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Free NBA Picks Today for Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021

The NBA season is finally here! With so many games on each day, we have selected the top five games and made our best NBA predictions for Wednesday, November 3rd.

Free NBA Picks Today for Wednesday, November 3rd, 2021
Picks & Predictions
Wed 3rd November 2021

Our free NBA Picks are out for Wednesday, November 3rd, 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!

New York Knicks @ Indiana Pacers – 7pm EDT

The Indiana Pacers put up 131 points on the Spurs on Monday, on their way to their second win of the season, but now face a much tougher opponent, the New York Knicks. Despite rolling through the first few weeks of action, the Knicks were caught out in their last game, losing by nine to the Raptors. 

Tim Newton

In this battle between two exciting power forwards, Julius Randle and Domantas Sabonis, I believe that the former will help his team to victory. While the Knicks lost to the lowly Raptors on Monday, I expect them to bounce back against an inconsistent Indiana side. The Pacers still can’t play defense, and while they get Malcolm Brogdon back for this clash, they have only won two games so far this season. 

While New York’s defense isn’t at the same level it was last year, where they gave up the fewest points per game across the league, Indiana’s defense has regressed. They are giving up the fourth most points per game and now face a New York offense that has scored the second most points per game through their first seven. Adding to that, New York are just one of two teams to be shooting 40% or better from behind the arc, while Indiana are over 5% worse themselves. 

Yes, Indiana are at home and coming off an impressive win, but I don’t think that form stacks up, especially when they can’t play defense. The Knicks are underdogs for this clash but I have them coming out on top and I’m happy to take the juicy odds on offer. 

Tim’s NBA Pick: New York Knicks (+102)

Denis Kirilov

The New York Knicks will have to find a way to outsmart the Indiana Pacers on their home floor, Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The team from the “Big Apple” is starting to slowly resemble some of their greatest squads in franchise history. Although none of the players on the current roster can be compared to all-time greats like Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks, and Anthony Mason, the team asserts dominance the same way they did back in 1993-94. RJ Barret and Julius Randle might be the future for the Knicks if they decide to stay for a couple more years.

On the other hand, the Pacers are off to a really bad start to their season winning just 2 games out of 8 matches. It’s an unusual turn of events for Indiana as they have better players on their roster than an average NBA team. Domantas Sabonis, Chris Duarte, Myles Turner, and Caris LeVert have just enough experience to lead a team. After LeVert’s shaky return in their game against the Raptors, they looked to be much improved in their 13-point victory over the San Antonio Spurs in their last match. I think they will take advantage of their momentum and defeat the Knicks at home. 

Denis’ NBA Pick: Indiana Pacers (-120) 

Michael Lantz

The New York Knicks are looking to bounce back after the Toronto Raptors rode a dominant third quarter to beat them at MSG. While the Knicks have looked great against their playoff competition this season, they’ve had bad losses to both the Magic and Raptors at home. They now take to the road to face an Indiana Pacers team that has struggled mightily themselves.

Indiana is 2-6, and have had plenty of issues on the defensive end. Luckily their offense, including rookie Chris Duarte, have shown signs of life. This was on full display Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, where they captured their second victory of the year in a 131-118 win. The Pacers hope to continue the scoring rampage, but will have to face a tough New York Knicks defense who don’t plan to make losing to bad teams a formality. 

So as the New York faithful have been yelling all week “Bing Bong”: I’ll take the Knicks. 

Michael’s NBA Pick: New York Knicks (+102) 

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Noah Dunlap

The New York Knicks have somewhat surprisingly emerged as one of the best teams in the NBA. With Julius Randle playing like a potential MVP candidate, if he continues the hot streak he’s on, along with role players like R.J Barrett, Derrick Rose, and Kemba Walker, it’s hard to imagine that this hot start from New York is one that’s going to come to a stop anytime soon. 

For Indiana, they’re stuck trying to find answers after an abysmal 2-6 start. With a roster that, on paper, has more talent than they’ve shown on the floor, and an appearance in last year’s Eastern Conference Play-In game featuring virtually the same roster, this was a start that not many saw coming. The question is whether they can right the ship in front of a home crowd against arguably one of the best teams in basketball this year. While I think Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner play well enough to keep this one competitive, I think their defense falters late, leading to a tight Knicks win. 

Noah’s NBA Pick: New York Knicks +1.5 (-110)

Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers – 7pm EDT

The 6-1 Chicago Bulls are squaring up against the 5-2 Philadelphia 76ers, in a matchup between two of the East’s best two teams from the early stages of the season. The Sixers will be without Tobias Harris, meaning Joel Embiid is the sole star for the home team, but will that be enough against the red-hot, charging Bulls?

