Our free NBA Picks are out for Sunday, November 14th, 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!
Milwaukee Bucks @ Atlanta Hawks – 6pm ET
We kick off Sunday with a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference Finals. Both the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks come into the game under 0.500 and will be looking to recapture some form.
Denis Kirilov
Two of the best teams from last season in the Eastern Conference face off on Sunday in Atlanta. The defending champions from Milwaukee had a surprising start to this season as they are 6-7, while the Hawks had an even worse start with 4 wins and 9 losses. It’s unusual to see both teams out of the top 10 in the East and this should change really soon, but as of now Milwaukee and Atlanta are in some kind of a mini-crisis. Trae Young is performing very well so far averaging 24.5 points per game and adding to that 9.2 assists. However, there have been games when he shot less than 40% from the field and this dropped his total FG% to 43.6% for the season.
On the other hand, the Bucks are struggling without Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton. Although they have Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Pat Connaughton, Jrue Holiday, and Grayson Allen, it’s obvious that something is missing. Watching them now, it’s really odd to think that this team won the NBA last year. However, they were a different team back then as all of the players are far away from their highest level of play. I think this is a good enough reason to go with the under in this game. Both teams are having trouble scoring and I believe this will continue after tomorrow.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Under 222.5 (-110)
30 PTS x 9 AST for @TheTraeYoung last night📊
Shot of the Game presented by @MichelobULTRA pic.twitter.com/SPp8HXd5u5
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) November 13, 2021
Michael Lantz
In a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Atlanta Hawks hosts the team that ended their Cinderella run last year: the Milwaukee Bucks. So far, the Hawks have been a frustrating group, they sit at 4-9, despite being close to fully healthy and one of the deepest teams in the league. Many folks, including myself, were excited to see them make the jump to a consistent contender after last year’s playoff run. So far, they haven’t been able to emulate that success.
As for the Bucks, they continue to play with no excuses. Sure, they’ve been missing Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, and they just got back Jrue Holiday from injury, but they’ve still put together a decent 6-7 record. No Bucks fan should be concerned—once they get back to 100%, they’ll arguably be the team to beat in the East. But, for the time being, they’ll have to stay afloat and win while being a bit short-handed. Despite Atlanta’s less than impressive record, they won’t be an easy task. They’re searching for a big win to spark a win streak, and they’ll relish the chance to take out the defending champs at home. The Hawks hope that the likes of Clint Capela and John Collins will be able to clog up the interior to prevent Giannis Antetokounmpo from having a dominant game— unfortunately the Hawks have had issues frustrating dominant scorers from other teams. They’ve let Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Steph Curry all score 30+ against them in recent matchups. While Antetokounmpo isn’t the ace shooter of those other three, he occasionally impresses from behind the arc. For the Hawks, it’ll be key to get under Giannis’ skin, especially with no Middleton to bail him out. It’s probably a bit bold, but if they can do that and continue to play to their potential offensively, I’ll pick the Hawks to cover.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks -1 (-110)
Golden State Warriors @ Charlotte Hornets – 7pm ET
After an incredible eight-game home stand, the Golden State Warriors get on the road to take on the Charlotte Hornets. Golden State comes into this one on the back of seven straight wins while Charlotte, a side they beat by 22 points less than two weeks ago, has won two straight.
Denis Kirilov
The 11-1 start of the season for the Warriors gives many NBA fans a flashback to their 73-9 campaign in 2016. With a hot Steph Curry in the team, a determined Andrew Wiggins, a high-flying Jordan Poole, and a possible 3-point monster in the face of Klay Thompson, this team seems unbeatable. They haven’t lost in regular time this season which further cements their great opening to this year. The Warriors played the Hornets on November 4th at home and the game was decided somewhere in the 3rd quarter. Although Miles Bridges put up 32 points and Gordon Hayward added another 23 points, their team was unable to stay close to the Warriors, losing in the end by 22 points.
