NBA Best Bets Today: 3 of the best NBA Picks for Friday, November 15

Friday is here, and we have 12 games on the NBA slate today! With the NBA Cup underway, the in-season tournament will run until December 3, with games scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays. Given point differential matters in these matchups, gear up for an exciting night of basketball!

 (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The NBA Cup Games Continue Tonight

With two primetime games set to air on ESPN, the San Antonio Spurs (6-6, 5-2 home) will host the Los Angeles Lakers( (7-4, 1-4 away) at home.  With both teams selected in West: Group B, this will be the first Cup game for either side. 3.5 point favorites on the road, the Lakers are riding a three-game winning streak vs the Grizzlies, Raptors, and 76ers. Fresh off a career first 50 point performance, Victor Wembanyama and company are winners of two straight vs the Wizards and Kings.

For the late night ESPN matchup, the sizzling Golden State Warriors (9-2, 3-1 home) get a 7.5 favorable spread matchup at home vs the injury riddled Memphis Grizzlies (7-5, 3-3 away). Both placed in West: Group C of the NBA Cup, the Warriors are atop of the leader board in wins, and point differential. Without Ja Morant, can the Grizzlies upset Golden State?

If you're looking to tail my best bets and plays for tonight, I will provide a mix of spread and player prop bets. Up over 30 units on the month, I will look to cash out tonight. Keeping my bank roll management in mind, I've placed 2-3 % of it on each play, all as straight bets. It's worth to note I've placed all my Friday NBA best bets within FanDuel Sportsbook.

Current FanDuel odds and NBA slate for Friday, November 15:

Are you looking to bet on the NBA all season long with us? Here at Ballislife Bets, we've gathered a complete list of the best sports betting offers here. 

NBA Best Bets For Friday, November 15

Spread Best Bet #1: Phoenix Suns vs Oklahoma City Thunder

Thunder 2024-2025 ATS Record: 8-3-1

• OKC Thunder -7.5 (-110 FanDuel)

My first best bet of tonight, I placed one unit on the Oklahoma City Thunder to cover the 7.5 favorable spread at home vs the Phoenix Suns. While the Suns big three of Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker make up nearly 61 percent of the total offense, their win columns depend on their health. With Durant sidelined with a calf injury, the Suns are 1-2, and have proven the offense struggles without him. One of the most elite mid range scorers in the game, Durants having the highest scoring season since 2022, and has been spectacular beyond the arc (42.9 %).

Durant's absence was truly felt in the Kings 127-104 defeat over the Suns on Wednesday. With the offense fairly abysmal, it was Josh Okogie who surprisingly led Phoenix with 25 off the bench. You simply can't win games or cover the spread with Devin Booker finishing 6-16 from the field, and 37.1 percent from the floor as a team.

The Absence Of Kevin Durant Will Be Costly For the Suns

Putting up 104 points on 30.2 percent beyond the arc is alarming. Maybe it was a off night for the Suns, however their starting five shot 16-57 (28 %) from the field. With Durant leading the helm, the absence of him and Beal clearly is huge x-factor.

And that was against the Kings, who are considered to finish as a top team in the western conference. While the Suns were able to edge our the Mavericks by one point with Booker and Beal in the lineup, they now have the toughest test yet. At 10-2, the OKC Thunder continue to soar without big man Chet Holmgren, and own a 8-3-1 ATS record on the season. With very few holes in their lineup, the Thunder boast an NBA best +12.6 point differential, compared to the Suns +0.5.

The OKC Thunder Are Elite Defensively

While the Suns have the capability to finish as one of the top teams in the west, it's all contingent on the health of their big three. While the Suns and Thunder are fairly comparable on the offensive end, the Thunder and Suns ranks 11 and 12 in offensive rating respectfully. Nearing similar in field goal and three-point percentage, the difference is truly on the defensive end. Although the Suns began the season as one of the top defensive teams, they've fallen to 17 in defensive rating (113.3).

