[h=1]Best bets for Wednesday's NBA games[/h]
Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
It's only mid-October, but the NBA season is already upon us. Will the Golden State Warriors win another title? Can LeBron James carry the Lakers to a playoff spot? Those are some of the bigger questions for the season. We're more focused here on the day-to-day variance that can help you win a few bucks.
With a big slate of games every Wednesday, we've asked a few our NBA experts -- Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings -- to give their best bets for the night.
Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook on Wednesday morning. As always, shop around for the best price.
[h=3]Denver Nuggets (-1.5) at LA Clippers[/h]Total: 226
Kezirian: I appreciate all the positive vibes surrounding the Clippers, as they've turned the page on the Blake Griffin/Chris Paul era and seem to have a healthy locker room. But the Nuggets are distinctly better with an impressive starting lineup (and a healthy Paul Millsap), while the Clippers don't have a single player who's made an All-Star team. Denver doesn't play much defense, but its high-powered offense should be enough to cover this short number on the road.
Pick: Nuggets -1.5
[h=3]New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets (-8)[/h]Total: 230.5
Kezirian: Houston's offense grabs <offer style="box-sizing: border-box;">all the headlines (second last season with 112.4 PPG) but it will feel the loss of stout defenders Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute. Houston also has some moving pieces, particularly with Carmelo Anthony learning a new bench role. At their best, the Pelicans are a dynamic team with perhaps the MVP in Anthony Davis. I expect a focused New Orleans squad that is determined to start the season off well.
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Pick: Pelicans +8
[h=3]Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns (-1)[/h]Total: 215
Kezirian: Since 2014, teams that visited China for preseason games are now 1-8 ATS and SU in their regular-season opener. That includes the Sixers, who looked sluggish Tuesday night in a 105-87 loss to Boston. Devin Booker, recovering from hand surgery, is expected to play. If he does, I like the Suns to eke out a cover over a well-traveled and fatigued Mavs team.
Pick: Suns -1
[h=3]Milwaukee Bucks (-3) at Charlotte Hornets[/h]Total: 219.5
Kezirian: The Bucks are legitimate contenders in the East, having stabilized their coaching staff to improve a team that found head-scratching ways to lose close games last season. Plus, Mike Budenholzer has implemented an offense that prioritizes 3-point shooting. Last season, the Bucks were in the bottom third in 3-point attempts per game but ranked fourth this preseason, connecting on 41 percent. Budenholzer routinely optimized his Hawks roster and should do the same with Milwaukee. This line has moved up to -3 this morning at Westgate, but there are still 2s out there.
Pick: Bucks -2
Schultz: The Hornets still have point guard Kemba Walker -- an All-Star each of the past two seasons -- which means they will be in a ton of games, including this one. Walker's ability to dictate tempo and make contested shots will be buoyed by high-flying rookie forward Miles Bridges, whose quickness will match up well versus Khris Middleton and Thon Maker. Expect second-year man Malik Monk to fill it up as he enjoys new coach James Borrego's creative, more up-tempo offense, which will help Charlotte notch a head-turning opening-night win. Remember, despite a 36-46 campaign last season, the Hornets finished 21-20 at home.
Pick: Charlotte ML (+120)
Snellings: Westgate had this at 218 earlier Wednesday morning, but it has jumped to 219.5. Still, there are some 217s out there, so I'd shop around. The Bucks have been slow-paced during the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, with an average ranking of 23rd in pace over the past three seasons. Budenholzer coached the Hawks last year to an average pace of ninth during the past three seasons. Milwaukee sports a higher-octane offense, fresh off averaging 125 PPG during the preseason, and the Hornets like to play at a fast pace (eighth in NBA last season) with not much defensive presence. Take the over here.
Pick: Over 217
[h=3]Brooklyn Nets at Detroit Pistons (-5.5)[/h]Total: 212
Schultz: This is an odd line to me. Detroit is not especially talented, nor does it have great wing talent. The Nets are hardly a juggernaut, but they've played hard for head man Kenny Atkinson and have a good young duo of interchangeable guards in Spencer Dinwiddie and D'Angelo Russell, both of whom should enjoy strong seasons. This should also be a sterling third season for talented 20-year-old center Jarrett Allen, who boasted impressive per-36 numbers last year (14.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks). Allen will savor the opportunity to match up against the Pistons' imposing pair of bigs, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond.