The Hornets are also coming into this match with a winning streak after defeating the Grizzlies away and the Knicks at home. Both matches were intense, but Charlotte managed to remain on top and didn’t let them make a comeback. Michael Jordan’s team is definitely a very interesting team to watch this season, but they come nowhere close to the Warriors. Although the match will be played in Charlotte, I think that if Curry has another big night with 30+ points, the winning margin will once again be a double-digit number in favor of Golden State. Hence, I am inclined to choose them to cover their spread in this match.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors -5 (-110)
Michael Lantz
For the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry, this matchup at Charlotte is a homecoming of sorts. The future hall-of-famer visits the team he grew up watching his father on in a battle between the two highest scoring offenses in the NBA. Only thing is, Golden State’s defense is also ranked number one in the NBA. Last time these two teams met up, it showed: Golden State beat Charlotte with ease, winning 114-92. In that game they had a big performance from Damion Lee, who scored 16 points in 15 minutes. Lee is questionable for the matchup on Sunday, but I’m not sure it matters whether he plays or not. The Warriors are the hottest team in basketball and a team that’s as suspect on defense as the Hornets will have to come up with a bulletproof plan if they truly believe they can stop Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, and the breakout Jordan Poole. I’ll make this prediction brief and take the Warriors to win another.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors (-225)
Brooklyn Nets @ Oklahoma City Thunder – 7pm ET
In an incredible turn of events, the Oklahoma City Thunder have won four straight games and will be looking to add a fifth against two of their former stars. Kevin Durant and James Harden lead the Brooklyn Nets into the matchup against the team that drafted them, hoping to snap their streak and add a third straight win themselves.
Denis Kirilov
On first sight, the Brooklyn Nets shouldn’t have a problem in their match against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, we shouldn’t forget the two victories that the Thunder got against the LA Lakers previously this season. They are also coming into this game with a 4-game winning streak starting exactly in Staples Centre and continuing with wins over the Spurs, the Pelicans, and the Kings. The Canadian duo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luguentz Dort, are on fire at the moment and they are looking for new victims. On top of that, the team proved to be clutch in vital points of the games which further build a strong character to the players.
On the other hand, we have a Brooklyn Nets team that was far from convincing in their first couple of matches this season. They were losing games here and there and people thought this can’t be the year for the Nets. However, Kevin Durant took things in his hands and started carrying his team which led to them entering a 7-1 run in their most recent fixtures. They were simply unstoppable with the exception of the match against the Chicago Bulls. Moreover, the Nets have mostly played against underdogs and this will be the case tomorrow. However, I think that the OKC Thunder might turn out to be more competitive than expected from Brooklyn and KD and Harden’ former team can easily cover their spread of 9 points.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder +9 (-110)
City Night Thriller ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/XXWJPZFQHQ
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 13, 2021
Michael Lantz
I know it’s only been eleven games, but the Oklahoma City Thunder have to be one of the league’s most impressive teams thus far. They’re in the midst of a four-game win streak that has propelled them to a 5-6 record, and now they are hungry for five straight and a .500 record. They’ve been thrilled to have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander performing like an all-star, while Lu Dort continues to become a skilled two-way player. They’ve also seen some outstanding play from 2019 first-round pick Darius Bazley. It’s no doubt the Thunder have had some quality wins, but they’ll face a big test on Sunday, as two former players (Kevin Durant and James Harden), come to town leading a first-place Nets squad.
After a bit of a messy start, the Nets look more in the zone. BK’s finest have won seven of their last eight, with Kevin Durant emerging as a front runner for MVP. I’ve said it before on here: “Brooklyn is often guilty of playing down to their opponent”, it hasn’t quite happened yet, but a 120-112 win against an awful Pelicans squad, showed signs. Still, it will be a bit of a homecoming game for the aforementioned two players, who will want to put on a show for their former fans. So, I expect KD and Harden to have great games, but I believe the Nets are due for a wacky one on the road. While that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll lose, I expect a confident OKC team to make it an interesting night
Michael’s NBA Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder +9 (-110)
Portland Trail Blazers @ Denver Nuggets – 8pm ET
The Denver Nuggets host the Portland Trail Blazers in a rematch of last season’s opening round of the playoffs. Denver won that series in six games and has started the season in much better fashion than their Northwest Division rivals, but you can never count out Damian Lillard and the Blazers.
Denis Kirilov
This matchup was a treat to watch the last couple of seasons in the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets played some of the most enjoyable basketball in the League which is further supported by the intensity in the matches between them. In game 5 last year, the Nuggets defeated the Blazers after two overtimes, 147-140. Damian Lillard displayed a mind-blowing performance for such a vital match putting up double-double with 55 points and 10 assists. This whole series was probably the most interesting to watch last season and after such a spectacle many people can’t wait for their next game.
