Indiana Pacers 

The 7-3 Indiana Pacers enter this matchup off the back of 3 straight wins, including a comeback home win over the Celtics on Sunday. Shooting Guard Victor Oladipo again led the way with an impressive 24 points and 12 rebounds, including the game-winning three. Tyreke Evans put up a quick 17 off the bench, whilst backup Power Forward Domantas Sabonis gave the Indiana second-unit some much-needed playmaking. Things don’t get any easier for the Pacers here, as they welcome a healthy Houston team coming off consecutive victories. 

Houston Rockets 

After 4 straight losses, the Rockets have somewhat righted the ship with consecutive road wins over Brooklyn and Chicago. Shooting Guard James Harden looked solid in his return against the Bulls, dropping 25 points and 7 assists. Big man Clint Capela added another double-double on the interior, whilst the often-maligned Carmelo Anthony contributed 17 points off the bench. Defensively, Houston did a great job of limiting Chicago’s struggling offence. They held them to just 38% from the field and 25% from 3, a performance they’ll be looking to replicate in Indiana.

Prediction: Rockets ML 

In what I expect to be a close one, I have to give the slight edge to the Rockets here. At even money, I believe there is some line value on Houston here, especially considering the Celtics were a 3.5-point favourite in Indiana last time out. I expect the combination of James Harden and Clint Capela to be too much as Houston steal a close one. 

Denver Nuggets 

The 8-1 Nuggets are absolutely flying right now and enter this matchup with Boston off the back of 4 straight victories. Center Nikola Jokic had an absurd performance against Utah on Sunday, dropping 16 assists and 10 rebounds. Guards Gary Harris and Jamal Murray picked up the scoring slack, combining for 39 points in a strong offensive display. The Denver bench again built upon their strong play of late, with Shooting Guard Malik Beasley and big men Trey Lyles and Mason Plumlee playing big roles down the stretch.  

Boston Celtics 

The 6-3 Celtics travel to Denver off the back of a heartbreaking loss against Indiana on Sunday. Power Forward Marcus Morris led the way in this one with 23 points off the bench, however the vaunted Celtics starting lineup couldn’t get much going offensively. They only managed 10 total assists between them in an isolation-heavy offence that couldn’t penetrate the Indiana defence. At only the start of a tough Western Conference road trip, Boston will be looking to pull off the upset here in the altitude of Denver. 

Prediction: Celtics +4 

This is an early line that I expect will go lower as we get closer to tip-off. I think this is some strong line value on the Celtics after their recent performance. Whilst I get that Denver have been unbeatable at home recently, Boston is simply the better team here. Getting 4 points, I’ll happily take my chances with Kyrie and Co. 

Los Angeles Clippers 

The 5-4 Clippers return home after a 25-point win in Orlando on Saturday. Small Forward Tobias Harris continued his strong start to the campaign, registering an efficient 21 points and 7 rebounds. Shooting Guard Lou Williams ran the show off the bench, heating up with 28 points in just 21 minutes of action. Center Boban Marjanovic finally got a crack in the starting lineup and didn’t disappoint, registering a double-double in his 23 minutes of action. The depth and versatility of this Clippers team will be hard to contend with for teams on a back-to-back. 

Minnesota Timberwolves 

The inconsistent Timberwolves travel to LA without much rest after a late one in Portland last night. Jimmy Butler again sat out last night and his status is still up in the air for this one. Center Karl Anthony Towns has seemingly regressed this year, registering only 13 points in Saturday’s tilt with the Warriors. Mercurial Small Forward Andrew Wiggins has battled with injury for most of the campaign but has delivered solid offensive outings against Utah and Golden State since his return. It would be remiss of me not to mention the outstanding 50-point game by Derrick Rose against Utah, who is seemingly ready to go in this one.  

Prediction: Clippers -1.5 

This early line has a ton of wiggle room, but I definitely lean towards the Clippers here. They have home court, the rest advantage and get to face a Timberwolves team that seemingly doesn’t like playing with each other. Even if Jimmy Butler does play, I think the Clippers have the depth and talent to emerge victorious here.  

Whilst there weren’t many great candidates for today’s multi, I’ve managed to put together one that has some decent value. In the form they’re in, I don’t see Golden State losing this one to Memphis. Similarly, I think both OKC and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL are likely to get the job done at home and really beef up this price. At combined odds of $2.16, this is well worth a play. 

