After a busy offseason, the 2018-19 NBA season is set to tip off. Opening night features a pair of games while the following night will offer up plenty of action as 22 teams are set to hit the hardwood. Some teams are primed to make championship runs and enter the season with high expectations, while others have set the reset button and are looking ahead to the future. Either way, every game provides NBA bettors with plenty of wagering opportunities and we’ll start by taking a look at the top NBA opening week bets.
Related: NBA Betting Guide
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics (-5)
The NBA’s Atlantic Division should be exciting to watch this season with the Raptors, Sixers, and Celtics all looking powerful. The first game of the season will feature the 76ers playing the Celtics as five-point underdogs. The Celtics were hurt by injuries last year but they begin the year very healthy. On the flip side, the Sixers are dealing with a couple of minor injuries, including Ben Simmons’ sore neck and Dario Saric’s sore back, but both of these players are expected to play.
The Celtics won and covered seven of the nine meetings between these two teams last year. They were 4-1 SU and ATS at home versus the Sixers last year too. Both of these teams were good ATS bets last year but Boston is a much better home team than Philly is on the road.
My Pick: Boston -5 (110)
Oklahoma City Thunder at Golden State Warriors (- 11.5)
The Golden State Warriors are eyeing up their fourth championship in five years and the oddsmakers like their chances of succeeding. Meanwhile, the Thunder are expected to be competitive but are already facing an uphill battle with Andre Roberson expected to miss the first couple of months, while Russell Westbrook has been hampered by a knee injury which could keep him sidelined on opening night. The Warriors have excellent depth, but Oklahoma City doesn’t have the same luxury.
Both of these teams were a money-sucking 34-47-1 ATS last year, but Golden State has done very well ATS against the Thunder — having won and covered in nine of the last 11 meetings between these two teams. However, a more tempting bet would be taking the under at 224 points. Nine of the last 10 meetings between these teams has gone under the total and 10 of the last 11 games between these two in Golden State has gone under.
My Pick: Under 224 (-110)
New Orleans Pelicans at Houston Rockets (-7.5)
This Southwest Division showdown should be a fun one to watch as two relatively healthy squads meet in Houston. As good as Houston was last year, this veteran team went just 1-3 ATS overall and 0-2 ATS at home versus New Orleans. The Pelicans were quite profitable ATS last year but they have struggled in Houston recently, going 1-13 SU and 6-7-1 ATS in their last 14 visits.
The Rockets come with a lot of hype, but the Pelicans shouldn’t be taken lightly. The line opened with Houston being seven-point favorites and it has moved to 7.5 points. The Rockets have won 18 of their last 20 games SU as 6-10-point favorites and they are 14-6 ATS in those games. They have also won 12 of their last 13 games SU when favored by six-to-10 points and they are 10-3 ATS in those games.
My Pick: Houston -7.5 (-110)
Milwaukee Bucks at Charlotte Hornets (+1.5)
The oddsmakers don’t seem to think the Hornets are going to be all that competitive this season judging by the season win total of 35.5 games that they have hung on them. They were a game over .500 at home last year but their home ATS record was terrible. They managed to go 2-0 SU and ATS at home versus Milwaukee last year and that’s impressive considering that the Bucks covered well on the road during the regular season.
Both of these teams start the season with healthy rosters but only one of these teams has a realistic shot at squeaking into the postseason. After Charlotte opened as a one-point favorite, they now find themselves listed as 1.5-point dogs. Follow the money.
My Pick: Milwaukee Bucks -1.5 (-110)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors (-9.5)
As good as the Cavaliers have been in the past couple of years, they have really struggled against the spread. In fact, their 32-49-1 ATS record from last year was the worst in the league. On the other hand, Toronto’s 50-30-2 ATS record was the most profitable ATS mark in the league. One of the biggest factors in making a bet on this game is the fact that Cleveland has some injuries to key players with Larry Nance, Kevin Lowe, and Cedi Osman all being questionable for the season opener. It will be interesting to see how Toronto fares in the long run but they enter the season with a healthy starting five.
Toronto has won just four of their last 13 games versus the Cavaliers and they have covered just three times in their last 11 home games against Cleveland so they should be looking for a bit of revenge in front of a jacked-up home crowd.
My Pick: Toronto Raptors -9.5 (-110)
