NBA Preview | November 5, 2026
Thursday is a two-game night out West, and both games get the full card. Orlando, without Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs, visits a Phoenix team on the second night of a back-to-back. Then Miami, coming off a one-point win over the Clippers, finishes its own back-to-back in San Francisco against a rested Warriors team and Stephen Curry. All times are Eastern.
Two Short-Handed Teams Meet in Phoenix
Orlando Magic @ Phoenix Suns | 9:00 PM ET | NBA League Pass
KEY STAT
1-5
Phoenix's record after Wednesday's 132-119 home loss to Portland. Orlando is 2-5 and has lost two straight.
Phoenix's start has been one of the season's roughest. The Suns lost 132-119 at home to Portland on Wednesday, with Devin Booker scoring 33 and Jalen Green adding 22, and Thursday is the second night of a back-to-back. Mark Williams is out after shoulder surgery, and Jordan Goodwin (calf) and Rasheer Fleming (ankle) missed Wednesday's game.
Orlando is 2-5 after a 103-94 home loss to Washington on Monday, when Franz Wagner scored 24 and Desmond Bane added 20. The Magic have had two days off, but they are still without Paolo Banchero (ankle), Jalen Suggs (knee), Jonathan Isaac, Izaiyah Nelson and Noah Penda.
The matchup is Booker against a Magic defense that held Washington to 103 on Monday, and whether Wagner and Bane can carry enough offense to take advantage of a tired Phoenix team.
Orlando wins if Wagner and Bane share the scoring, the Magic use their rest to win the second half, and they keep Booker from taking over.
Phoenix wins if Booker keeps scoring at his current pace, Green and Miles Bridges give him help, and the Suns hold up on the second night.
Lean Phoenix -1.5 (Lean), and lean the over 223.5 (Lean).
THE CARD · ORL @ PHX
The line PHX -1.5 · total 223.5 · DraftKings (spread unchanged from the open, total down 1)
Our number PHX -4.0 · total 228.3
So far ORL 2-5 ATS, 3-4 O/U
Rest & availability ORL two days off, Banchero, Suggs, Isaac, Nelson and Penda out · PHX second night of a back-to-back, Mark Williams out, Goodwin and Fleming missed Wednesday
The public Tickets split evenly on the side · 67% on the over (SportsbookReview, as of Nov. 4)
Lean PHX -1.5 (Lean) · Over ↑ 223.5 (Lean)
Driven by the number. Our number has Phoenix by four at home, past the book's 1.5, and the total almost five points over. Both are Lean, with the Suns on the second night of a back-to-back.
Miami Finishes a Back-to-Back Against a Rested Curry
Miami Heat @ Golden State Warriors | 10:00 PM ET | NBA TV
KEY STAT
35
Points Bam Adebayo scored on 14-of-20 shooting in Wednesday's 117-116 win over the Clippers. Miami is back on the floor the next night in San Francisco.
Miami won a close one in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Bam Adebayo scored 35 on 14-of-20, Klay Thompson added 30 and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 27 and 14 in a 117-116 win over the Clippers. The Heat are 3-5 and have covered only two of their eight games. Thursday is the second night of a back-to-back.
Golden State is 5-3 and has had two days off since a 116-113 win over Phoenix on Monday, when Stephen Curry scored 34 with seven assists. Brandin Podziemski added 20 and Charles Bassey 19 off the bench. Gui Santos (knee) is out, along with Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porziņģis.
The matchup is Giannis and Adebayo against a Warriors frontcourt thin without Porziņģis, and Curry against a Miami defense playing its second game in two nights. Thompson faces his old team.
Miami wins if Adebayo and Giannis keep dominating inside, Thompson stays hot against his former team, and the Heat hold up on tired legs.
Golden State wins if Curry gets going early, the Warriors win the three-point battle, and their rest shows against a team on its second night.
Lean Golden State -6.5 (Strong), and lean the over 237.5 (Lean).
THE CARD · MIA @ GSW
The line GSW -6.5 · total 237.5 · DraftKings (spread moved 2 toward Golden State from the open, total down 1)
Our number GSW -11.5 · total 243.1
So far MIA 2-6 ATS
Rest & availability MIA second night of a back-to-back · GSW two days off, Santos, Butler, Moody and Porzingis out
Lean GSW -6.5 (Strong) · Over ↑ 237.5 (Lean)
Driven by the number. Golden State is 5-3 and rested; Miami has covered two of eight and is back on the floor a day after a one-point win in Los Angeles. Our number has the Warriors by more than 11, a Strong gap against 6.5.
What to Watch For Thursday.
Watch whether Phoenix's legs hold up on the second night against a rested Orlando team, and whether Curry can take advantage of a Miami team playing for the second time in 24 hours. That's two cards on the side and two on the total. We'll have the recap Friday with every card graded.
