NBA Preview | November 8, 2026
Sunday has seven games, starting with an afternoon tip in Chicago. Philadelphia, 8-2, visits a 1-7 Bulls team two days after its worst loss of the season. Then the Lakers, 8-2 after Luka Dončić's 53 on Friday, visit Detroit on NBA TV with Dončić questionable. And Boston, fresh off a 39-point win, visits a Milwaukee team that is 1-8. Those three are free; four more cards are in Tome Intel. All times are Eastern.
Philadelphia Visits Chicago Two Days After a 24-Point Loss
Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls | 3:30 PM ET | NBA League Pass
KEY STAT
1-7
Chicago's record after Wednesday's 135-105 loss in New York. The Bulls have had three days off since.
Philadelphia is 8-2 but coming off its worst night, a 119-95 loss in Cleveland on Friday. Jaylen Brown scored 20 and VJ Edgecombe 19, but Tyrese Maxey went 5-of-15 and LeBron James 3-of-12. Joel Embiid is probable with plantar fascia management, and Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti are out.
Chicago is 1-7 and has had three days off since a 135-105 loss to the Knicks on Wednesday. Zach Collins and Dailyn Swain are out, and Tobe Awaka and Nic Claxton are questionable.
The matchup is Embiid against a Chicago frontcourt that could be without Claxton again, and whether Maxey bounces back from a rough shooting night. The total is tied for the highest on Sunday's board.
Philadelphia wins if Embiid is available and controls the paint, Maxey finds his shot, and the 76ers' defense keeps a struggling Chicago offense in check.
Chicago wins if the Bulls use their rest to push the pace early, get Claxton back in the middle, and make Philadelphia's guards defend for 48 minutes.
Lean Philadelphia -8.5 (Toss-up), and lean the under 238.5 (Strong).
THE CARD · PHI @ CHI
The line PHI -8.5 · total 238.5 · DraftKings (spread moved 1 toward Chicago from the open, total unchanged)
Our number CHI +8.9 · total 228.2
Rest & availability PHI one day off, Barlow, Bona and Hukporti out, Embiid probable · CHI three days off, Zach Collins and Swain out, Awaka and Claxton questionable
The public 75% of tickets on PHI · 58% on the over (SportsbookReview, as of Nov. 7)
Lean PHI -8.5 (Toss-up) · Under ↓ 238.5 (Strong)
Driven by the number. Our number lands on the spread, so the side is a toss-up. The total is the gap: more than 10 points under a 238.5 that is tied for the highest on the board.
Luka Scored 53 on Friday and Is Questionable in Detroit
Los Angeles Lakers @ Detroit Pistons | 6:00 PM ET | NBA TV
KEY STAT
53
Points Luka Dončić scored in Friday's 124-118 win over Portland, on 17-of-33 shooting. He is questionable Sunday with low back tightness.
The Lakers are 8-2 after beating Portland 124-118 on Friday, when Luka Dončić scored 53 on 17-of-33 and Austin Reaves added 25. Walker Kessler had 16 and 12. Dončić is now questionable with low back tightness, and the line has moved two points toward Detroit since it opened.
Detroit is 6-2 and has had three days off since a 112-106 home loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday, when Duncan Robinson scored 27, Cade Cunningham had 26 and 11 assists and Ausar Thompson grabbed 17 rebounds. Jalen Duren (hamstring) and Isaiah Joe (hip) are out.
If Dončić is cleared, the matchup is him against a rested Detroit defense; if not, the Lakers lean on Reaves and Kessler against Cunningham and a Pistons frontcourt still missing Duren.
Los Angeles wins if Dončić is cleared, Reaves keeps scoring, and Kessler controls the glass against a Detroit team without Duren.
Detroit wins if Cunningham controls the pace, Robinson keeps hitting from outside, and the Pistons use their rest against a Lakers team on one day off.
Lean Los Angeles +4.5 (Strong), and lean the over 222.5 (Toss-up).
THE CARD · LAL @ DET
The line DET -4.5 · total 222.5 · DraftKings (spread moved 2 toward Detroit from the open, total down 1)
Our number DET -2.1 · total 224.9
So far LAL 6-4 O/U
Rest & availability LAL one day off, Dončić questionable (back), Kessler available · DET three days off, Duren and Isaiah Joe out
The public 61% of tickets on LAL · 76% on the over (SportsbookReview, as of Nov. 7)
Lean LAL +4.5 (Strong) · Over ↑ 222.5 (Toss-up)
Driven by the number. Our number has Detroit by two at home; the book has moved two more points toward the Pistons with Luka Dončić questionable. Our number does not see his status; Strong is the size of the gap.
Boston Comes Off a 39-Point Win; Milwaukee Is 1-8
Boston Celtics @ Milwaukee Bucks | 8:00 PM ET | NBA League Pass
KEY STAT
39
Boston's margin in Friday's 119-80 win in Charlotte, behind Jayson Tatum's 34 on 9-of-16.
Boston is 7-2 after a 119-80 win in Charlotte on Friday, when Jayson Tatum had 34 points, eight rebounds and nine assists on 9-of-16 and Derrick White added 18. The Celtics held the Hornets to 80.
Milwaukee is 1-8 after a 121-107 home loss to Toronto on Friday. Tyler Herro had 23 and 10 assists and Brayden Burries 21 and 11, but the Bucks have won once in nine games since the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
The matchup is Tatum against a Milwaukee defense that just gave up 121 to Toronto, and whether Herro can keep the Bucks within the 12.5.
Boston wins if Tatum stays efficient, White and Pritchard keep hitting from outside, and the Celtics' defense smothers Milwaukee's guards the way it did Charlotte's.
Milwaukee wins if Herro and Burries keep scoring, the Bucks win the glass, and they keep the game close into the fourth quarter.
Lean Milwaukee +12.5 (Toss-up), and lean the under 222.5 (Toss-up).
THE CARD · BOS @ MIL
The line BOS -12.5 · total 222.5 · DraftKings (unchanged from the open)
Our number MIL +11.6 · total 220.5
So far MIL 5-4 O/U
Rest & availability BOS one day off · MIL one day off
The public 76% of tickets on BOS · 67% on the over (SportsbookReview, as of Nov. 7)
Lean MIL +12.5 (Toss-up) · Under ↓ 222.5 (Toss-up)
Driven by the number. Our number lands within a point of the book on the side and two points under on the total. Both are toss-ups.
The Rest of the Slate
TOME INTEL · 4 more cards
Every other Sunday game gets a full card in Tome Intel: the line, our number, the early results, who is out, and our lean with its tier.
7:00 PM ET: Jazz @ Timberwolves
7:30 PM ET: Nets @ Mavericks
9:00 PM ET: Pelicans @ Clippers · Heat @ Kings
What to Watch For Sunday.
Watch Luka Dončić's back in Detroit, whether Philadelphia answers Friday's loss in Chicago, and whether Milwaukee can stay within range of a Boston team coming off a 39-point win. That's seven cards on the side and seven on the total, three free and four in Tome Intel. We'll have the recap Monday with every card graded.
