Today's top games to watch, best bets, odds: Vikings vs. Cowboys SNF, NBA and more
While the sports world inevitably turns its gaze toward Arlington tonight for the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, the NBA offers a loaded slate that bettors and fans shouldn't overlook. Before Dak Prescott and the Cowboys fight for their playoff lives in the NFC East, the hardwood provides several high-value matchups with significant early-season implications.
The headline act for basketball enthusiasts is a gritty Eastern Conference showdown as the Philadelphia 76ers travel to face the Atlanta Hawks. The big news for handicappers is the status of Joel Embiid, who has been cleared to play despite lingering knee management concerns. His presence immediately shifts the odds, especially given the Hawks' current frontcourt depletion. Atlanta will be without center Kristaps Porzingis, who is sidelined for the next two weeks with an illness. Without Porzingis’s rim protection, expect Embiid to feast in the paint, making the 76ers a strong play against the spread, even on the road.
Out West, the narrative centers on physicality as the Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Lakers. This matchup always carries extra weight given the history between Dillon Brooks and the Lakers' stars. Brooks has been cleared to play after an Achilles scare, ensuring the defensive intensity will be at a fever pitch. For the Lakers, protecting home court against a young, athletic Rockets squad is crucial for maintaining their seeding. Bettors should look closely at the total in this one; with both teams capable of grinding out possessions, the under might be the sharpest angle.
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers face a tricky test against the Charlotte Hornets. While the Cavaliers are the superior team on paper, Charlotte’s Brandon Miller has been scoring in bunches, and his length poses a mismatch for Cleveland's perimeter defense. If you're building a parlay before the Vikings and Cowboys kick off, looking at player props for Miller or Embiid might offer the best return on investment. Enjoy the hoops action before settling in for the gridiron finale.
The headline act for basketball enthusiasts is a gritty Eastern Conference showdown as the Philadelphia 76ers travel to face the Atlanta Hawks. The big news for handicappers is the status of Joel Embiid, who has been cleared to play despite lingering knee management concerns. His presence immediately shifts the odds, especially given the Hawks' current frontcourt depletion. Atlanta will be without center Kristaps Porzingis, who is sidelined for the next two weeks with an illness. Without Porzingis’s rim protection, expect Embiid to feast in the paint, making the 76ers a strong play against the spread, even on the road.
Out West, the narrative centers on physicality as the Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Lakers. This matchup always carries extra weight given the history between Dillon Brooks and the Lakers' stars. Brooks has been cleared to play after an Achilles scare, ensuring the defensive intensity will be at a fever pitch. For the Lakers, protecting home court against a young, athletic Rockets squad is crucial for maintaining their seeding. Bettors should look closely at the total in this one; with both teams capable of grinding out possessions, the under might be the sharpest angle.
Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers face a tricky test against the Charlotte Hornets. While the Cavaliers are the superior team on paper, Charlotte’s Brandon Miller has been scoring in bunches, and his length poses a mismatch for Cleveland's perimeter defense. If you're building a parlay before the Vikings and Cowboys kick off, looking at player props for Miller or Embiid might offer the best return on investment. Enjoy the hoops action before settling in for the gridiron finale.
