The new NBA season officially begins tomorrow, with a star-studded doubleheader of the Boston Celtics vs the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers vs the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
But the season begins for everyone else the following day, with a huge 12-game slate headlined by the duel between Kevin Durant’s Brooklyn Nets and the returning Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Meanwhile, there’s a big rematch between the Phoenix Suns and the Dallas Mavericks, who dumped Phoenix out of the playoffs last year.
Read on below as SBOTOP previews every single matchup in this massive 12-game slate.
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons
The Magic and Pistons were the worst teams in the East last season. The Magic got the No 1 overall pick in the NBA draft for their troubles and they picked Paolo Banchero, who is set to make his NBA debut.
The Pistons also got a high draft pick in guard Jaden Ivey to pair with last year’s No 1 Cade Cunningham. But they lost leading scorer Jerami Grant, so the burden will be heavy on Cunningham to carry the team offensively.
Betting Tip: Orlando Magic Asian Handicap +3.50 @ 1.95
Washington Wizards @ Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are in rebuilding mode. They got rid of guard Malcolm Brogdon in the offseason, while Myles Turner and Buddy Hield are both firmly on the trading block. Tyrese Haliburton has the unenviable task of leading this Pacers squad lacking in attacking talent.
Meanwhile, the Wizards are in win-now mode and will be looking to get their season off to a good start. All-Star Bradley Beal will be eager to bounce back after a down year where he averaged just 23 points following back-to-back 30-point seasons.
Betting Tip: Washington Wizards Asian Handicap -2.50 @ 2.00
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Toronato Raptors
After a surprisingly successful season last year, there are now high expectations on the Cavs, who swung a blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell in the summer. With their young core of Mitchell, All-Star guard Darius Garland, budding star forward Evan Mobley, and centre Jarrett Allen, the Cavs will have their sights set on a top-6 finish in the East.
They will face stiff competition from the Raptors, who finished fifth last year and saw a stellar rookie campaign from their young star Scottie Barnes. Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby, who were all part of their championship team in 2019, are still around and will lead a Raptors team that has the potential to be a top defence.
Betting Tip: Cleveland Cavaliers Asian Handicap +3.00 @ 1.89
Chicago Bulls @ Miami Heat
DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are two of the better wing duos in the NBA, with DeRozan in particular coming off a career year last season. But with Lonzo Ball still out with his troublesome knee, a lot will once again rest on the shoulders of DeRozan and LaVine to power the Bulls.
There is no such pressure on former Bull Jimmy Butler. The Heat have enough depth to take care of business during the regular season, and their defence remains the best even with the departure of PJ Tucker.
Betting Tip: Miami Heat Asian Handicap -5.50 @ 1.86
New Orleans Pelicans @ Brooklyn Nets
In what is perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the night, Kevin Durant and the Nets will face Zion Williamson and the Pelicans.
Williamson is set to make his much-awaited return after missing the whole of last season with a foot injury. He will lead a Pelicans squad that still made the playoffs last year without him thanks to stars CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram.
As for the Nets, they will look to bounce back from a tumultuous last year or so. Like Zion, All-Star Ben Simmons is also set to play his first NBA game in over a year, although guards Joe Harris and Seth Curry are both out, which will be a big blow to the Nets’ outside shooting.
Betting Tip: Brooklyn Nets Asian Handicap -2.50 @ 1.85
Houston Rockets @ Atlanta Hawks
The Rockets are still rebuilding, but they at least have a solid foundation with last year’s No 2 pick Jalen Green, who had a strong end to his rookie season, and this year’s No 3 pick, forward Jabari Smith Jr.
But defence remains a bit issue for the Rockets, and it will likely rear its ugly head against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who were among the top offences last season. The Hawks will be without Bogdan Bogdanovic due to a knee issue, but Dejounte Murray will help carry the offensive load for Young on his Hawks debut.
Betting Tip: Houston Rockets Asian Handicap +9.50 @ 1.96
New York Knicks @ Memphis Grizzlies
The Knicks finally got their franchise point guard – or so they hope – in Jalen Brunson. Brunson averaged 16.3 points for the Mavs last season, and the Knicks will be relying on him to get their offence back to respectability.
Brunson will be tested on both ends of the court on his debut as he takes on Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies soared to second in the West last season even though Morant missed 25 games. And this season, they will have to find a way to weather the absence of defensive lynchpin Jaren Jackson Jr.
Betting Tip: New York Knicks Asian Handicap +6.50 @ 1.91
Oklahoma City Thunder @ Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves made a major swing in the offseason by trading for centre Rudy Gobert. They hope he and All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns can form a formidable frontcourt, while D’Angelo Russell and rising star Anthony Edwards do their magic and make NBA 2022 highlights.
The Wolves’ NBA 2022 odds of getting the Gobert era off to a winning start are looking good as they host the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder will be without star rookie Chet Holmgren, who will miss the season with a foot injury, but star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on track to play after suffering a knee sprain last month.
Betting Tip: Minnesota Timberwolves Asian Handicap -10.50 @ 1.89
Charlotte Hornets @ San Antonio Spurs
The Hornets have problems. They went winless in preseason, in large part due to the absence of star point guard LaMelo Ball. Ball is unlikely to play in the season opener due to a sprained ankle. And with Miles Bridges still out amid legal issues, the Hornets could be without their top two leading scorers from last season.
But despite those absences, they could yet still be competitive against the Spurs, who are significantly weaker after trading away All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray in the offseason.
Betting Tip: San Antonio Spurs Asian Handicap +2.50 @ 1.84
Denver Nuggets @ Utah Jazz
For the first time in a long time, the Nuggets are finally whole. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr, who were both unavailable last season, are now back healthy and ready to rejoin two-time defending MVP Nikola Jokic this year.
Jokic is coming off another outstanding campaign despite missing his two co-stars, and he will be keen to dominate a decimated Jazz side that traded away its two biggest stars, Mitchell and Gobert.
Betting Tip: Denver Nuggets Asian Handicap -7.50 @ 1.83
Dallas Mavericks @ Phoenix Suns
Luka Doncic and the Mavs absolutely humiliated the Suns in last season’s playoffs, blowing the No 1 seed out in Game 7 and knocking them out in the second round. But this will be a different Dallas team, with Jalen Brunson gone and key summer acquisition Christian Wood coming off the bench.
The Suns will be slightly different as well – Jae Crowder is staying away from the team as the Suns try to trade him away – but they will still have the key trio of Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton, who will be hungry for revenge.
Betting Tip: Dallas Mavericks Asian Handicap +5.50 @ 1.84
Portland Trail Blazers @ Sacramento Kings
Damian Lillard is back for the Blazers after missing most of last season with an abdominal injury. The All-Star guard got some reinforcements in the form of Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II this offseason, although Payton will miss the start of the season with his own ab injury.
Lillard and the Blazers will take on the Kings, who went a perfect 4-0 in preseason. New coach Mike Brown is hoping to instil a defensive identity with the Kings, who are now the owners of the longest active playoff drought in the NBA at 16 straight seasons.
Betting Tip: Portland Trail Blazers Asian Handicap +1.50 @ 1.99
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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