Tim Newton

I’m taking another +102 road underdog, this time the Bulls. Chicago have looked unstoppable through the first few weeks of the season, beating some very good teams along the way. That isn’t to discredit Philly, and their 5-2 start to the season, but they will be without Tobias Harris and that is a massive problem for a team that is already missing their third star, Ben Simmons. 

With Joel Embiid left to carry the load, which he is more than capable of doing, will the Sixers have enough offense to match it with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and the Bulls? I am leaning towards no and am happy to take the odds on offer with Chicago because of it. 

The Bulls are a top five scoring defense so far this season and will now face a short-handed Philly side, meaning they can tighten the clamps even more. Add in the fact that Chicago is top three for three-point shooting this season, and I think they have more than enough to secure the win on the road. 

Tim’s NBA Pick: Chicago Bulls (+102)

Denis Kirilov

The Chicago Bulls are playing at a very high level to start off the 2021/22 NBA season. They are 1st in the Eastern Conference with 6 wins and 1 loss and the Bulls even managed to stop Utah’s winning streak with a 107-99 win. Two days later, they had to play against the Celtics where they overcame a 19-point deficit at the end of the 3rd Quarter to win the game by 14 points. DeMar DeRozan put up 37 points for the victory, while Zach LaVine added 26 points. LaVine suffered a minor ligament tear in his left thumb against the Raptors which will definitely take its toll at some point in Bulls’ upcoming games.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 3rd in the Eastern Conference with 5 wins and 2 losses, proving that they don’t need Ben Simmons, who is most likely to part ways with the team soon. With the absence of Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, they managed to defeat the Blazers in their last match. The consistency that players like Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and Danny Green display is extraordinary. Furkan Korkmaz, Georges Niang, and Tyrese Maxey are also capable of coming up huge in certain games. The upcoming fixture promises to be entertaining, dynamic, and full of electrifying plays. Both teams will do their best to get the win, but I would give my preferences towards the 76ers. 

Denis’ NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (-120) 

Michael Lantz

The Chicago Bulls are coming off back-to-back wins that have garnered them a 6-1 record to start the 2021-22 season. Their only defeat was a nail biting one point loss to the New York Knicks—otherwise the Bulls have had excellent performances on both sides of the ball. Their excellent play continued on Monday night as they ran over the Boston Celtics. The Bulls got 37 points from DeMar DeRozen and 26 points from Zach LaVine (who’s playing through a thumb injury), as the two continue to form one of the league’s top scoring duos. 

They’ll travel to Philadelphia Wednesday night to take on a 76ers team that’s without Tobias Harris (COVID protocol). Luckily, Philly is expected to have Joel Embiid, who missed the team’s win against the Trail Blazers due to rest. They’ve also been fortunate to have guys step up—Matisse Thybulle has once again been stellar on defense, and Seth Curry, Furkan Korkmaz and Tyrese Maxey have provided some handy scoring. I expect that to translate over to Wednesday night’s game, in what I believe will be a very close victory for the Sixers against a good Bulls squad.

Michael’s NBA Pick: Philadelphia 76ers (-120)

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Noah Dunlap

Sitting at 6-1, the Chicago Bulls now lead the Eastern Conference early in the year after making huge moves this off-season. Adding Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan have proven to be massive for the Bulls, and keeping Zach LaVine in the Windy City is also showing to be a solid move for the front office. However, LaVine did injure his thumb with a slight ligament tear, which he says won’t sideline him, but it remains to be seen how effective he can be through the injury. 

If there is one potential saving grace for Chicago in this one, however, it’s that Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris have both been out for Philadelphia. If both sides are sitting at 100%, I would be taking Philly virtually every time. But with Harris and potentially Embiid out, even with Chicago playing with an injured Zach LaVine, give me Chicago to squeak out a win on the road in this one. 

Noah’s NBA Pick: Chicago Bulls +1.5 (-110)

Atlanta Hawks @ Brooklyn Nets – 7:30pm EDT

In a battle between two somewhat disappointing teams so far this season, the Brooklyn Nets host the Atlanta Hawks tonight. The Nets have won two straight and will be looking to make it three tonight, while the Hawks bounced back from consecutive losses with a seven-point win over Washington on Monday night. 

