NBA Betting Tips This Week: Pistons v 76ers Prediction & Best Bets

All times UK (GMT). Odds are bet365 where shown; Prices from bet365, checked 4 November 2026, 03:52 GMT; odds may change. Weekend prices will be added once bet365 lists those games.

Detroit Pistons v Philadelphia 76ers Prediction

Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
UK tip‑off: 00:00 Thursday 5 November (GMT)
UK TV: Sky Sports+

The top two in the East meet again, ten days after Detroit won 106‑93 in Philadelphia. The 76ers are 7‑1 and 3‑0 on the road. The Pistons are 6‑1 with a +11.6 points differential, and they’re only giving up 100.3 points a game.

That first meeting needs a footnote, though. Joel Embiid didn’t play, because it was the second night of a back‑to‑back, and VJ Edgecombe was out with an abdominal problem. Philadelphia shot 40% from the field and 26% from three. Embiid has sat out the second night of both their back‑to‑backs, but this one isn’t a back‑to‑back and neither side played on Tuesday, and he isn’t on the Sixers’ injury report. He is managing plantar fasciitis in his right foot, though, and played Monday on a minutes restriction (just under 25 minutes), so his workload is worth watching. He’s averaging 9.2 rebounds. Dominick Barlow (back) is out. LeBron James is running the offence (7.3 assists a game) and has missed two of the eight games.

Detroit are still without Jalen Duren (hamstring, due to be re‑evaluated around now) and Isaiah Joe (hip), but they’ve held four of their seven opponents under 100 points. Cade Cunningham is averaging 23.7 points and 7.1 assists and scored 33 in Monday’s win in Charlotte.

Tyrese Maxey is the one constant. He’s averaging 29.1 points in 34‑42 minutes a night and has scored 25 or more in all eight games, including 29 against this Detroit defence last month. Ausar Thompson will probably spend a lot of the night on him, but Maxey gets enough shots for a big score either way.

The risk is that Embiid’s return gives Philadelphia more ways to score, so Maxey doesn’t have to carry the load. The US consensus line is Pistons -1.5 with a total of 218.5 (DraftKings, not a bet365 price), so the market can’t separate them.

The Bet Builder needs Detroit’s defence to do what it did ten days ago. Cunningham has scored 20 or more in five of his seven games, and 199 points were scored in the first meeting.

San Antonio Spurs v Dallas Mavericks Prediction

Venue: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio
UK tip‑off: 02:30 Thursday 5 November (GMT)
UK TV: NBA League Pass (not on Sky Sports’ schedule or Radio Times’ TV picks)

Wembanyama against Flagg is the matchup that sells this one, and Dallas are still short of size. The Spurs have won five in a row and are 5‑2. They already won 122‑106 in Dallas, when the Mavericks had neither Cooper Flagg nor Kyrie Irving. The US line is Spurs -12.5 (DraftKings, not a bet365 price), which tells you what the market expects.

Irving missed Monday’s home defeat to Sacramento, who are 1‑6, with a left knee problem, but he has been taken off the injury report for Wednesday and is expected to play. Dallas are 4‑1 with him and 0‑2 without him. Dereck Lively II (foot), Max Christie (hip), Tarik Biberovic (heel) and Sergio de Larrea (knee) are out, and Santi Aldama (knee) is questionable. Flagg is averaging 25.2 points and 6.5 assists but went 3 of 19 against the Kings.

Victor Wembanyama is averaging 25.7 points and 10.7 rebounds and has scored 36 and 43 in the last week. With Lively out, Dallas have Daniel Gafford and little else at centre, so the glass should be there for him. He has 10 or more rebounds in five of his seven games.

The danger is a blowout. Wembanyama played only 24 minutes in Monday’s 22‑point win over Utah, and if San Antonio are well clear after three quarters he could sit again. That’s why I’d rather back his rebounds at a reasonable line than lay 12.5 points. San Antonio have covered that margin in only three of their seven games. Tobias Harris (calf) is still listed as out for the Spurs on ESPN.

Cleveland Cavaliers v Philadelphia 76ers Prediction (Emirates NBA Cup)

Venue: Rocket Arena, Cleveland
UK tip‑off: 00:30 Saturday 7 November (GMT)
UK TV: Amazon Prime Video (per Radio Times listings)

This is an NBA Cup group game, and Philadelphia already beat Cleveland 114‑106 at home on 22 October. The Sixers are 7‑1 and haven’t lost away from home yet.

