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Free NBA Picks: Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, Opening Line Report and Handicapping

by - 11/24/2016

Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers

One month exactly until Christmas on Friday and here's a holiday treat for you on Black Friday: every single NBA team will play after the league went dark on Thanksgiving. That's a very rare phenomenon in the Association when all 30 clubs are in action. You also almost never see it in the NHL, either. All 32 teams in the NFL generally only all play on the same day in Week 17. It's nothing new in Major League Baseball as every team is in action every Tuesday, Wednesday and all weekend for the most part. So enjoy the NBA extravaganza with those turkey leftovers on Friday!

Spurs at Celtics (+3.5, 203)

A rare 1 p.m. weekday start. San Antonio won a seventh straight game Wednesday, 119-114 in Charlotte. Kawhi Leonard scored 30 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and seven rebounds as the Spurs improved to 8-0 on the road. Boston won a third in a row Wednesday, 111-92 in Brooklyn. Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points, and Avery Bradley had 22. The C's are now 5-1 with Al Horford in the lineup. The Spurs swept the Celtics last season and have won nine straight overall in the series and the past five in Beantown.

Key trends: The Spurs are 4-1 against the spread in the past five meetings. The "over/under" has gone under in 21 of Boston's 26 after a win.

Early lean: Celtics and under.

Wizards at Magic (pick'em, 203)

Washington beat visiting Phoenix 106-101 on Monday, so a nice break between games. Bradley Beal had a career-high 42 points. John Wall struggled from the field but had a season-high 15 assists. Orlando lost 92-87 to Phoenix on Wednesday. Evan Fournier led the Magic with 25 points and Nikola Vucevic added 21 points, but none of the other starters hit double figures. Orlando was swept by Washington last year but beat the visiting Wizards 88-86 on Nov. 5.

Key trends: The home team is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. The under is 6-2 in the previous eight.

Early lean: Magic and under.

Mavericks at Cavaliers (-14.5, 202.5)

Dallas dropped its seventh straight Wednesday, 124-104 vs. the Clippers. Dirk Nowitzki scored 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in 20 minutes in his return for Dallas after missing eight games with a strained left Achilles tendon. The losing streak is the Mavs' longest since Nowitzki's rookie season. Center Andrew Bogut left with a sore calf, so monitor him here. Cleveland beat visiting Portland 137-125 on Wednesday. Kevin Love scored an NBA first-quarter record 34 points and finished with 40, his most as a Cavalier. LeBron James had his 44th career triple-double with 31 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists. Cleveland won both meetings with Dallas last year by a combined four points.

Key trends: The Mavs are 7-1 ATS in the past eight meetings. The under is 7-3 in the past 10.

Early lean: Mavs (garbage-time cover) and over.

Hornets at Knicks (-1.5, 206.5)

First of an NBA TV doubleheader. Charlotte lost a third straight Wednesday, 119-114 at home to San Antonio. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Jeremy Lamb was active after missing the last 10 games with a hamstring injury but didn't play much. Center Cody Zeller missed his third straight game with a shoulder injury but is getting close. New York beat Portland 107-103 at the Garden on Tuesday. Derrick Rose made the go-ahead basket with 3:15 remaining and hit the jumper that clinched it with 6.8 seconds left. Kristaps Porzingis had 31 points and nine rebounds. The Knicks have won their past five at home. Charlotte won three of four vs. New York last season.

Key trends: The road team is 6-2 ATS in the past eight meetings. The over is 6-0-1 in the previous seven at the Knicks.

Early lean: Hornets and over.