Tim Newton

While both teams are struggling, the Nets’ offense is clearly the most alarming aspect in this matchup. Brooklyn ranks just 20th for points per game this season and that is with Kevin Durant still putting up 27.7 points on an absurd 58.3% from the floor. The worry is James Harden. While he had a triple double against Detroit on Monday, it was just his first game with either double digit assists or rebounds for the season and he has only scored more than 20 once from seven games. This is a former perennial scoring champ and MVP we are talking about. 

Over to Atlanta, the Hawks are still working out their best rotation, given the flurry of talented wings they have on the roster. Between Bogdan Bogdanovic, De’Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, Kevin Huerter and Danilo Gallinari, the Hawks have plenty of options to pair with Trae Young on the perimeter, with John Collins and Clint Capela patrolling the paint. Those flurry of wings, especially Reddish and Hunter, will be vital in a matchup against Durant, Harden and the Nets, as their athleticism and length can help keep Brooklyn under wraps. 

Brooklyn are currently favored by five points for this clash, but given how inconsistent they have been, especially offensively, I don’t think they should be. Despite this one being in Brooklyn, I’m taking the Hawks with the points in this one. 

Tim’s NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks +5 (-110)

Denis Kirilov

The Atlanta Hawks are struggling to find their rhythm in the beginning of the season. They are off to a 4-3 start which is neither good, nor bad, having in mind the teams they have played against. Although they suffered an upset against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their second game of the season, their other two losses against the Wizards and the 76ers were anticipated. Trae Young continues to carry his team, averaging 22.9 points and 9.4 assists per game. The team can also rely on players like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Clint Capela, Danilo Gallinari, and Cameron Reddish.

The Brooklyn Nets are underestimating their matches so far, suffering a total of 3 losses in their first 7 games. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the season opener by 23 points. Then, they were surprised by the Charlotte Hornets at home, suffering a 95-111 loss. Finally, the Miami Heat came to Barclays Center and gave them their third defeat for the campaign. Kevin Durant is leaving it all on the court, averaging 27.7 points per game. James Harden, on the other hand, is disappointing so far with just 18.6 points per game and 39.8% FG. The battle between Trae Young and Kevin Durant will be exciting to watch and due to Nets’ lack of confidence I will recommend picking the Atlanta Hawks to cover as five-point underdogs.

Denis’ NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks +5 (-110)

Michael Lantz

After a series of frustrating performances, the Atlanta Hawks got a big win against the Washington Wizards on monday, making up for a loss against them just a few days prior. Their outstanding depth was on full display as they had seven players score double digits. The Hawks now get a chance to win big games back-to-back as they travel to Brooklyn to take on the Nets.

After a tough loss against the Miami Heat, Brooklyn has looked a bit more like themselves. Particularly James Harden, who scored 29 points in a win against Indiana and followed that with a triple-double against the Pistons. In addition to Harden, Kevin Durant is looking like (surprise) an all-NBA player, and the team has been getting some big bench scoring from LaMarcus Aldridge. If they can pick up their defense and get their rotations down a bit better, they should be able to continue their winning ways with or without Kyrie Iriving.

Although the Hawks will be a difficult task; they’ll have their hands full with superstar Trae Young, three-point dead eyes Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish, and big men Clint Capela and John Collins. It should be a great game, and I think the best bet is Atlanta to cover the spread.

Michael’s NBA Pick: Atlanta Hawks +5 (110) 

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Noah Dunlap

Atlanta is having to rely a bit too much on Trae Young early on this season for them to be considered legitimate contenders in the Easyern Conference. With role players like Clint Capela, John Collins, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, there’s really no reason Young should be putting up the numbers and effort he is each and every night. Until that changes, I have questions about how serious the Hawks should be taken this season.

However, on a similar note, the same goes for Brooklyn. Currently, Kevin Durant has been virtually a one man team, taking his Nets teammates and placing them on his shoulders. That includes James Harden, who at present is having one of his worst seasons as a pro. If Brooklyn plans on competing at a high level, especially with Kyrie Irving’s future being up in the air, it has to come behind the play of Durant AND Harden, not one or the other. When it comes to these two teams in this one, despite Harden’s struggles, I still lean Nets by a slight margin, primarily because I don’t see anyone on Atlanta’s roster that will be able to slow down Kevin Durant. With this game currently sitting at Brooklyn -5, I’m not supremely confident in margin, so instead lean heavily on a Brooklyn moneyline and get what you can. 

