2024-25 Emirates NBA Cup: Group Stage Best Bets

2024-25 Emirates NBA Cup: Group Stage Best Bets

The chase for the Emirates NBA Cup is here!

The 2024-25 NBA In-Season Tournament tips off Tuesday, Nov. 12, with 16 of the 30 teams in action. The gambling verse never sleeps, so which best bets should you consider wagering for group stage play? Let’s into a few!

(The odds are by Fanduel as of 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 12.)

Sacramento Kings to win West Group A (+290)

The Western Conference has been a bloodbath through the first three weeks. Group A, however–featuring the Timberwolves, Kings Clippers, Rockets and Trail Blazers–is arguably the worst among the three West groups. Sacramento will play Minnesota and Houston at home with Los Angeles and Portland on the road. That’s an inherent advantage.

Sacramento’s played seven of their 11 away from home, including two narrow road victories against Miami and Phoenix. It has already played Minnesota, the group favorite, close at home on opening night, and it will catch the Timberwolves at the tail-end of a three-game road trip.

I like the value based on how this sets up for Sacramento, who’s No. 11 in offense and No. 13 in defense through 11 contests. Houston’s no slouch, but if they beat the Wolves, they can run the table.

Indiana Pacers to win East Group B (+230); Pacers to go 4-0 in group play (+900)

Similar to Group A in the West, Group B in the East is the weakest link. Indiana shares the group with a struggling Milwaukee squad, plus Miami, Detroit and Toronto.

The Pacers will play the Heat in a home-home two-game series beginning on Friday–which is the Heat’s 5th and 6th game of their six-game road trip, respectively. Miami could also be without Jimmy Butler, set to miss his second straight game Tuesday with a sprained ankle.

The Pacers will play Milwaukee on the road on Nov. 22 to close a three-game road trip, though they have had the Bucks’ number each of the last two seasons. The Bucks have also been awful, so there’s that.

I think they should be the arguable favorite, so therein lies the value here. They were excellent in the IST last year, and I think they could be again this year, despite an underwhelming start. I think they can go unbeaten in group play, so sprinkling some on that is good value.

Golden State to make quarterfinals (+150)

Believe it or not, the Golden State Warriors are the only team in basketball with a top-5 offensive rating and defensive rating. They host Dallas on Tuesday and will travel to Denver to conclude IST Group play on Dec. 3.

I am not sure +230 is enough juice to take them in Group C over, say, Memphis (+700). I still think Golden State finishes second, and I think +150 is enough juice to think they earn the lone Wild Card spot.

I don’t think they’re going to go 11-12 deep forever, but I love their depth and Curry-Wiggins-Green owns a 121.5 offensive rating and 5.4 NET Rating together. The Warriors also have the NBA’s second-highest simple rating system–a metric that accounts for point differential relative to strength of schedule.

If they continue to play at this level, it’s going to be hard to not see them make the Final 8 come December.

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