustainability of PG-13 having to shoulder this much of the load, as I think there’s a reasonable likelihood that Jackson and Batum slow down, I do think they have enough to get past a Minnesota team that’s on the second night of a back-to-back. Look for the Clippers to squeak by with a close one at home.
Noah’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers (-270)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
