There’s a packed schedule of NBA action on Thursday, with a nine-game slate delivering plenty of betting opportunities across both conferences. The headline fixtures include a fascinating showdown as the Rockets visit the Cavaliers, a high-stakes clash between the Warriors and Heat, and a late-window meeting featuring the Bulls taking on the Trail Blazers. With these marquee contests and several compelling inter-conference matchups rounding out the card, there’s no shortage of value to target. As always, we bring you our three best bets and prop bets for the day below!
NBA Betting Tips: Thursday, November 20th 2025
Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers (11:00am AEDT)
This cross-conference battle sees the scorching-hot Houston Rockets (9-3) visit the Cleveland Cavaliers (10-5). The Rockets are dominating, averaging a league-best 124.8 points per game, driven by Kevin Durant’s arrival and the elite playmaking of Alperen Sengun (7.4 APG).
The Cavaliers, despite a solid record, are significantly hampered by key injuries to Darius Garland and Max Strus, placing immense pressure on Donovan Mitchell (30.9 PPG) to carry the offence. Houston's dominant two-way play and superior depth present a major challenge to the short-handed Cavaliers. The Rockets have been excellent against the spread (8-4 ATS) and have already shown they can handle Cleveland.
We project Houston’s consistency and firepower to be too much for the home team. Our primary betting advice is backing the Houston Rockets to Win (H2H). Given their dominant road form and the Cavaliers’ key backcourt absences, we are confident Houston can secure the straight-up road victory. For a player prop, look to Alperen Sengun Over 6.5 Assists, capitalizing on his high-volume playmaking role.
Player Prop: A. Sengun Over 6.5 Assists $1.80 (1.5 Units)
Houston Rockets to Win (H2H)
$1.85 (1.5 Units)
Golden State Warriors at Miami Heat (11:30am AEDT)
This cross-conference showdown sees the streaking Golden State Warriors (9-6) travel to Miami to face the Heat (8-6). The primary storyline is the return of Jimmy Butler to Miami, now wearing a Warriors jersey, adding a massive emotional layer to the contest. The Warriors arrive with momentum, winning three straight games behind Steph Curry’s consistent scoring and Butler’s renewed two-way tenacity.
Miami, despite improving their record, is dealing with key injuries, particularly with Tyler Herro out and the questionable status of Bam Adebayo (Toe), who is a lynchpin for their defence. Golden State’s high-volume three-point shooting will test a Miami team potentially missing their elite rim protector. The Heat’s defence-first culture under coach Spoelstra will keep them competitive, but the emotional intensity is likely to tighten up both defences.
We expect a gruelling, low-scoring affair, consistent with the historical trend of these matchups. Our primary betting advice is backing the Total Points Under 229.5. The pace will be deliberate, and both teams excel in half-court defence when engaged, pushing the combined score low. For a strong player prop, look to Steph Curry Over 4.5 Made Three-Pointers; he’s been in blistering form of late and the Heat don’t have anyone capable of slowing his momentum.
Player Prop: S. Curry Over 4.5 Made 3-Pointers $1.92 (1 Unit)
Total Points Under 229.5
$1.90 (2 Units)
Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers (2:00pm AEDT)
This cross-conference matchup features the Chicago Bulls (7-6) travelling to the Pacific Northwest to face the Portland Trail Blazers (6-8). The narrative heavily favours Chicago: the Bulls are riding high after a thrilling victory against the Nuggets in Denver, showcasing resilience and clutch scoring as they sit above the .500 mark.
Conversely, the Trail Blazers are facing the second night of a back-to-back, coming off a demoralizing blow-out loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday that dropped their record to 6-8. Playing on tired legs, Portland will struggle to contain Chicago’s interior presence and transition speed.
The Bulls, though inconsistent, boast a strong starting lineup capable of exploiting Portland’s fatigued defence. This presents a prime opportunity for Chicago to secure a key road win and maintain their position in the playoff race.
Our primary betting advice is backing the Chicago Bulls to Win (H2H). Their recent momentum and the Blazers' physically demanding schedule make them the deserving road favourites for a straight-up victory.
Chicago Bulls to Win (H2H)
$1.83 (2.5 Units)