Bulls at 76ers (+7, 205)

This concludes a six-game road trip for the Bulls, who are 3-2 on it after losing 110-107 in Denver on Tuesday. Chicago hasn't won there since 2006. Jimmy Butler had 35 points and eight rebounds and Dwyane Wade 22 points after sitting out Sunday to rest. Doug McDermott (concussion protocol) missed his fifth straight game. The Sixers' rare two-game winning streak ended in a 104-99 double OT home loss to Memphis on Wednesday. Ersan Ilyasova had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which was looking for its first three-game winning streak in nearly three years. The Sixers wouldn't let Joel Embiid play the second OT because he reached his minutes limit. And he reportedly will sit out Friday. Chicago has won 10 in a row vs. Philadelphia and the past five on the road.

Key trends: The Bulls are 5-1 ATS in their past six on the road. The over is 7-0 in the past seven meetings.

Early lean: Bulls and over.

Clippers at Pistons (+7, 198.5)

Los Angeles won a fourth in a row Wednesday in Dallas, 124-104. It was such a rout that Austin Rivers had 22 points. The Clippers had a 30-6 run in the second and third quarters to blow it open. No starter played in the fourth. Detroit ended a four-game slide with a 107-84 home win over Miami on Wednesday. Andre Drummond had 18 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks and four steals. Guard Reggie Bullock left the game in the second quarter with a left-leg injury and did not return. The Pistons lost in Los Angeles 114-82 on Nov. 7 and have dropped 11 straight games to the Clippers and six straight at home.

Key trends: The home team is 4-0-1 ATS in the past five. The over is 6-1 in the previous seven in Detroit.

Early lean: Pistons and under.

Hawks at Jazz (-3, 195)

Atlanta put an end to a three-game losing streak with a 96-85 victory at Indiana on Wednesday. Dwight Howard had his best game as a Hawk with 23 points and 20 rebounds. The Hawks outrebounded Indiana 56-37. Utah's four-game skid ended in a 108-83 home win over Denver on Wednesday. George Hill scored 22 points in his return from an eight-game absence. That team's offense is way different with Hill in there. Rudy Gobert posted his eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Atlanta and Utah split last year, each winning on the road.

Key trends: The road team is 4-0 ATS in the past four meetings. The under is 9-3 in the previous 12 in Utah.

Early lean: Jazz and under.

Raptors at Bucks (+3.5, 212)

Toronto won in Houston 115-102 on Wednesday. DeMar DeRozan had 24 points and Jonas Valanciunas 15 points and 16 rebounds. Milwaukee's three-game losing streak ended Monday in a 93-89 home win over Orlando. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and three blocks -- a line previously matched only by Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon. Toronto has won the past four meetings overall and five straight in Milwaukee.

Key trends: The road team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 5-1 in those.

Early lean: Raptors and under.

Heat at Grizzlies (-6, 189.5)

Miami dropped a second in a row Wednesday, 107-84 in Detroit. Hassan Whiteside had just six points and eight rebounds as he was dominated by Andre Drummond. Whiteside had set a franchise record with 10-plus rebounds in each of the season's first 13 games. Dion Waiters was the only Miami starter to reach double figures, scoring 11. Memphis won its sixth straight game Wednesday, 104-99 in double OT in Philly. Marc Gasol scored 27 points, Mike Conley had 25 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. The Grizz trailed by as many as 11 in the second half. Miami and Memphis split last year, each winning at home.

Key trends: The Grizz have covered the past five at home in the series. The under has hit in six of the past eight there.

Early lean: Grizzlies and under.

Nets at Pacers (-8.5, 215)

Brooklyn dropped a fifth consecutive on Wednesday, 111-92 at home to Boston. Sean Kilpatrick scored 23 points for the Nets, while Trevor Booker had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Chris McCullough became the fourth player in history to appear in an NBA game and a D-League game in the same day. Indiana lost 96-85 at home to Atlanta on Wednesday despite getting back Paul George and Myles Turner from a one-game injury absence. Thaddeus Young led the Pacers with 24 points and had seven rebounds. Indiana lost at Brooklyn 103-94 on Oct. 28, but the Pacers have taken the past two at home in the series.

Key trends: The Nets are 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings. The over is 4-0 in Brooklyn's past five on the road.

