NBA Preview, Odds & Best Bets for December 1: Giannis, Bucks Host Hornets in Search of Eighth Straight Win

Another busy NBA betting Wednesday is here, with nine games to pore over and profit from on tonight’s schedule.

There is no must-see matchup on the level of last night’s showdown between the Warriors and Suns, which featured a rough–to put it mildly–shooting night for Steph Curry, an early exit by Devin Booker due to injury, and the Suns’ 17th straight win. But we do have four matchups between teams with winning records. That includes the Timberwolves taking on the Wizards in a matchup of two teams who are both outperforming preseason expectations.

We have betting advice for that matchup and tonight’s other eight games below, so let’s get to it.

NBA Schedule for Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Atlanta Hawks (11-10) vs Indiana Pacers (9-14), 7:00 p.m. ET

Denver Nuggets (10-10) vs Orlando Magic (4-18), 7:00 p.m. ET

Minnesota Timberwolves (11-10) vs Washington Wizards (13-8), 7:00 p.m. ET

Philadelphia 76ers (11-10) vs Boston Celtics (11-10), NBA TV, 7:30 p.m. ET

Cleveland Cavaliers (11-10) vs Miami Heat (13-8), 7:30 p.m. ET

Charlotte Hornets (13-10) vs Milwaukee Bucks (13-8), 8:00 p.m. ET

Dallas Mavericks (10-9) vs New Orleans Pelicans (6-17), 8:00 p.m. ET

Houston Rockets (4-16) vs Oklahoma City Thunder (6-14), 8:00 p.m. ET

Sacramento Kings (8-14) vs Los Angeles Clippers (11-10), NBA TV, 10:30 p.m. ET

NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets for Wednesday, December 1, 2021

• Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers
• Denver Nuggets vs Orlando Magic
• Minnesota Timberwolves vs Washington Wizards
• Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat
• Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks
• Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Saints
• Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder
• Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Clippers

NBA betting odds listed below are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 2:15 p.m. ET. To compare NBA betting odds from several top online sportsbooks, check out our NBA odds.

The best bets offered below are not firm picks but are recommendations and suggestions to inform and aid your betting selections. We do also offer aggregated NBA betting picks for every NBA matchup every day.

NBA Betting Picks: Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Betting News aggregates our NBA betting picks from trusted sports betting industry sources. Along with NBA picks for every NBA matchup, we also offer MLB picks, NFL picks, and NHL picks.

Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Atlanta Hawks +1.5 (-112), Indiana Pacers -1.5 (-108)
• Total: OVER 218.5 (-110), UNDER 218.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Atlanta Hawks +100, Indiana Pacers -118

Hawks vs Pacers Best Bet: Pacers ML – The Hawks haven’t played since Saturday, when their seven-game win streak ended at home against the Knicks. They were dominant in their win streak, winning every game by double digits.

But they are 1-7 SU on the road against teams that currently have a winning record, while Indiana’s three home losses to teams currently with a winning record are against the Lakers (once) and Bucks (twice), two teams that are more above than their level than the Hawks are.

I don’t particularly love the Pacers as a team, but I do like them as a slight favorite in this spot.

Hawks vs Pacers Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Denver Nuggets vs Orlando Magic NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Denver Nuggets -7.5 (-114), Orlando Magic +7.5 (-106)
• Total: OVER 209 (-108), UNDER 209 (-112)
• Moneyline: Denver Nuggets -350, Orlando Magic +280

Nuggets vs Magic Best Bet: Nuggets to cover – Nikola Jokic returned from a four-game absence on Monday night in Miami, and the MVP did MVP things (24 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists in 33 minutes) in helping the Nuggets end a six-game losing skid with a dominant win over the Heat.

The Magic have lost seven in a row, but they aren’t just mailing it in. They have been respectable in losses to the Nets, Hornets, and Sixers. But they aren’t scoring enough–they have been held under 100 points in each of their last five games–and don’t generate enough stops to turn competing into slightly more frequent winning.

The Nuggets are still not what they could be offensively were Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were healthy but having the MVP (and having him be a seven-footer who can do everything) can make a world of difference most nights. Look for them to complete their Sunshine State stop with a comfortable win.

Nuggets vs Magic Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Washington Wizards NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Minnesota Timberwolves +4 (-106), Washington Wizards -4 (-114)
• Total: OVER 217 (-112), UNDER 217 (-108)
• Moneyline: Minnesota Timberwolves +152, Washington Wizards -180

Timberwolves vs Wizards Best Bet: OVER 217 – Are we seeing things finally click for the Timberwolves? With Monday’s win over Indiana, they are now 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.

An underrated part of their surge? Big man Jarred Vanderbilt, who missed Monday’s win due to illness, averaged 11 rebounds per game in the previous seven games. Vanderbilt is questionable for tonight’s game. Vanderbilt is one of the league’s leaders in offensive rebounds per game, and the Timberwolves managed only eight offensive rebounds against the Pacers and Domantas Sabonis, who pulled down 21 defensive boards as part of a 25-rebound night.

If Vanderbilt can’t go tonight, it will put the Timberwolves in a tougher spot against the Wizards, who have two renowned rebounders in Montrezl Harrell (and…Kyle Kuzma (”puts on glasses, takes them off, and frantically cleans them”)?

