Top NBA Picks and Predictions Today (Favorites Are the Way to Go on Opening Night)
By Peter Dewey
NBA opening night is upon us, and we have two games between contenders on Tuesday night.
The Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in a heated rivalry game to kick things off, and they'll be followed by the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers.
The Warriors will receive their championship rings from last season, and teams in that spot have done well on opening night over the last 10 years.
With opening night upon us you will hear that ring night in the NBA is “distracting”…
— Jonathan Von Tobel (@meJVT) October 18, 2022
The last 10 years the defending champion is 8-2 SU/6-4 ATS on opening night.
They’re also 18-8 SU/11-15 ATS the last 26 seasons. All small sample size nonsense. @VSiNLive
How should we bet each game in the NBA on Tuesday? Here are some of the top picks and predictions for our opening night action:
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics Odds, Prediction and Pick
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, it’s 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.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors Odds, Prediction and Pick
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 James 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.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr says the team’s conditioning isn’t quite where it needs to be entering opening night, starters aren’t ready to play 30+ minutes. Until they are, Golden State will lean on its depth.
— C.J. Holmes 🦹🏾♂️ (@CjHolmes22) October 17, 2022
Even if Golden State's starters can't play a full complement of minutes, they may not have to if the Lakers struggle to shoot the ball in this game.
With Klay Thompson also entering the season healthy, I make Golden State closer to a 8.5 or 9-point favorite in this game. Give me the Warriors on opening night.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.