NBA 'Opening Night' Schedule, Odds, and Betting Picks
After a long hiatus, NBA game odds are back at online sports betting sites, and the NBA season is set to resume on July 30. Though we still have a month before things tip-off inside Disney World, now is the time to lock in your NBA betting picks.
I previously touched on the 2020 NBA playoff format and NBA futures betting advice, specific for this season’s unique and unprecedented circumstances.
In this article, we catch you up to speed on the NBA’s ‘Opening Night’ games, plus look at the spreads and totals for the first eight games in which NBA teams return to the hardwood.
*Looking for Opening Night betting tips for the 2021 season? Here’s our Warriors vs. Lakers Prediction for Tuesday, October 19.
NBA Schedule, Odds, and Betting Picks
Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Date: Thursday, July 30
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Channel: TNT
Spread: Pelicans -1.5
Over/Under: 220.5
Moneyline: Pelicans -121
Odds are accurate as of June 29 at Pointsbet
After starting the season 6-22, the New Orleans Pelicans have life. It started with the return of Zion Williamson, who made his NBA debut on January 22. Williamson’s impact on the court began immediately, despite playing on restricted minutes early on.
So far, Williamson has dominated the hardwood. The rookie sensation is averaging 23.6 while grabbing nearly seven boards a game.
The Pelicans are 10-9 with Williamson playing, and 8-3 against the spread since ending his minutes restriction. That might be one of the reasons why oddsmakers have already moved the spread in the Pelicans favored a few days after opening NBA odds.
It’s safe to assume the extra rest benefits Zion and the Pelicans, who are now in the hunt to make the playoffs and potentially face the Lakers in the first round. The Pelicans are 3.5 games back from the Memphis Grizzlies who currently hold onto the eighth seed. This season, however, the eighth seed isn’t necessarily the final seed. If the Pelicans end up ninth in the Western Conference and within four games of the No. 8 seed, they’ll go head-to-head in a play-in game(s). In this format, the No. 9 seed must win twice to advance while the No. 8 seed just needs to win once.
With only eight games left in the regular season, the Pelicans will be playing with as much intensity as anyone as soon as games begin.
Meanwhile, the Jazz are only 1.5 games back from the three-seed but could fall as low as sixth or seventh in the conference if they struggle in Orlando.
Jazz players Rody Gobert and Donavon Mitchell seem to have made amends after Gobert, who was the first player known to test positive for the coronavirus back in March, presumably spread COVID-19 inside the Jazz locker.
Citing loss of smell, Gobert recently said he’s still not fully recovered from the virus but does intend to play once the season resumes.
Ultimately, I’m siding with the Pelicans in the NBA’s first game back for a couple of reasons. New Orleans will be playing with a sense of urgency that is not required of the Jazz (yet). Additionally, Utah returns to the court without Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic underwent season-ending wrist surgery in May, leaving the Jazz without their second-leading scorer. Averaging 20.2 ppg this season, Bogdanovic only missed one game. At the time, Utah inserted Jeff Green in the starting lineup. Green is no longer on the team, which means the Jazz will play with a brand new starting lineup.
The stars are aligning for the Pelicans.
Bet on the Pelicans -1 at FanDuel Sportsbook
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Date: Thursday, July 30
Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Channel: TNT
Spread: Clippers -1
Over/Under: 219.5
Moneyline: Clippers -115
Odds are accurate as of June 29 at BetMGM
NBA’s first night back ends with a high profile matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, but ultimately, the game might be underwhelming.
The Lakers have a 5.5-game lead on the Clippers and there are only eight games left. The Clippers haven’t locked in the 2-seed yet, and fighting for “home court” is futile since each game is in Orlando without fans.
More than anything, it’ll be interesting to see how stars like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George look after four months without playing a competitive game.
I expect the Lakers to treat this as a rehearsal more than anything, and the Clippers could have a similar approach.
One angle I will use in these early games is betting the Under. Teams like the Lakers and Clippers are already looking ahead toward the playoffs and planning accordingly. They’ll likely want to get all of their pieces involved after the long break. They’ll be more worried about working out kinks and making adjustments than actually putting points on the scoreboard.
Bet the Lakers and Clippers Under 219.5 at BetMGM.
NBA Day 2 Betting Odds and Schedule
The second day of NBA action includes six games, beginning at 2:30 pm ET and the night’s final tip-off scheduled for 9 pm. The excitement doesn’t end there. We’ll get similar schedules with basketball-filled days through Aug. 14. I suppose it’s a small gift from the basketball gods in a year without March Madness.
Here’s a look at the full schedule, including NBA betting odds, for Friday, July 31.
Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets +1.5, O/U 212.5 (2:30 pm)
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers -1, O/U 222.5 (4 pm)
Phoenix Suns vs. Washington Wizards +3.5, O/U 231.5 (4 pm)
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks -5, O/U 217.5 (6:30 pm)
Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs +2.5, O/U 216.5 (8 pm)
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks +1.5, O/U 225.5 (9 pm)
Image Credit: USA Today Sports Images