Thursday's NBA slate delivers three intriguing matchups providing some betting appeal. The day features a clash of young talent, a crucial rivalry game, and a battle between a surging contender and a top-tier powerhouse. We have you covered with our best bets for the day!
The early action features the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Orlando Magic, a contest marked by elite youth and tough defence. Following that, the struggling Brooklyn Nets travel to Chicago to face the wounded but determined Bulls in a vital game.
The slate culminates with the red-hot Detroit Pistons heading to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks. With the Pistons in incredible form and the Bucks dealing with all of the Giannis trade drama, this Central Division showdown is unmissable. We break down the best angles for all three major games.
NBA Betting Tips: Thursday, December 4th 2025
San Antonio Spurs at Orlando Magic (11:00am AEDT)
Orlando enter this matchup at 13 and 8 and continue to perform strongly at home, where they have built one of the more reliable records in the East. They remain a defensively grounded team that leans on structure, physicality and consistent effort. Paolo Banchero and Moritz Wagner are confirmed out, but Orlando have already adapted to playing without them, relying on established rotations that have been in place for several games.
San Antonio arrive at 14 and 6 but remain short handed. Victor Wembanyama is out with a calf issue and rookie guard Stephon Castle is also unavailable with a hip injury. Even without their key young centre, the Spurs still have size in the frontcourt and enough depth to remain competitive, though their ceiling is clearly lowered by the absence of their main interior presence.
With both teams missing important contributors, this matchup profiles as slower and more deliberate, with a strong emphasis on defensive discipline. Orlando’s defensive intensity at home tends to dictate pace, and San Antonio’s current lineup is less explosive without Wembanyama. This points toward a lower scoring environment with extended half court possessions.
Under 233.5 Points
$1.88 (1.5 Units)
Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls (12:00pm AEDT)
Brooklyn enter the game at 4 and 16 and continue to struggle in several key areas. They sit near the bottom of the league in team rebounding and particularly defensive rebounding, which consistently places pressure on their defence through second chance possessions. Their road performances have been unreliable and their execution remains inconsistent across both ends of the court.
Chicago come in at 9 and 11 and have been more stable at home, even with mixed recent form. They hold clear advantages in rebounding and interior strength, areas that directly target Brooklyn’s biggest weaknesses. While they do not always produce efficient scoring stretches, their home court play and physical edge give them a solid platform to control tempo and limit Brooklyn’s opportunities.
Given Brooklyn’s ongoing issues on the glass, their lack of reliable scoring away from home and their vulnerability against stronger rebounding teams, Chicago shape as the far more dependable side. If they maintain composure and win the possession battle, they should be winning by double digits here.
Chicago Bulls –8.5
$2.00 (1 Unit)
Detroit Pistons at Milwaukee Bucks (12:00 pm AEDT)
Detroit enter this Central Division matchup at 17-4 and carrying major momentum after recently matching a franchise record with a 13-game winning streak. Their rise has been driven by collective efficiency and the standout production of Cade Cunningham, who is averaging 28.8 points and 9.4 assists this season. The Pistons have been one of the league’s form teams, showing strong balance offensively and enough defensive structure to consistently control stretches of games. They arrive in Milwaukee confident, composed and playing a high-quality brand of basketball.
Milwaukee, at 9-13, remain difficult to trust week to week. Their defensive profile places them around league average rather than among the worst, but they have struggled to string together complete performances and have leaked points in key moments. The major unknown heading into this matchup is the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Pre-game reporting does not confirm whether he will play, so the impact he may have on Milwaukee’s interior presence and overall defensive stability cannot be assumed. With or without him, the Bucks will need to be far more disciplined defensively to slow down Detroit’s structured and efficient approach.
On overall form and reliability, Detroit deserve their favouritism. The Pistons are playing with cohesion, confidence and a clear identity, while Milwaukee continue to fluctuate and have yet to establish rhythm on either end. The matchup should still produce competitive stretches and potentially a high total, but Detroit’s consistency and momentum make them the more trustworthy side heading into this meeting.
Detroit Pistons –2.5
$1.85 (3 Units)