Brooklyn Nets 

The Nets enter this one at 3-6 after a competitive loss against Houston on Saturday. Young Shooting Guard Caris LeVert continued his strong start to the campaign with 29 points and 4 rebounds, however the Nets defence simply couldn’t contain Chris Paul. They also struggled mightily against young Rockets Center Clint Capela, which doesn’t bode well coming up against Joel Embiid here. Reserve Guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Shabazz Napier have continued to put up points off the bench, whilst the shooting of Forward Joe Harris has helped boost the starting lineup.  

Philadelphia 76ers 

The 6-4 76ers travel to Brooklyn after yesterday’s home win over Detroit. Joel Embiid stole the show with an incredible 39 points and 17 boards, flexing on Pistons big man Andre Drummond as he did so. JJ Redick and Mike Muscala added some much-needed bench scoring, combining for 30 points and 4 threes on the afternoon. It was a bit of a quiet one for Aussie Ben Simmons, as he registered only 9 points and 5 assists. He’ll be looking to capitalise on his matchup advantage here against a smaller Brooklyn back-court.  

Prediction: 76ers -4 

The Nets have struggled as low underdogs so far this season and I expect this trend to continue here. Even off a back-to-back, I think the Sixers are the far superior team in this contest. Brooklyn simply can’t match up with either Simmons or Embiid in this one, which will ultimately prove the difference.

Phoenix Suns 

The 1-7 Suns enter this one off the back of 7 straight losses, having already bought out Center Tyson Chandler. The return of star Shooting Guard Devin Booker offered a boost against Toronto, but it wasn’t enough to see Phoenix bring home a win. A promising sign for Phoenix so far has been the strong play of Rookie Center DeAndre Ayton, who is currently averaging over 16 points and 11 rebounds. Shooting an impressive 62% from the field and 75% from the line, Ayton looks like he can compliment Booker well in the next strong Phoenix side.  

Memphis Grizzlies 

The 5-2 Grizzlies have impressed a lot of people so far this season with 2 strong road wins over the Utah Jazz. Point Guard Mike Conley continues to lead this team well, averaging 20 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds on the campaign. Center Marc Gasol has also continued his good form, putting up averages of 15 points, 8 boards and 4 assists. Rookie big man Jaren Jackson has looked like a solid pickup for Memphis, whilst veterans Garrett Temple and Shelvin Mack round out the rotation nicely. 

Prediction: Over 210 Points 

This Phoenix offence is noticeably better with focal point Devin Booker back in the fold. A matchup between these two teams without Booker eclipsed this total and I believe it’s about 5-10 points too short here. The Phoenix defence has remained terrible all season and I expect a relatively high-scoring one here. 

Los Angeles Lakers 

The Lakers return home after a late one in Portland last night. Few would’ve predicted that they’d have a losing record after 9 games, but it’s the exact position they find themselves in. LeBron James has been far from the problem so far, averaging an impressive 28 points, 8 boards and 8 assists on the campaign. Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and JaVale McGee have all proven to be solid complementary pieces, however none of them have consistently stepped up. With Kawhi and the Raptors coming to town, I expect another tough night for LA here. 

Toronto Raptors 

The Raptors continue their West Coast road trip at 8-1, undefeated when Kawhi Leonard plays. Leonard is averaging 26 points and 7 boards this season without even playing at his best. The consistency of Point Guard Kyle Lowry has been on display again this season, with averages of 17 points and an impressive 11 assists per game. This excellent Raptors bench unit has continued their strong performances from last season, with Fred VanVleet, CJ Miles and OG Anunoby only improving on the leads built by their starters. 

Prediction: Raptors -3.5 

Having to travel back from Portland on minimal rest, this definitely won’t be easy for the Lakers. Toronto has firmly established themselves as one of the premier teams in the NBA and I expect them to put on a show here. Note that Kawhi is in doubt for this one with an ankle injury. If he’s fit and firing, this is very much a play at this relatively low number.  

We’ve had some strong NBA multis in recent days and there’s another excellent one on the cards here today. Despite Sacramento’s strong form of late, I expect the 7-1 Bucks to build on their 5-0 home start to the season. Similarly, the Spurs coaching and talent advantage should prove too much against Orlando, who look like one of the worst teams in the league this season. The Wizards are a bit of a question mark given their recent form, but their inclusion really beefs up the price and I expect their talent advantage to win out against the Knicks.

Indiana Pacers 

The 6-3 Indiana Pacers return home after a narrow 2-point road win in Chicago last night. Shooting Guard Victor Oladipo continued his strong start to the campaign, dropping in 25 points and an impressive 14 rebounds. He remains capably supported by a balanced starting five that is strong on both ends. Led by Cory Joseph and Tyreke Evans, the Pacers bench has also noticeably improved this season, playing a crucial role in last night’s win. Factoring in the travel and lack of rest, I don’t fancy the Pacers here against this talented Boston side. 

