NBA Preview | November 14, 2026
Saturday has five games, all between 7:00 and 8:00 PM ET. Detroit brings Cade Cunningham, fresh off 52 points in Washington, to Miami on NBA TV against a Heat team that just scored 133 on Cleveland. Dallas visits those same Cavaliers two nights after a 39-point loss in Minnesota, and Denver, rested, visits a New Orleans team missing five rotation players. Those three are free; two more cards are in Tome Intel. Five of the 10 teams playing Saturday also played Friday. All times are Eastern.
Cade Cunningham and the Pistons Visit Giannis and the Heat
Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat | 8:00 PM ET | NBA TV | Kaseya Center
KEY STAT
52
Cade Cunningham's points in Thursday's 144-140 win in Washington, on 16-of-25 shooting with 11 assists.
Detroit is 8-3 after outlasting Washington 144-140 on Thursday, when Cade Cunningham scored 52 with 11 assists, Daniss Jenkins added 21 and Ausar Thompson had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Jalen Duren (hamstring) and Isaiah Joe (hip) are out, and the Pistons have had a day off.
Miami is 6-6 and beat Cleveland 133-121 on Friday. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo scored 37 apiece, Adebayo with 14 rebounds, and Davion Mitchell had 17 assists. Klay Thompson (ankle) and Pelle Larsson (illness) sat Friday. The Heat are on the second night of a back-to-back and have covered three of 12.
The matchup is Cunningham against a Miami defense that has to account for him for 48 minutes, and Antetokounmpo and Adebayo against a Detroit frontcourt without Duren.
Detroit wins if Cunningham keeps carrying the offense, Thompson and Paul Reed hold up inside without Duren, and the Pistons make Miami's legs matter late.
Miami wins if Antetokounmpo and Adebayo own the paint again, Mitchell keeps the ball moving, and the Heat turn a second-night game into a shootout.
Lean Miami +4.5 (Toss-up), and lean the over 228.5 (Strong).
THE CARD · DET @ MIA
The line DET -4.5 · total 228.5 · DraftKings (spread moved 1 toward Miami from the open, total up 2)
Our number MIA +2.5 · total 240.1
So far MIA 3-9 ATS
Rest & availability DET one day off, Duren and Joe out · MIA second night of a back-to-back, Thompson and Larsson out on Friday
The public 57% of tickets on DET · tickets split evenly on the total (SportsbookReview, as of Nov. 13)
Lean MIA +4.5 (Toss-up) · Over ↑ 228.5 (Strong)
Driven by the number. Detroit scored 144 in Washington on Thursday and Miami scored 133 against Cleveland on Friday. Our number has the total almost 12 points over the book; the side is within two points of the line, so it stays a toss-up.
Cooper Flagg and the Mavericks Try to Reset in Cleveland
Dallas Mavericks at Cleveland Cavaliers | 7:30 PM ET | Rocket Arena
KEY STAT
39
Dallas' margin of defeat in Thursday's 133-94 loss in Minnesota, its worst of the season.
Dallas is 7-5 after a 133-94 loss in Minnesota on Thursday, when Zaccharie Risacher led the team with 22 and Cooper Flagg had 12 on 5-of-12. Dereck Lively II (foot), Tarik Biberovic and Sergio de Larrea are out, Max Christie (ankle) is questionable and Morez Johnson Jr. is probable.
Cleveland is 6-7 and lost 133-121 in Miami on Friday, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 25, Tyrese Proctor 22 on 7-of-9 and James Harden 20 with eight assists. Evan Mobley (toe) sat Friday, and Sam Merrill and Nae'Qwan Tomlin are out. The Cavaliers are on the second night of a back-to-back.
The matchup is Mitchell and Harden against a Dallas defense that just gave up 133, and Flagg against a Cleveland frontcourt that may again be without Mobley.
Dallas wins if Flagg and Risacher bounce back, the Mavericks win the glass without Lively, and Cleveland's legs fade in the second half.
Cleveland wins if Mitchell and Harden control the game, Proctor stays hot, and the Cavaliers hold Dallas under 100 for a second straight game.
Lean Dallas +2.5 (Lean), and lean the under 231.5 (Toss-up).
THE CARD · DAL @ CLE
The line CLE -2.5 · total 231.5 · DraftKings (spread moved 1 toward Dallas from the open, total unchanged)
Our number CLE +1.6 · total 230.8
Rest & availability DAL one day off, Lively, Biberovic and de Larrea out, Christie questionable, Johnson probable · CLE second night of a back-to-back, Mobley (toe) missed Friday, Merrill and Tomlin out
Lean DAL +2.5 (Lean) · Under ↓ 231.5 (Toss-up)
Driven by the number. Our number has Dallas by about one and a half on the road, against a book that has Cleveland by 2.5. That is a full season of ratings against a Cavaliers team on the second night of a back-to-back that gave up 133 in Miami on Friday; it does not undo the 39-point loss Dallas took in Minnesota on Thursday, which is in it.
Jokić and Murray Visit a Short-Handed New Orleans
Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans | 7:00 PM ET | Smoothie King Center
KEY STAT
5
Pelicans who sat Friday in Memphis: Dejounte Murray, Trey Murphy III, Yves Missi, Bryce McGowens and Trendon Watford.
Denver is 6-4 and has had two days off since a 123-118 win over Memphis on Wednesday, when Jamal Murray scored 30, Nikola Jokić had 27 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, and Cameron Johnson added 23. Julian Strawther was diagnosed with a left knee sprain and will be re-evaluated in six weeks.
New Orleans is 4-9 and lost 142-111 in Memphis on Friday, with Saddiq Bey scoring 30 and Zion Williamson 22. Murray, Murphy, Missi, McGowens and Watford all sat, and the Pelicans are on the second night of a back-to-back.
The matchup is Jokić against a thin New Orleans frontcourt, and Williamson against a Denver defense that has to keep him out of the paint.
Denver wins if Jokić and Murray carve up a short rotation, Johnson keeps hitting from outside, and the Nuggets pull away in the third quarter.
New Orleans wins if Williamson and Bey carry the scoring, Jeremiah Fears pushes the pace, and the Pelicans get some of Friday's absences back.
Lean Denver -11.5 (Strong), and lean the over 234.5 (Strong).
THE CARD · DEN @ NOP
The line DEN -11.5 · total 234.5 · DraftKings (spread moved 1 toward Denver from the open, total unchanged)
Our number NOP +17.9 · total 243.7
Rest & availability DEN two days off, Strawther out · NOP second night of a back-to-back, Murray, Murphy, Missi, McGowens and Watford out on Friday
The public 71% of tickets on DEN · 65% on the over (SportsbookReview, as of Nov. 13)
Lean DEN -11.5 (Strong) · Over ↑ 234.5 (Strong)
Driven by the number. Denver is rested after beating Memphis on Wednesday; New Orleans lost by 31 in Memphis on Friday and is back on the floor 24 hours later with five rotation players out. Our number has the Nuggets by almost 18 and the total nine points over the book.
The Rest of the Slate
TOME INTEL · 2 more cards
Every other Saturday game gets a full card in Tome Intel: the line, our number, the early results, who is out, and our lean with its tier.
8:00 PM ET: Nets @ Grizzlies
8:00 PM ET: Bulls @ Timberwolves
What to Watch For Saturday.
Watch whether Cunningham can follow a 52-point night against Antetokounmpo and Adebayo, how Cleveland's legs hold up against a Dallas team looking to answer Thursday, and how many of its regulars New Orleans gets back against Denver. That's five cards on the side and five on the total, three free and two in Tome Intel. We'll have the recap Sunday with every card graded.