Pick: Nets +5.5
Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
It's only mid-October, but the NBA season is already upon us. Will the Golden State Warriors win another title? Can LeBron James carry the Lakers to a playoff spot? Those are some of the bigger questions for the season. We're more focused here on the day-to-day variance that can help you win a few bucks.
With a big slate of games every Wednesday, we've asked a few our NBA experts -- Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and Andre Snellings -- to give their best bets for the night.
Lines displayed are from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook on Wednesday morning. As always, shop around for the best price.
Kezirian: I appreciate all the positive vibes surrounding the Clippers, as they've turned the page on the Blake Griffin/Chris Paul era and seem to have a healthy locker room. But the Nuggets are distinctly better with an impressive starting lineup (and a healthy Paul Millsap), while the Clippers don't have a single player who's made an All-Star team. Denver doesn't play much defense, but its high-powered offense should be enough to cover this short number on the road.
Pick: Nuggets -1.5
Kezirian: Houston's offense grabs <offer style="box-sizing: border-box;">all the headlines (second last season with 112.4 PPG) but it will feel the loss of stout defenders Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute. Houston also has some moving pieces, particularly with Carmelo Anthony learning a new bench role. At their best, the Pelicans are a dynamic team with perhaps the MVP in Anthony Davis. I expect a focused New Orleans squad that is determined to start the season off well.
</offer>
Pick: Pelicans +8
Kezirian: Since 2014, teams that visited China for preseason games are now 1-8 ATS and SU in their regular-season opener. That includes the Sixers, who looked sluggish Tuesday night in a 105-87 loss to Boston. Devin Booker, recovering from hand surgery, is expected to play. If he does, I like the Suns to eke out a cover over a well-traveled and fatigued Mavs team.
Pick: Suns -1
Kezirian: The Bucks are legitimate contenders in the East, having stabilized their coaching staff to improve a team that found head-scratching ways to lose close games last season. Plus, Mike Budenholzer has implemented an offense that prioritizes 3-point shooting. Last season, the Bucks were in the bottom third in 3-point attempts per game but ranked fourth this preseason, connecting on 41 percent. Budenholzer routinely optimized his Hawks roster and should do the same with Milwaukee. This line has moved up to -3 this morning at Westgate, but there are still 2s out there.
Pick: Bucks -2
Schultz: The Hornets still have point guard Kemba Walker -- an All-Star each of the past two seasons -- which means they will be in a ton of games, including this one. Walker's ability to dictate tempo and make contested shots will be buoyed by high-flying rookie forward Miles Bridges, whose quickness will match up well versus Khris Middleton and Thon Maker. Expect second-year man Malik Monk to fill it up as he enjoys new coach James Borrego's creative, more up-tempo offense, which will help Charlotte notch a head-turning opening-night win. Remember, despite a 36-46 campaign last season, the Hornets finished 21-20 at home.
Pick: Charlotte ML (+120)
Snellings: Westgate had this at 218 earlier Wednesday morning, but it has jumped to 219.5. Still, there are some 217s out there, so I'd shop around. The Bucks have been slow-paced during the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, with an average ranking of 23rd in pace over the past three seasons. Budenholzer coached the Hawks last year to an average pace of ninth during the past three seasons. Milwaukee sports a higher-octane offense, fresh off averaging 125 PPG during the preseason, and the Hornets like to play at a fast pace (eighth in NBA last season) with not much defensive presence. Take the over here.
Pick: Over 217
Schultz: This is an odd line to me. Detroit is not especially talented, nor does it have great wing talent. The Nets are hardly a juggernaut, but they've played hard for head man Kenny Atkinson and have a good young duo of interchangeable guards in Spencer Dinwiddie and D'Angelo Russell, both of whom should enjoy strong seasons. This should also be a sterling third season for talented 20-year-old center Jarrett Allen, who boasted impressive per-36 numbers last year (14.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.2 blocks). Allen will savor the opportunity to match up against the Pistons' imposing pair of bigs, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond.
Pick: Nets +5.5
