NBA opening day bets to consider

The NBA tips off its 75th season on Tuesday with two enticing matchups. The Brooklyn Nets head to Wisconsin to face the Milwaukee Bucks while the Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Golden State Warriors in the House That Kobe Bryant Built.

These games could be a preview of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals and with names like KD, Giannis, LeBron and Steph, there are sure to be some fireworks on the court.

Here are some intriguing ways to add to the fun by making your first NBA bet of the season.

Nets (+1) at Bucks (-1) @ 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT

The first game of the evening looks to be a tight one as the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are favored by just one on the point spread. The total is set at 238.5, meaning sportsbooks predict it will be a high-scoring affair. With sharpshooters like Durant and James Harden on one side, and the unstoppable Greek Freak on the other, we tend to agree.

Kyrie Irving will not play in this game as he is away from the team due to his Covid-19 vaccination status. Last season, the Nets were just 12-6 without their All-Star point guard and will need to improve on that record in order to achieve 2022 championship aspirations.

For the first time in 50 years, the Bucks will reveal a new championship banner during pregame festivities. Defending champions have a 15-5 win/loss record over the past 20 years in their opening game. But nothing will come easy in this so-called revenge game.Brooklyn fans believe the title would have been theirs had Durant’s shoe size been one size smaller on his would-have-been game-winning shot in last year’s conference finals. No Milwaukee player could stop the Slim Reaper as he averaged over 35 points per game in the series. The sportsbooks have his point total set at 31.5 for this season opener.

The Takeaway

When the matchup is too close to call, grab your favorite player and root for them to put the biscuit in the basket. No one is stopping Durantula.

Warriors (+3.5) at Lakers (-3.5) @ 10:00 p.m. ET on TNT

Injuries befell these teams in a lackluster 2021 and both hope to rebound with an early season victory to cap our opening day slate. The Lakers are favored by 3.5 points on the point spread and the total is set at 228.5.

LeBron James somehow enters his 19th season still at the top of his game. His minutes have come down slightly (33.4 minutes per game in 2021, lowest of his career) but his production has not. He battled through injury last year and still averaged 25 points per contest with almost eight rebounds and eight assists.

Chef Curry was the only Warrior to make it through 2021 relatively unscathed and, like Greg Jennings, put the team on his back as they clawed their way into the play-in game. Curry averaged a career-high 32 points per game, good for second in the league.

Like Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, these squads were remastered in the offseason. L.A. acquired veterans Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, while Golden State built through the draft, selecting power forward Jonathan Kuminga No. 7 and shooting guard Moses Moody No. 14.

While Curry gives any team a chance at victory, the Warriors might take some time to get their 19-year-olds NBA-ready, and Klay Thompson remains sidelined for the foreseeable future. It’s easy to see why the veteran Lakeshow are favored.