Noah’s NBA Pick: Brooklyn Nets (-215)

Denver Nuggets @ Memphis Grizzlies – 8pm EDT

After going at it on Monday night, tonight we see the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets play game two of this back to back set in Memphis. The Grizzlies got the upper-hand in the first game, winning 106-97 behind 26 points, eight assists and seven boards from Ja Morant. 

Tim Newton

While both sides are sitting at 4-3 so far this season, they have gotten there in much different ways. Memphis have been offense over defense to win them games while the Nuggets have relied on their defense to pull them through. This is evidenced by Memphis ranking 9th for points per game and 28th for opponents’ points per game, while Denver is 27th and 2nd respectively. 

In their clash on Monday, it was Denver’s poor offense that was the story, only managing 97 points for the game. While Nikola Jokic had 23, 7 and 7 plus Aaron Gordon added a 15-point double-double, no one else could get anything going for the Nuggets, with Will Barton only mustering four points on 1-8 from the floor. 

On the other hand, Memphis had five different players score 11+ points, headlined by Ja Morant’s 26. However, the bench production was the big factor, with Tyus Jones and Xavier Tillman combining for 29 points off the pine. They do rank top 10 for three point percentage, while Denver is 28th, and I’m expecting for an explosion offensively after only putting up 106 in their win on Monday. Typically the second game of a two-game set is closer, with the losing team coming out on top, but I don’t have any faith in Denver’s offense at the moment. 

Tim’s NBA Pick: Memphis Grizzlies (-120)

Denis Kirilov

Although they are sitting in 3rd position in the Western Conference, the Nuggets seem far away from their top condition. The team solely relies on Nikola Jokic and his ability to score points and pick up numerous rebounds. The one-man-only show is a double-edged sword as if the opponent neutralizes this particular player, then it’s over. This didn’t happen in game 1 between these two teams, but still Memphis got the win. The unexpected good performance from Tyus Jones made it possible after he managed to hit 5 of 7 attempts from beyond the 3-point line. Ja Morant and Nikola Jokic made a decent battle between each other with nobody taking the edge.

I think that this game will be a real challenge for the Grizzlies as they will need to repeat their performance all over again. Such games will determine whether Memphis will be a serious contender in the Playoffs. I am expecting another spectacle in FedExForum, but this time I believe we will see a different winner. Nikola Jokic hasn’t had a triple-double yet and I think tomorrow’s game will be a great opportunity to look for such a wager. However, I will go with the safer bet and pick the moneyline for the Nuggets. 

Denis’ NBA Pick: Denver Nuggets (+102)

Michael Lantz

The Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies face off for the second time in three days on Wednesday night. Memphis won the first matchup thanks to 26 points from budding superstar Ja Morant and the defense limiting Nikola Jokic to 23 points and 7 rebounds.

That being said, the Denver Nuggets haven’t backed down despite not having Jamal Murray and not having a consistent second option. Michael Porter Jr. was supposed to be that second guy, but he has been atrocious averaging just under 11 points per game while shooting 34.5% from the field. Luckily the Nuggets have solid depth that has helped carry them to a 4-3 record with some wins against quality opponents. I do expect the Nuggets to make some proper adjustments and don’t expect Jokic to have as slow of a game. I’ll take the Nuggets as the slight underdogs.

Michael’s NBA Pick: Denver Nuggets (+102)

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Noah Dunlap

In one of the weirder scheduling moves from the NBA, these two teams will meet for the second time in three days, both in Memphis. Monday night saw the Grizzlies get the 9-point win at home, in a game that Denver shot 24% from three point range. That’s not a number that you can expect from a team of Denver’s caliber, and one that is almost certain to improve in tonight’s game. Another aspect that will absolutely change is last year’s league MVP Nikola Jokic only going for 23 points and 7 rebounds. Look for Jokic to have a massive game in his second try against an iffy Grizz defense. 

For Memphis, Ja Morant is clearly going to have to be the leader if they want to get back-to-back wins against this Denver squad that made it to the Western Conference Finals a year ago. With Steven Adams putting in good minutes, along with Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton, Memphis is going to score, the question is whether they can stop Denver enough to get another win. I lean slightly towards Denver in this matchup, as they come out seeking revenge for Monday’s loss, and they do so leaning heavily on MVP Nikola Jokic to get them there. 

Noah’s NBA Pick: Denver Nuggets (+102)

Charlotte Hornets @ Golden State Warriors – 10pm EDT

Two exciting guards face off as two-time MVP Steph Curry and second-year star LaMelo Ball will go head to head to close out the night. The Charlotte Hornets have been a surprise this year, but have lost three of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Warriors continue to show that they are still one of the league’s best, sitting at 5-1 on the season. 

