Thursday's NBA action serves up three intriguing matchups for Australian basketball fans, with some of the league's hottest teams hitting the road and plenty of betting opportunities on offer. The Los Angeles Lakers are chasing a seventh consecutive victory when they visit a struggling Milwaukee Bucks outfit, while Golden State put their eight-game winning streak on the line against a Houston Rockets side that has been particularly tough to beat at home.
Elsewhere, Denver head to Memphis looking to bounce back from a disrupted trip to Houston, but the Nuggets' ongoing rebounding problems could leave them vulnerable against a Grizzlies team desperate to end a three-game home losing streak. With double-figure handicaps, contrasting form lines and some important injury considerations to weigh up, there's more to Thursday's slate than simply backing the favourites.
We've broken down all three contests and identified our best NBA betting tips for Thursday, November 12.
NBA Betting Tips – Thursday, 12 November 2026
Our selections cover three Thursday matchups, with the Lakers giving a double-figure start in Milwaukee and two underdogs receiving points.
| Match |
Best Bet |
Odds |
| Nuggets @ Grizzlies |
Memphis +4.5 |
$1.84 (1 Unit) |
| Lakers @ Bucks |
Lakers -10.5 |
$1.86 (1.5 Units) |
| Warriors @ Rockets |
Warriors +5.5 |
$1.96 (1 Unit) |
Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026 | Time: 12pm AEDT
Denver have had time to catch their breath after travel delays left them arriving from Mexico City only hours before their loss in Houston. A better showing is reasonable to expect, although their rebounding problems started before that trip. The Nuggets conceded 21 offensive rebounds against Portland earlier this month and another 15 against the Rockets. Too many defensive possessions have ended with opponents getting another shot. Denver have allowed 115.5 points per 100 possessions through nine games, leaving Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray with plenty to make up for at the other end.
Memphis have been stronger across the season, sitting inside the top 10 for both offensive and defensive efficiency. Their offensive rebounding could be particularly useful here, with the Grizzlies collecting 29.7 per cent of the available rebounds at that end. The three consecutive home losses are a concern, but they haven’t all followed the same pattern. Oklahoma City won comfortably, while New Orleans needed overtime to win by 1 point and Indiana finished 4 points ahead. Ball security remains a problem, with Memphis averaging 16.8 turnovers and regularly giving away possessions they can’t afford to waste.
Memphis +4.5 is the selection. Denver’s disrupted preparation provides some explanation for the Houston defeat, but conceding second chances has hurt them in separate games against different opponents. The Grizzlies have the rebounding strength to test that weakness and enough scoring to make this competitive. Their turnovers and recent home form keep the stake at 1 unit. Even with those concerns, getting 4.5 points offers some protection in a matchup that looks closer than Denver’s favouritism suggests.
Best Bet
Memphis +4.5
$1.84 (1 unit)
Los Angeles Lakers at Milwaukee Bucks
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026 | Time: 12pm AEDT
The Lakers beat Detroit without Luka Doncic, then won in Atlanta without Austin Reaves. Reaves is now off the injury report, putting their starting backcourt together again for the trip to Milwaukee. Los Angeles have scored 122.4 points per 100 possessions across their opening 12 games, shooting 50.7 per cent from the field and averaging 30.3 free-throw attempts. Their scoring has come through several avenues, rather than depending entirely on three-pointers falling. That matters against a struggling defence, particularly with both main scoring options available.
Milwaukee entered the Knicks game with the league’s second-worst defensive rating, then lost 117-85 to fall to 1-10. Six of their past seven defeats have been by double figures. They now travel home and play again without a day off, while the Lakers have had a day between games. Tyler Herro missed the New York loss, although his availability against Los Angeles remains a separate question. His return would help Milwaukee’s offence, but the Bucks were already struggling to contain opponents before he sat out.
The Lakers -10.5 are the preferred bet of the three. Their winning streak alone wouldn’t be enough to justify a double-figure road handicap, especially with four of those six victories coming by single figures. Milwaukee’s repeated heavy defeats provide the stronger reason to lay the points. The Bucks face another efficient attack on a short turnaround, and Reaves’ return gives Los Angeles more scoring alongside Doncic. The Lakers’ defence leaves room for Milwaukee to respond, but the visitors have enough advantages here to back them for 1.5 units.
Best Bet
Lakers -10.5
$1.86 (1.5 units)
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
Date: Thursday, 12 November 2026 | Time: 1.30pm AEDT
Golden State’s 51-point win over New Orleans was emphatic, but some of their earlier results tell us more about this assignment. Their eight-game winning streak includes a 20-point victory in Denver and a 17-point win over the Lakers. They also won in Minnesota, although Anthony Edwards was absent. Six of the eight victories came at home, so this trip is a useful test of how much their form will travel. Stephen Curry has had scoring support from Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg, but the team’s 40.3 per cent three-point shooting is a high standard to maintain.
Houston have won five of six home games and have defended better across the season, conceding 109.7 points per 100 possessions against Golden State’s 111.7. Missing Steven Adams and Clint Capela reduces their options at centre, but it hasn’t stopped them competing on the boards. They collected 15 offensive rebounds against Denver despite both being absent. Alperen Sengun and the remaining forwards can still create second chances, so those injuries shouldn’t be treated as an automatic rebounding advantage for Golden State. The Warriors remain without Jimmy Butler, while Kristaps Porzingis has stepped away from basketball.
Golden State +5.5 gets the nod for 1 unit. Houston deserve favouritism through their home form and stronger defence, but the Warriors have shown enough against Denver and the Lakers to support taking the points. This doesn’t require their winning streak to continue. Golden State can lose a close game and still cover, which is valuable against an opponent capable of making their offence work harder than it has recently. Their shooting could cool, but the 5.5-point start gives us room to back a competitive performance without needing another outright win.
Best Bet
Warriors +5.5
$1.96 (1 unit)