Both teams started off the season with some issues within their rosters. Although the Nuggets are 8-4 and are 3rd in the West, they have faced their demons in games against the Grizzlies, the Cavaliers, and the Jazz. Their biggest achievement so far is defeating the Miami Heat by 17 points a week ago. As for the Blazers, they hold a record of 6-7 and their biggest problem is the fact that Damian Lillard is way out of his rhythm. He is struggling to reach 50% FG in most of the games as he even had a match with just 4 points for 38 minutes of play. However, I think that both teams will electrify the Ball Arena in Denver on Sunday and they will produce a great show. Therefore, I will go with the over option in this match as they rarely disappoint their fans with low-scoring head-to-head fixtures.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Over 208 (-110)
Michael Lantz
The Portland Trail Blazers head to the “Mile High City” to take on the Denver Nuggets, in a matchup that has subtly been one of the NBA’s best in recent years. These two teams have faced off against each other in two of the last three playoffs. The Blazers prevailed in the first postseason meeting in 2019, beating the Nuggets in seven games to make the Western Conference Finals. But, the Nuggets would get payback, with a first-round victory last season. Now, these teams face off for the first time in the 2021-22 season, with the hope that they can provide another exhilarating matchup.
There’s a good chance we’ll get to see that, but unfortunately, some key players will be out. Damian Lillard will be sitting out with an abdominal injury; on the Nuggets side, Michael Porter Jr. will likely be out with a back injury. Sure, these two (especially Lillard) are game-changers, but will their absence really hurt their respective teams? Lillard is the heart and soul of this Blazers team, and no doubt a future Hall-of-Famer, but he’s struggled this year scoring 20 points per game while shooting 38% from the field, and 27% from three. That being said, even when Dame isn’t himself, teams still make him the focus of their defensive game plan. As for Porter Jr., his season has been even more abysmal; after signing a max contract he’s averaging 10 points per game while shooting 36% from the field and 21% from three.
So, despite these names not appearing in the starting lineup, their absence might actually help their teams when it comes to efficiency. The Nuggets have already had a couple of games without Porter Jr.; other players have stepped up and the Nuggets have shot the ball close to 45% as a team since he went out injured. We’ll see if the Blazers cope in a similar fashion, with their star player absent, as they still have big-time scorers including C.J. McCollum and Norman Powell. The Blazers rarely miss Lillard, while the Nuggets are used to this adversity over the last year. So I’ll pick the Nuggets to cover in this one.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Denver Nuggets -7 (-110)
Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Clippers – 9:30pm ET
The Los Angeles Clippers put their seven-game winning streak on the line when they host the Chicago Bulls to round out the night. Both sides enter with an 8-4 record, however the Clippers are at home and clearly have better recent form, with the Bulls coming off a big loss to the Warriors on Friday night.
Denis Kirilov
The Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Clippers will put an end to the NBA week at Staples Center. The Clippers managed to get revenge for the Lakers, who lost to the Wolves one night earlier, by defeating Minnesota by 27 points in their last game. This victory extended their winning streak to 7 games as they are looking to chase the Golden State Warriors for 1st place in the West. Paul George, Reggie Jackson, and Eric Bledsoe are looking fantastic at the moment and it will be difficult to find somebody to stop them. Maybe this team will be the Chicago Bulls. They are coming into this game after an awful 93-119 loss to the Golden State Warriors and they will try to get the best out of their road trip which will end in 4 more games.
The Bulls started off the season really well, being one of the most followed teams in the Eastern Conference due to Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan’s fabulous performance in the opening games. They have already managed to defeat some of the best teams in the NBA including the Jazz, Nets and Mavericks. Nikola Vucevic will miss the upcoming fixture for the Bulls, while there won’t be any new missing players for the Clippers. I think Vucevic’s impact on the games is big enough and this absence will take its toll on the Bulls. I will give my vote for the Clippers in this one.
Denis’ NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers (-158)
On a roll.
📼 @honey highlights from the team’s 7th straight win. pic.twitter.com/7FoxEwy5NE
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 14, 2021
Michael Lantz
The Clippers continue to be a problem in the Western Conference. Despite no Kawhi Leonard, the “other” L.A. team are on a seven game win streak. On Sunday night they’ll face one of the Eastern Conference’s best in the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago has been a tough team to face on both sides of the ball, but they’re temporarily without big man Nikola Vucevic, whose presence was missed in Chicago’s loss to the Golden State on Friday night. The Clippers have been on the rise thanks to Paul George’s MVP performance. But, he’s not the only one making waves: Reggie Jackson has turned into a legitimate #2 and supporting players like Isaiah Hartenstein have stepped up big in recent games. If the Bulls were fully healthy this would be a bit tougher, but I’ll take the Clippers at home.
Michael’s NBA Pick: Los Angeles Clippers (-158)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