Cleveland are 4‑3 and have been up and down: an overtime win over Minnesota, a defeat in Atlanta, and Monday’s 117‑112 home loss to Oklahoma City. Donovan Mitchell (21.9 points), James Harden (6.3 assists), Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are all fit. Peyton Watson (hamstring) and Jaylon Tyson (ankle) missed Monday’s game and are out again for Wednesday’s trip to Oklahoma City, which costs them wing depth. The Cavs also play the Knicks at home the following night, so this is the first half of a back‑to‑back for them.

Philadelphia have Wednesday’s game in Detroit first, but there’s a day off in between, and their next game is Sunday afternoon in Chicago, so they’re not on a back‑to‑back. That’s the scenario where Embiid and James have played. Maxey (29.1), Jaylen Brown (25 against Chicago on Monday) and James give them three players who can create their own shot, which is more than Cleveland’s wings can say right now.

The risks: Wednesday in Detroit is physical and could leave them with knocks, Cleveland are 3‑1 at home, and there’s no line up yet. The injury report for this game isn’t out yet, and Embiid’s foot is being managed, so check it on Friday. If either Embiid or James is ruled out, I’d skip this one. ESPN’s predictor makes Cleveland slight favourites (52.7%), so we’re going against that.

Detroit Pistons v Los Angeles Lakers Prediction

Venue: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
UK tip‑off: 23:00 Sunday 8 November (GMT)
UK TV: not on Sky Sports’ published schedule and no UK listing found yet; NBA League Pass (check closer to tip‑off)

Luka Doncic has scored 37 or more in each of his last five games: 52, 41, 37, 45 and 42. He’s averaging 38.3 points and 8.1 assists for a Lakers side that are 6‑2. Austin Reaves (scored 27 on Monday) and Walker Kessler (10.5 rebounds) are doing their jobs around him. At 11pm on a Sunday it’s also the easiest one of the week to watch from the UK.

Detroit are the toughest defence he’ll have faced so far, though. They’re conceding 100.3 points a game and have Ausar Thompson to put on him. They’ll also be fresher. The Pistons won’t have played since Wednesday, while the Lakers host Portland late on Friday and then fly east for a 6pm Eastern start on Sunday. Doncic sat out the Lakers’ only back‑to‑back so far, but this isn’t one.

Points from Doncic and a Detroit win aren’t contradictory. Lakers games have averaged around 238 total points this season, and Doncic has taken between 18 and 30 shots a game, so he can get his points while the Pistons win the game. That’s how this preview treats it: Doncic’s points as a single and Detroit as an accumulator leg.

The risks: the travel could catch up with him, Thompson could make it a grind, and if the Lakers are being beaten heavily he might not play much of the fourth quarter. Adou Thiero (knee) is hoped to be back for LA by the end of the week. The Pistons may have Jalen Duren back too, depending on his re‑evaluation, which would help their rebounding. There’s no line on this game yet.

NBA Accumulator

The two Wednesday legs combine to about 2.07 in decimal odds on the US DraftKings moneylines (Pistons -125, Spurs -650). That isn’t a bet365 price; the bet365 figure is the reference: on bet365 the two Thursday legs (Pistons 25/32, Spurs 2/11) combine to about 11/10. The Friday and Sunday games don’t have lines yet, so check that the four‑fold actually gets to 5/1 or bigger before backing it. Two of the legs are Detroit, and the first leg is in the same game as the Bet Builder, so think about how much you have riding on Wednesday night.

FAQ

What time is Pistons v 76ers in the UK?
00:00 GMT on Thursday 5 November (7pm Eastern on Wednesday). Radio Times lists it on Sky Sports+.

How can I watch the NBA in the UK this season?
Sky Sports (and NOW) and Amazon Prime Video share live coverage in 2026‑27. NBA League Pass covers games neither of them is showing.

Is Kyrie Irving playing against the Spurs?
He is expected to. Irving missed Monday’s game against Sacramento with a left knee problem, but he has been removed from the injury report for Wednesday. Check the team news before tip‑off.

Who has the best record in the NBA right now?
As of 3 November, the 76ers (East) and Houston Rockets (West) are both 7‑1.

Our Selections

Total staked: 5.5 points

Related Reading

• American Sports Tips
• Bookmakers
• Fractional odds explained
• Accumulator risk management

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