Early lean: Pacers and over.

Thunder at Nuggets (TBA)

OKC lost a third straight Wednesday, 116-101 in Sacramento to drop to .500. The Thunder opened the season with a 6-1 record. Russell Westbrook nearly had his sixth triple-double of the season, getting 31 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Denver lost 108-83 in Utah on Wednesday in the second of a back-to-back. Rookie Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 23 points off the bench. He's really coming on of late. Danilo Gallinari missed his first game of the season with right knee soreness. Oklahoma City has won the past six vs. Denver and last three in the Mile High City.

Key trends: The Thunder are 6-2-1 ATS in the past nine meetings. The over is 4-0 in the previous four in Denver.

Early lean: TBA for Gallinari. Wait on him.

Timberwolves at Suns (pick'em, 213.5)

Minnesota lost a third in a row Wednesday, 117-96 at New Orleans. Karl-Anthony Towns lost his battle with Anthony Davis in a big way as KAT had nine points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Wiggins was a ghastly 2-for-19 from the field. Phoenix pulled off a minor 92-87 upset in Orlando on Wednesday. Alex Len had 17 points and 12 rebounds to go along with two blocked shots. Eric Bledsoe had 16 points as all five starters finished in double figures. T.J. Warren missed his second straight game with a head injury and won't play here. Tyson Chandler is still missing from the team after the death of his mother. The Suns and Timberwolves split the series 2-2 last season with the home team winning each.

Key trends: The home team is 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings. The under is 4-1 in the past five.

Early lean: Wolves and under.

Pelicans at Trail Blazers (-4, 219)

New Orleans won a fourth in a row Wednesday, 117-96 as Anthony Davis was terrific with 45 points and 10 rebounds. He's the best player in the NBA right now. The Pelicans still haven't lost since Jrue Holiday's season debut. Portland completed a five-game trip with a 137-125 loss at the Knicks on Wednesday. Damian Lillard scored 40 points for the Blazers. Al-Farouq Aminu (left calf strain) missed his ninth straight game and he won't play here. New Orleans defeated Portland, 113-101, on Nov. 18 behind a game-high 38 points from Davis.

Key trends: The home team is 5-1 ATS in the past six. The under is 5-0 in the previous five in Portland.

Early lean: Blazers and over.

Warriors at Lakers (+12.5, 234)

Second NBA TV game. Teams played in Oakland on Wednesday and Golden State won its ninth straight, 149-106. The Warriors had a team-record 47 assists (on 53 baskets). It was the most assists in an NBA game since 1991. The Warriors are totally clicking offensively right now and look unbeatable. The 149 points and 43-point margin of victory were also team records. Rookie Brandon Ingram was the lone bright spot for L.A. with a career-high 16. The Lakers also learned they will be without D'Angelo Russell for at least two weeks after a knee procedure. Julius Randle missed the game with a hip injury. This is already Golden State's final visit to the Lakers. The Warriors lost there 117-97 on Nov. 4. They haven't been beaten since.

Key trends: The home team is 4-0 ATS in the past five meetings. The under is 5-1 in the past six meetings.

Early lean: Wow, that total! I just can't go over. Take the points, though.

Rockets at Kings (pick'em, 217.5)

Houston's three-game winning streak was stopped in a 115-102 home loss to Toronto on Wednesday. James Harden had 29 points and 15 assists for the Rockets but also 12 turnovers. It was the first time Houston has lost since point guard Patrick Beverley returned after missing the first 11 games after arthroscopic knee surgery. Sacramento has won back-to-back games after taking out the visiting Thunder 116-101 on Wednesday. DeMarcus Cousins had 36 points and 13 rebounds. Houston has won eight of the past nine meetings but lost its last trip to Sacramento.

Key trends: The Rockets are 7-2 ATS in the past nine meetings. The over is 4-1 in the Kings' past five.

Early lean: Kings and over.

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