NBA Best Bets Today (Predictions for Warriors-Lakers, Celtics-Sixers and Joel Embiid on Opening Night)

Someone cue up the music, because the NBA is BACK!

We’re entering the best time in the sports calendar (in my eyes) as we’ll have NBA action nearly every day from tonight through the NBA Finals in June. How can you not be excited? 

For those of you who followed along with my NBA Best Bets column last season, first I want to say, I appreciate you. Second, I’m excited to take everything we learned from the 2021-22 season and apply it to this year to hopefully have another profitable NBA campaign. 

But enough talk about last season, we have both teams that made the NBA Finals in the 2021-22 campaign in action tonight! 

The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in what should be a great battle between Eastern Conference contenders. My favorite prop bet for tonight is in this matchup…

In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors will receive their championship rings and then take on LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in their season opener. 

You know the drill, I’ve got four plays for tonight, including two prop bets. Basketball is back, baby! Let’s get into it: 

NBA Best Bets Record to Date

• NBA Best Bets Record for 2022-23 Season: 0-0 (+0.0 units)

NBA Best Bets Today

• Boston Celtics -2.5 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (-110)
• Golden State Warriors -6.5 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-110)
• Joel Embiid OVER 40.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-120)
• Andrew Wiggins OVER 5.5 Rebounds (+120)

Boston Celtics -2.5 vs. Philadelphia 76ers (-110)

Boston’s calling card in the 2022-23 season was the team’s defense, but that could change with Robert Williams expected to miss several weeks early in the season.

That could be problematic with Embiid down low, although Al Horford has been solid against him in his career. 

The Sixers upgraded their roster with P.J. Tucker, Danuel House and Montrezl Harrell, but I still don’t believe in the team’s shooting on the wing outside of Tyrese Maxey. 

Boston deserves to be favored here after how last season went, and even though it was 21-28-1 as a home favorite last season, its average margin of victory was 6.1 points. 

The Celtics also made arguably the most underrated move of the offseason, adding veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon in a trade with Indiana. He should help improve their bench unit that was weak at times last season.

Until I see the James Harden of old show up, I’m not completely in on this Sixers team. Give me Boston and its elite defensive scheme to grab an opening night win at home.

Golden State Warriors -6.5 vs. Los Angeles Lakers (-110)

I’m all over Golden State in this game, especially since the Warriors were one of the best teams in the NBA at home last season. 

Golden State was 29-19-1 against the spread at home, winning those games by an average margin of victory of 10.8 points. 

Even though the Lakers have the LeBron factor, this team looked awful in the preseason, and I don’t think the supporting cast is enough to match up with Golden State. The Lakers underachieved last season, and they are running back a very similar roster this season in hopes that James and Davis will stay healthy. The Warriors will be relying on some young guys (Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, James Wiseman), but overall I think they are a far deeper team than the Lakers.

Steve Kerr may not play his starters as much as we’d like, but will he even need to against this Lakers team? 

With Klay Thompson also entering the season healthy, I make Golden State closer to an 8.5 or 9-point favorite in this game. Give me the Warriors on opening night. 

Joel Embiid OVER 40.5 Points, Rebounds and Assists (-120)

This number is extremely low for Joel Embiid, even in a season opener, after he averaged 30.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last season. 

Embiid cleared this number twice against Boston in the 2021-22 campaign, scoring over 40 points in one game. The Celtics have major issues defensively in the frontcourt, as the team is without Robert Williams III (knee surgery). 

I think Embiid dominates the paint, especially when Al Horford isn’t in this game. 

Andrew Wiggins OVER 5.5 Rebounds (+120)

This prop depends on the sportsbook, as I bet this at DraftKings at 5.5, but many others have it at 6.5. 

Andrew Wiggins found something on the glass in the postseason for Golden State, grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game on their Finals run. Wiggins only averaged 4.5 rebounds per game last season, but the Warriors will need him on the glass against a Lakers team that could play big with Anthony Davis at the power forward at points on Tuesday.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.