NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Karl-Anthony Towns, Celtics-Hawks, Knicks-Nuggets and More)

If you want potential playoff matchups in the early part of the season, the NBA is delivering on Wednesday, Nov. 16. 

Look at some of these head-to-head games we have tonight: 

• Miami Heat vs. Toronto Raptors
• Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
• Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns

If you’re looking to bet on tonight’s slate, I have a couple of moneyline picks, a spread pick and one player prop tonight. We’re looking to get back on track after a rough week to date. 

Let’s dive into the action for Wednesday: 

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record for 2022-23 Season: 43-42-1 (-4.1428 units)

NBA Best Bets Today

• Boston Celtics Moneyline (-130) vs. Atlanta Hawks
• New York Knicks Moneyline (+145) vs. Denver Nuggets
• Houston Rockets +9 (-110) vs. Dallas Mavericks
• Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 34.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-110)

Boston Celtics Moneyline (-130) vs. Atlanta Hawks

Even though Boston’s defense has taken a step back so far this season without Robert Williams III, the Celtics are still third in the NBA because of their elite offensive attack. 

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have led the way, and they’ll have to do so again tonight with Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon out for this game. 

Even though Atlanta is the No. 3 seed in the East at the moment, the team is 13th in the league in net rating, ranking 13th in offense and 10th in defense this season. 

The Celtics are going to be a tough cover for the Hawks, especially if they go small and play Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu off the floor. 

Trae Young and Dejounte Murray may be able to keep up with Tatum and Brown, but Boston’s offense is humming right now as a whole, putting up 117 or more points in six of the seven games on this win streak. 

The Celtics erased a double-digit deficit against Oklahoma City on Monday in a matter of minutes, and I think they play with a little more sense of urgency against another Eastern Conference contender. 

New York Knicks Moneyline (+145) vs. Denver Nuggets

The Knicks have been extremely lucky when it comes to injuries this season, as they faced the Philadelphia 76ers without James Harden and Joel Embiid, and now get a crack at Denver without the two-time reigning MVP in Jokic. 

New York’s defense has been a problem to open this season, ranking 21st in the NBA, but Tom Thibodeau’s group put together a much-improve performance on Tuesday night against Utah. 

Last season, Denver was just 2-6 when Jokic didn’t play, and even with Murray and MPJ expected to play in this game, I think New York has a slight advantage. In addition to this, Denver is -15.0 points per 100 possessions this season when Jokic is on the bench.

There is a trend that hurts the Knicks, who haven’t won in Denver since 2006, but you can counter that with the fact that the Knicks are the best team ATS in the second leg of a back-to-back over the last two seasons going 9-4. They’re 7-6 straight up in those games.   

The Nuggets (24th in defensive rating) have actually been worse than New York on the defensive side of the ball, and now they are without their top offensive player and potentially two key rotation players as well. 

Denver has dominated games in the first quarter, so if the Knicks can withstand an early run, I think they are live to pull off the upset.  

Houston Rockets +9 (-110) vs. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas is on a back-to-back against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, and Luka Doncic will miss his first game of the season. 

We may have to plug our nose with this one, but I like the Rockets with the points in this matchup and actually bet them this morning at +9. 

Houston is 6-7-1 against the spread so far this season, with an average margin of victory of -8.5. There isn’t a ton to like about this Rockets team, as they rank 29th in net rating, 29th in defensive rating and 26th in offensive rating. 

However, I think they can hang around with Dallas if Doncic is out. 

The Mavericks are one of the worst teams in the NBA against the spread this season, going 3-9-1 and struggling to cover as home favorites (1-6-1 ATS).

Extra minutes for Facu Campazzo and Frank Ntilikina isn’t exactly inspiring much faith in this Dallas offense, which needs to replace 34.4 points and 7.8 assists per game that it usually gets from Doncic. 

I’ll ride with the young Rockets as big underdogs in this game.  

Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 34.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-110)

Foul trouble is always a concern with Karl-Anthony Towns, but he is averaging 21.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game heading into a matchup with the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. 

Orlando is bottom-10 in the NBA in defensive rating, and Towns has cleared 34.5 PRA in nine of his 14 games this season. Essentially, if KAT is going to push 20-plus points, he’s got a good chance of going over this number. 

I prefer the PRA to KAT’s traditional points prop, mainly because he’s been such a good passer this season, picking up four or more assists in 12 of 14 games. Minnesota needs to get on track, and running the offense through KAT may be the best way to do it.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.