The NBA comes back from its Election Day break with a 14-game Wednesday, and two of the best matchups land in the first two hours. Philadelphia visits Detroit on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET, and a short-handed Thunder team hosts Cleveland an hour later. FanDuel is giving new users $200 in bonus bets by betting $5 a day for four days, with no promo code required.
This is round two between two teams with real Eastern Conference title hopes. They first met on Oct. 25 in Philadelphia, when both came in unbeaten, and Wednesday’s rematch moves to Detroit.
The Pistons finished last season on top of the East, and Cade Cunningham is the reason they’re a contender. He controls tempo, closes games and carries a massive share of the offense. That load could be even heavier with Jalen Duren dealing with an injury, which takes away Detroit’s best rebounder and interior finisher.
Philadelphia counters with more top-end talent. Tyrese Maxey is one of the fastest, most dangerous scorers in the league, and LeBron James gives the Sixers a second creator who can run the offense and take over late. If Duren sits, Philly’s size advantage inside becomes a real factor.
Oklahoma City is dealing with an injury report most teams couldn’t survive. Jalen Williams has a fractured ankle, Chet Holmgren is out with knee tendinitis, and Cason Wallace has a torn labrum. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, is still there to carry the load, and the Thunder have one of the deepest rosters in the league. They also beat Cleveland twice last season.
Cleveland’s new backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell is the kind of pairing that punishes a thin defense. Without Holmgren protecting the rim and Wallace chasing on the perimeter, the Cavs should be able to get downhill.
Odds are subject to change
The Pick: Cavaliers +2.5
The Thunder are only laying 2.5 at home, which tells you the market is worried about the injuries. That worry is justified. OKC is missing its second-best scorer, its starting center and its best perimeter defender, and Harden and Mitchell are exactly the kind of guards who exploit that. Even if Gilgeous-Alexander gets his, Cleveland has the creators to keep this within a possession. Take the points.
Mavericks at Spurs closes the ESPN doubleheader at 9:30 p.m. ET, and the rest of the slate includes Bucks at Celtics, Bulls at Knicks, Raptors at Nuggets and Heat at Clippers to close the night.
Your first $5 bet is just the start. New users can bet $5 a day for four days on 76ers-Pistons, Cavs-Thunder or any NBA matchup and collect $200 in bonus bets with FanDuel.