The NBA season is here and we’ve got a thrilling opening night to enjoy. The action gets underway with New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics as the reigning champions kick off the campaign.
We then head out west to focus on Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers as LeBron James finally gets to play a regular season game with his son Bronny. However, will Anthony Edwards and Co. spoil the party? Our writer Peter Sharland has his value picks!
NBA Multi-Match Bet Builder
00:30: New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson 25+ points
Over 223.5 points
Jayson Tatum to have 8+ rebounds
03:00: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Over 219 points
LeBron James 25+ points
Anthony Edwards 25+ points
- A Multi-Match Bet Builder on these selections adds up to around 16/1 with Paddy Power. TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY.
The NBA is back! Despite a summer that whetted the appetite through the Olympic Games the biggest stars in the world are finally going to be back on court as the NBA prepares to get underway on Tuesday October 22.
The champion Boston Celtics host pretenders to the throne New York Knicks in the season-opener whilst out West all eyes are on the coaching debut of JJ Reddick up against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It should be an absolute blockbuster of a night and we’re tipping offence to be the king of the first round of games.
00:30: New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson 25+ points
This is Jalen Brunson’s moment. There are no more questions and there are no more caveats. The Knicks have surrounded him with talent (and his father on the coaching staff) because they believe he is one of the best point-scorers in the game.
Brunson averaged 27.8 points per game last season, his first time over 25 ppg, and we’re backing him to pick up from where he left off and easily clear that figure in what should be a high-scoring opener.
Over 223.5 points
It’s true that both of these teams possessed top-five defences last year, but few sides had answers for the Celtics last season and following the blockbuster moves to surround Brunson with Karl-Anthony Towns and his old Villanova team-mate Mikal Bridges we’re expecting big things from the Knicks offensively.
Jayson Tatum to have 8+ rebounds
On the other side of the floor will Jayson Tatum ever be able to win an MVP award? Having finally ended the Celtics’ title-drought it sort of feels as if it’s now or never for Tatum to put together the kind of campaign that leaves voters with no choice. After hitting eight or more rebounds per game in each of the last three seasons we’re backing Tatum to start strong in this regard against the Knicks.
03:00: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Over 219 points
Like with the first game of the night we’re hitting the over on total points in Los Angeles, currently set at 219. The Lakers had the sixth-best offence last year and after trading away Towns the Wolves should have the kind of spacing they need to catapult from 18th up into the top 10 or even higher. Plus, they’re unlikely to be overly taxed against a Lakers defence that ranked 23rd last year. Consider this too, no team across the NBA over the past three seasons has had more games hit the over than LA.
LeBron James 25+ points
And on an individual note, do you know how many seasons LeBron James has had averaging fewer than 25 points per game? Just one, his rookie season in Cleveland, back in 2003-04. Every other year of the Hall of Fame career has seen James average 25 points or more per game, oh and he’s coming off winning MVP at the Olympics as the USA won gold. If this is the last year for LBJ you can bet he’s going out hot.
Anthony Edwards 25+ points
And don’t forget about Edwards, who had a stellar run in Paris and is ready to take the Wolves on his back to the promised land, and potentially pick up an MVP along the way. Like Brunson he crossed the 25ppg mark for the first time in his career last season. We’re pretty confident it won’t be the last.
NBA Multi-Match Bet Builder
00:30: New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics
Jalen Brunson 25+ points
Over 223.5 points
Jayson Tatum to have 8+ rebounds
03:00: Minnesota Timberwolves @ Los Angeles Lakers
Over 219 points
LeBron James 25+ points
Anthony Edwards 25+ points
- A Multi-Match Bet Builder on these selections adds up to around 16/1 with Paddy Power. TAP HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP INSTANTLY.
Read More
- Get the latest NBA Basketball odds on PaddyPower.com
- Check out the latest NBA Tips from Paddy Power News
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