All that said, I like the over in this one regardless. The Wizards average almost ten points more at home (111.0) than they do on the road (101.8), while the Timberwolves average more than six points more on the road (112.0) than they do at home (105.7).

Timberwolves vs Wizards Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Philadelphia 76ers vs Boston Celtics NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Philadelphia 76ers +2.5 (-108), Boston Celtics -2.5 (-112)
• Total: OVER 206.5 (-110), UNDER 206.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers +124, Boston Celtics -146

Sixers vs Celtics Best Bet: OVER 206.5 – Our consensus picks heavily favor the over, even at 207, and that’s where I’m looking in this matchup. The Sixers are still getting their feet under them after a rash of personnel issues early on due to injuries and COVID, while the Celtics are still finding their way with new coach Ime Udoka.

In 14 career games against the Celtics, Joel Embiid is averaging 26.5 points per game and 12 rebounds per game, both solidly above his overall career averages. After a rough night from the field in Monday’s close win over the Magic, look for Embiid to put up more Embiid-like numbers tonight at TD Garden and do his part to help this get over.

Sixers vs Celtics Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Miami Heat NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Cleveland Cavaliers +4.5 (-106), Miami Heat -4.5 (-114)
• Total: OVER 206 (-110), UNDER 206 (-110)
• Moneyline: Cleveland Cavaliers +166, Miami Heat -198

Cavs vs Heat Best Bet: Avoid – The Heat couldn’t hang with Jokic and the Nuggets on Monday without Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. Herro (probable – illness) is expected to return, while Butler (tailbone) is questionable, and so is Bam Adebayo, who suffered a sprained thumb against the Nuggets.

The Cavs had an impressive double-digit win in Dallas on Monday, but I don’t feel a great deal of comfort in backing them to cover this spread. Nor do I feel comfortable backing the Heat to cover with Butler and Adebayo uncertain to play. I do recommend tracking this one for live betting, but there are better options on the board for pre-game action.

Cavs vs Heat Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Charlotte Hornets vs Milwaukee Bucks NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Charlotte Hornets +9 (-108), Milwaukee Bucks -9 (-112)
• Total: OVER 231 (-108), UNDER 231 (-112)
• Moneyline: Charlotte Hornets +310, Milwaukee Bucks -390

Hornets vs Bucks Best Bet: Bucks team total over 120.5 – The Hornets have given up 135 and 133 points in regulation in their last two games, a three-point overtime loss to the Rockets and a 14-point loss to the Bulls. It doesn’t get any easier tonight as they visit the Bucks, who have won seven straight and have won their last four by 31, 21, 11, and 18.

Hornets vs Bucks Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Dallas Mavericks vs New Orleans Pelicans NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Dallas Mavericks -3.5 (-110), New Orleans Pelicans +3.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 216.5 (-114), UNDER 216.5 (-108)
• Moneyline: Dallas Mavericks -164, New Orleans Pelicans +138

Mavs vs Pelicans Best Bet: Mavs to win and cover – These two teams were part of a couple of Monday’s surprising results, as the Mavs lost to the Cavs by 18 at home and the Pelicans scored a 19-point road win over the Clippers.

The Mavs have hit a bit of a skid after a positive start, losing five of their last six games. But they should get back on track or at least have a brief respite tonight in New Orleans. Dallas is 7-0 SU and 4-3 ATS against teams that are currently under .500, and they covered in a 16-point home win over the Pelicans on November 8.

The moneyline is still short enough (at the time of writing) to be worth backing in addition to the spread or if you rather not take the risk with the spread. If it stays in the -160s or gets shorter, don’t wait too close to gametime to make a move.

Mavs vs Pelicans Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Houston Rockets +2.5 (-110), Oklahoma City Thunder -2.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 215.5 (-110), UNDER 215.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Houston Rockets +122, Oklahoma City Thunder -144

Rockets vs Thunder Best Bet: Under 215.5 – After meeting Monday in Houston, these two teams take things to OKC tonight. For some reason, in Monday’s preview I was compelled to back a team that had lost six in a row. Sure, I was factoring in that the Rockets stink too, but I will just say that I have made better choices (and worse ones too, to be fair).

This matchup will wrap up their four-game season series, and the first three all went under 215.5. Only three of Oklahoma City’s games this season have gone over 215.5, and the Thunder average only 101.8 points per game at home (27th in the NBA). The Rockets average only 100.5 points per game on the road, which ranks 26th in the NBA.

All signs point to the under here, so naturally it will end up 126-122 in regulation. Naturally.

Rockets vs Thunder Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More

Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Clippers NBA Betting Odds & Best Bets

• Spread: Sacramento Kings +8 (-110), Los Angeles Clippers -8 (-110)
• Total: OVER 216.5 (-110), UNDER 216.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Sacramento Kings +280, Los Angeles Clippers -350

Kings vs Clippers Best Bet: Kings to cover – Perhaps an apology is in order from me to Clippers fans. Since I talked up Paul George’s MVP hopes (what are those?), the Clippers have lost five of seven games, including Monday’s 19-point home loss to the Clippers. There’s no other way to explain Jonas Valanciunas doing his best Steph Curry impression and making seven first-half threes than some wild forces being at work.

The last couple of times I have been backed the Clippers, things have not panned out so well. So let me put out some negative energy to see if it will have the opposite effect and back the Kings to cover tonight at Staples.

Kings vs Clippers Matchup: NBA Betting Picks, Odds, Stats & More