Tim Newton

This is going to be an extremely exciting matchup but I have to lean towards the experience of the Warriors here. Charlotte is one of the best up-and-coming teams in the league but showed that with that, comes inconsistency. Monday saw them face a Cleveland side that they beat by 11 points in opening week but lost by three, allowing all five of the Cavs’ starters to score 15+ points. If they put up that sort of effort against Golden State, with the likes of Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggings on the perimeter, it will be game over very early on. 

Curry is averaging 28.7 points on 39.2% shooting from deep, along with 7.5 boards and 6.5 dimes so far this season. Combine that with Wiggins’ putting up 16.2 points on 40% shooting from deep and the Warriors have a very potent offense, with Draymond Green’s seven assists per game controlling the offense. 

Ultimately, the Hornets may be leading the league in scoring this season, but Golden State ranks 12th for points per game, only seven points off the pace, and is a much better defensive side. Golden State is tied for sixth in opponent points, giving up just 103 per game, while Charlotte ranks 29th, giving up 115. That doesn’t bode well for a young, inexperienced Charlotte side in this one, and I’m to take the Warriors in the spread, despite laying 6.5 points. 

Tim’s NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors -6.5 (-110)

Denis Kirilov

The Charlotte Hornets will travel to Oakland, San Francisco, to face the Golden State Warriors in a game between two teams who love shooting from deep range. The Hornets are 5-3 while the Warriors are giving us flashbacks to their previous seasons with their 5-1 start. Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins are playing well together, although they had some periods with not-so-great understanding between each other.

The Charlotte Hornets have been riding the wave ever since their opening game against the Indiana Pacers. They went on to defeat teams like the Brooklyn Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers. Overcoming Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Kevin Durant and James Harden is not an easy task, but with players like LaMelo Ball, Kelly Oubre Jr, Miles Bridges, Terry Rozier, and Gordon Hayward, they somehow managed to achieve it. They also fought off until the end against the hot Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics, but came in short in their attempt.

However, I think that the match between Charlotte and Golden State will go down the wire and will be decided by a last-second shot, possibly a buzzer-beater. That’s why I will pick the Hornets’ spread. I would also suggest a bet for “Wire To Wire”, picking “Any Other Result” as I don’t think there will be a team that will lead the game at the end of each quarter.

Denis’ NBA Pick: Charlotte Hornets +6.5 (-110)
Denis’ Bonus NBA Pick: Wire To Wire – Any Other Result (-120) 

Michael Lantz

The Charlotte Hornets have gotten out to a solid 5-3 start, all while scoring more than 100 points in seven of their eight games (they scored 99 in the other). After two forgettable performances against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, LaMelo Ball has looked like the all-star the Hornets were hoping he’d be upon drafting him. In his last two games he’s scored 27 and 30 points while shooting 50% or better from the field and three point line. He’s also averaged 8 rebounds and 6.5 assists in those games.

Ball’s next chance to put up big stats comes against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have enjoyed getting out to a 5-1 start, with Steph Curry continuing to have the league in awe with his scoring abilities. Expect Steph to put on a show against his childhood team the Charlotte Hornets, but much like the upstart Memphis Grizzlies—who surprised the Warriors with an overtime win—I expect the Hornets to at least keep it close.

Michael’s NBA Pick: Charlotte Hornets +6.5 (-110)

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Noah Dunlap

This is going to be an exciting matchup between two teams whose offense’s can put up points from anywhere on the floor. For Charlotte, they’ve come back down to earth just a bit following an extremely hot start. In saying that, having a roster being led by LaMelo Ball, Miles Bridges, and Gordon Hayward, they can certainly get their issues righted in a hurry, as they can put up points without trying. The problem is the defense isn’t very good, and has gotten exploited as such this season. 

Which is why I think this is a bad matchup for Charlotte. LaMelo is one of the best up and coming point guards in the league, but when he’s set to go head up against Steph Curry, who has been a top-5 player in the league, regardless of position, for 7-10 years now, I’m not sure how Ball’s youth stacks up. The other issue I see for the Hornets in this one is that Golden State actually has a lineup that can put real emphasis on the defensive end, as Draymond Green, while undersized, is a work-horse down low on defense. This difference in defensive philosophies is what I see being the difference maker, and why I have the Warriors getting the win at home and improving to 6-1 on the season. 

Noah’s NBA Pick: Golden State Warriors -6.5 (-110)

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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.

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