Compare that to the Thunder, who not only lead the NBA in defensive rating (101.9) allowing a league best 103.8 points per game, OKC leads the NBA in opponent field goal percentage (42.3). One of the elite perimeter defending teams, there are few teams that tally above 40 field goals made per game.

If you're tailing my best bets for tonight, the Thunder have several standout defenders, including newly acquired Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace in the back court. Although OKC is without their main rim protector in Holmgren, there are several players on this roster that make them such a threat on the defensive side of the ball. Making history, the Thunder force opponents to turn the ball over nearly 20 times per game. Their speed and agility is far greater than the Suns right now.

Final NBA Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -7.5 (-110 FanDuel)

Overall, the Thunder are 3-0 vs the Suns in their last three head-to-head matchup, and posses an impressive +45 point differential. They now face a Phoenix team that 1-2 in their last three games, and will once again be without Durant and Beal. In addition, Grayson Allen and Jusuf Nurkic are game-time-decisions.

Once atop of the western conference,  the Suns will struggle to put up points vs an elite defense. If the Thunder blitz Booker the way Sacramento did, I see this being a blowout. While I do believe the spread should be larger than 7.5, the Thunder are 7-4 ATS as favorites. With Durant's injury proven detrimental to this team, lay the points with the Thunder tonight. A high paced team, the Thunder are coming off plenty of rest. Coming off a 106-88 victory vs the Pelicans and 134-128 defeat vs the Clippers, OKC tends to take advantage of teams with injuries.

With several players out with injury for the Pelicans, New Orleans shot just 39.5 percent from the field, and 24.3 percent from downtown. With a 4-8 record ATS, the Suns have quite the challenge ahead of them tonight.

Spread Best Bet #2: Memphis Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors

Warriors 2024-2025 ATS Record: 9-2

• Golden State Warriors -7.5 (-108 FanDuel)

My second best bet for tonight, I placed one unit on the Golden State Warriors to cover the 7.5 point favorable spread vs the Memphis Grizzlies at home. With a 9-2 ATS record this season, the Warriors are the real deal. Although this is a NBA Cup matchup, I do expect this point spread to increase as the day goes on.

With both of these teams trending in opposite directions, the Warriors have won 7 of their last 8 games, including spoiling Klay Thompson's return to Golden State thanks to Steph Curry's 37 points. Sure the Grizzlies maintain a 7-5 record, and have managed to cover the spread in three straight games. The question remains, how sustainable is this with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Brandon Clarke, and Vince Williams Jr. out of the lineup?

Although victories over the Trail Blazers and Wizards doesn't say much, the Grizzlies are fresh off a 128-123 road loss vs the Lakers. While losing by five points vs a healthy Lakers team is impressive, Jaren Jackson Jr. will need to continue to ball out in order to win or even cover the spread tonight. Tying his career-high in points (22.5 ppg), Jackson's reached new heights in field goal percentage (54.7). With 54 points off the bench, is that sustainable? The answer is yes, and I'll dive deeper into this below.

The Warriors Bench Is An X-Factor And Primary Reason For Their 9-2 ATS Record

Ironically, the Warriors lead the league with 58 bench points, thanks to Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, among several others. Headed for history with one of the deepest benches in history, Golden State has proven why they needed to walk away from Klay Thompson. Led by Steph Curry, the Warriors guard is having one of the most efficient seasons beyond the arc (43.2 %) since the 2018 season. Given Curry doesn't have to put this team on his back every night, the depth and talent in this roster is downright scary.

Now they face a Grizzlies team who are 2-2 without Morant in the lineup. Conceding to the Bulls and Lakers, taking on the Warriors are a tall task. While Memphis has a variety of talent in Scotty Pippen jr, Zach Edey, Santi Aldama, and Jaylen Wells, losing Desmond Bane would certainly be costly tonight.

