The Philadelphia 76ers got good news last week on an injured shoulder suffered by star Ben Simmons. He had an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, and sometimes those can sideline a player for weeks. However, Simmons’ was minor and he’s expected to miss only three games, meaning he could return sometime this week. Here are two early-week intriguing NBA Betting matchups. Check back for the latest Mybookie NBA odds.

Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – November 11th Edition

LA Lakers vs Phoenix Suns

• When: Tuesday, 9 PM ET
• Live Stream: NBA League Pass

The Suns have been one of the biggest surprises of the early season, while the Lakers look like the NBA’s best team. The improved to 6-3 with Sunday’s 138-112 win over Brooklyn. Ricky Rubio had a season-high 22 points and 12 assists in 29 minutes. Rubio shot 10-of-16 from the field with two 3-pointers, two steals and zero turnovers. On the season, he’s averaging 12.4 points, 8.1 assists, a career-high 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

Aron Baynes stayed hot on Sunday with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in just 18 minutes. Baynes scored eight of the Suns’ first 10 points, including a pair of threes, and he continues to thrive without Deandre Ayton, who is suspended. Devin Booker added 27 points in the win. The Suns shot 54 percent through three quarters, hitting 16 of 34 on 3-pointers, and cruised in the final period. They won for the fourth time in five games and ended the Nets’ four-game winning streak in Phoenix.

Why the Lakers should be your NBA Betting pick?

The Lakers had a seven-game winning streak snapped in a 113-104 home loss to Toronto on Sunday. LeBron James hit 5-of-15 shots for 13 points, 13 rebounds, 15 assists and a block. LeBron has now triple-doubled in four of his last five games. Anthony Davis had 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals, four blocks, two 3-pointers and five turnovers.

Davis said after Sunday’s game in which he tweaked his sore right shoulder, “There’s never a play I don’t feel it. But I’m going to go out there and play, I try not to let it affect my game. I just play through it and then worry about taking care of it after the game.”

The Suns have won 12 of the last 16 meetings vs. the Lakers played in Phoenix, including 11 straight from 2012-2017. Booker holds a career average of 22.1 points per game in 15 career games against the Lakers. The Suns won by 36 on 2/15/17, their largest win in series history.

LA Clippers vs Houston Rockets

• When: Wednesday, 7:30 PM ET
• Live Stream: WatchESPN

The big question here is whether Kawhi Leonard plays. The Clippers have not been playing him in both ends of a back-to-back and frankly probably won’t all season – L.A. plays again Thursday in New Orleans. Frankly, it’s unfair to the fans and the NBA’s TV partners that Leonard just randomly sits. There was a firestorm of criticism when he did last week in a potential NBA Finals preview against reigning league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

The Clippers have “reasonably determined” that Leonard has an ongoing injury to his left patella tendon and he’ll remain on injury protocol for back-to-back sets. The team also was fined $50,000 by the NBA for “statements inconsistent with Kawhi Leonard’s health status.” We think Leonard plays this game and not in New Orleans because the Clippers don’t need him to beat the lousy Pelicans. Could be that Paul George makes his Clippers debut in this one. He has yet to play following offseason shoulder surgery.

The Clippers are tied for second in fourth quarter points (31.0), tied for 10th in steals (2.0) and have the third best plus/minus differential (4.8) in the NBA. Leonard currently leads the NBA in fourth quarter scoring (13.5) and steals (1.3).

Why the Rockets should be your NBA Betting Pick?

Since losing their home opener to Milwaukee on 10/24, the Rockets have won three straight at Toyota Center. Houston was 31-10 at home last season and have won 30+ home games in five of the past six seasons after doing so five times the 22 seasons prior. Houston has led by double-digits in eight of the past nine games this season (6-2 mark). The Rockets are 4-1 when leading after three quarters of play this season (42-6 in 2018-19) and 2-2 when tied or trailing (11-23 in 2018-19).

It’s the first meeting between the new-look Clippers and Rockets, who of course added Russell Westbrook this past offseason. The Clippers have won five of the past eight meetings after losing 6 of 8 from 2/25/15-3/1/17. L.A.’s 2-1 season series win in 2018-19 was its first since sweeping Houston in 2013-14. Since winning 13 of 16 at home from 3/12/03-4/9/11, Houston has lost 8 of the past 13 there.

Expert NBA Betting Picks

Lakers win in the desert and Rockets upset Clippers.