Final NBA Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Golden State Warriors -7.5 (-108 FanDuel)

Overall, these are two teams that rank top 4 in offense, and top five in defense. With the Warriors boasting the second best +11.1 point differential in the west, the Grizzlies trail right behind with +8.2. Don't let those numbers fool you. Golden State continues to be the most formidable team on the defensive end, holding opponents to a league low 31.9 percent from beyond the arc. Pests on the defensive end, we saw how they performed vs the Celtics on the road.

Coming off a colossal 37 point performance , Curry is primed for another shooting performance tonight. While Pippen Jr isn't the best defensive player in the league, Curry's been on a heater, scoring 36 points the matchup prior vs the Thunder. With Marcus Smart back and healthy, his return should give Memphis a defensive boost. I do believe double digit victories over Portland and Washington without Morant is a bit fraudulent.

An elite team covering the spread this season, the Warriors are 2-1 when favored by six points or more. With a 14 point differential over the Mavs and Thunder, their 127-116 victory over OKC spoke volumes. While both teams are similar on paper, both have very different play styles. Given the Warriors are healthy with depth, lay the points with Golden State tonight. Without their biggest star Ja Morant, look for the Warriors to build a comfortable lead.

 Player Prop Best Bet #1: Clint Capela

Clint Capela 2024-2025 Season Stats

G: 12 | PPG: 11.2 | FG: 65.9 % | FT: 69.2 % | 3PT : 0 % | REB: 7.3 | AST: 1.1 | STL: 0.5 | BLK: 0.7

• Over 10.5 Points (-111 FanDuel)

My third best bet of the day, I placed one unit on Hawks center Clint Capela to record over 10.5 points for -111 odds on FanDuel. Becoming one of the more consistent scorers for the Hawks, Capela has a prime matchup with the Wizards tonight. Allowing the most points per game in the NBA (123.4), the Wizards remain of the worst teams in the league (2-8).

With that said, the Wizards rank 30th vs Centers, and this could be a potential blow out game tonight, especially at home. While I'm a bit apprehensive, we are laying the points with Capela tonight.

Given both teams are in the basement in terms of defensive rating, I do expect a ton of scoring between both squads. If you're tailing my NBA best bets for Friday, there's excellent news on the horizon. Capela has cleared this prop line in three of the last four games, including an 18 and 20 point performance vs the Celtics and Bulls. Averaging over 15 points per game over the last four outings, I do believe this line should be higher.

What's more impressive, is the two-way center logged 18 points in 17 limited minutes vs the Celtics. While his minutes tend to fluctuate between 17-28 minutes every other game, the center is coming off plenty of rest. Shooting a career-high 65.9 % from the field, Capela is strictly an inside big man.  While rookie Alex Sarr is impactful on the defensive end for the Wizards, Washington has struggled greatly against centers this season.

The Wizards Have Trouble Defending Centers

With Victor Wembanyama dropping a career-high 50 point bomb vs the Wizards on Wednesday, I can't imagine there's much confident on the defensive end. To prove my point on this prop:

• Alperen Sengun (27)
• Zach Edey (14)
• Bam Adebayo (32)
• Jarrett Allen (23)

All soared over the 10.5 point prop line. What makes me so confident in this prop is that Jarrett Allen and Bam Adebayo are two of the most dominant inside centers. Given the Wizards allow the 10th most paint points in the NBA (50.8), they face the Hawks, who are third in paint scoring (55 ppg).

Running the pick and roll 26 % of the time with Trae Young, the Wizards have made improvements to defend it. However, the Hawks are shooting 65.5 % inside the restricted area. Point blank, Washington allows opponents to shoot over 70 percent in that area.

Final NBA Best Bet Pick and Prediction: Clint Capela Over 10.5 Points (-111 FanDuel)

Historically, Capela has cooked against the Wizards, soaring over 10.5 points in four of the last five head-to-head matchups. While there's certainly been some inconsistencies, I'll take Capela off two days rest. Proving rest is important, the Hawks Center has booked the over in 9 of the last 10 games. I do think this prop has great value at -111 odds for the point prop total. Grab it before it goes up.