Boston Celtics 

The 6-2 Celtics travel to Indiana off the back of four straight wins, including an impressive home win over Milwaukee on Friday. Point Guard Kyrie Irving has definitely found form of late, dropping an impressive 28 points and 7 assists in this one. Other All-Stars Gordon Hayward and Al Horford chipped in with 18 apiece, whilst Marcus Morris added a much-needed 17 off the bench. The questionable status of SG Jaylen Brown is a minor blow for Boston, but I feel as though they’ve still got the talent advantage in this one. 

Prediction: Celtics -2 

With the Pacers coming off such little rest, I think the Celtics are great value to take this one out. They’ve been in great form recently and will need to keep piling up the wins to keep pace with the 7-1 Raptors. I expect their defensive versatility to slow Victor Oladipo, whilst Kyrie does enough offensively to bring home the W.  

Chicago Bulls 

The 2-7 Bulls enter this one off the back of a narrow 2-point loss to Indiana last night. Guard Antonio Blakeney led the way with 22 points off the bench, whilst Justin Holiday nailed 5 threes en route to 19 points. It was an improved performance from the usually poor Bulls defense that kept them in this one, limiting Indiana to 26% from 3. It doesn’t get any easier for the Bulls here as they welcome the Houston Rockets to town, whom they match up very poorly with. 

Houston Rockets 

The 2-5 Rockets travel to Chicago off the back of a nervy win in Brooklyn last night. Chris Paul finally broke out of his prolonged slump, leading the way with 32 points and 11 assists. Clint Capela was excellent as a secondary star, adding in 23 points and 12 rebounds of his own. The great news for Houston here is the projected return of Shooting Guard James Harden, who had been out with a hamstring injury. Harden’s return gives a great boost to a Rockets offense that has largely struggled of late and I expect a resurgent Rockets performance with their full complement now intact. 

Prediction: Rockets -7 

The return of Harden gives me confidence that Houston can win this one comfortably. Despite last night’s close game against Indiana, the Bulls are still well and truly one of the worst teams in the NBA. Their lack of backcourt defense could spell disaster against Houston and they don’t have anyone to hang with Clint Capela inside. Rockets by double digits here. 

Denver Nuggets 

The Nuggets enter this intriguing Western Conference matchup with one of the NBA’s best records at 7-1. Center Nikola Jokic has been on an absolute tear so far, registering impressive averages of 19 points, 10 boards and 6.6 assists. He has been capably supported by frontcourt mate Paul Millsap, who’s scored 16 or more in his last 3 games. Complimenting this partnership is the exciting young duo of Gary Harris and Jamal Murray, who have emerged as one of the best backcourts in the NBA. One area where Denver will need improvements is their bench, which has largely struggled so far this season. 

Utah Jazz 

The Jazz travel to Denver at 4-4 after a surprising home loss to Memphis last night. Rudy Gobert has firmly established himself as one of the best Centers in the Association, averaging over 18 points and 13 boards so far. The offensive development of Point Guard Ricky Rubio has also been good to see, and he complements young Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell nicely. Forwards Joe Ingles, Derrick Favors and Jae Crowder add an element of toughness to this team and match up well against Denver. 

Prediction: Jazz +3.5 

Even with Donovan Mitchell questionable, I still feel as though the Jazz are good value here. Their depth and versatility mean that they won’t be as fatigued after last night’s game and should be able to hang in the Denver altitude. I can see Rudy Gobert containing Jokic in this one as the Jazz keep it close, with the potential of pulling off an upset win.  

3 teams more than meet the criteria for our daily multi today. With a healthy Ben Simmons, the Sixers will be looking to atone for their Overtime loss in Detroit earlier this season. Charlotte have the significant edge over Cleveland here and I expect a dominant home victory, whilst the return of James Harden should comfortably lift the Rockets over the Bulls. At over even money, this multi represents excellent value. Note that the Sixers have an early tipoff time of 4:00 am AEST tomorrow, so get on this one quick. 

Orlando Magic 

Aside from a shock road win over the Celtics, the 2-5 Magic have gotten off to a dreadful start to the season. The lack of shooting and playmaking stuck out as problem points for this roster before the season, both of which have definitely played out so far. D.J. Augustin just can’t cut it as a starting Point Guard at this level, heaping pressure on backcourt mate Evan ‘Don’t Google Me’ Fournier. Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac and Mo Bamba have the makings of an exciting front court and will hopefully start to receive more time together from Coach Steve Clifford.  

Los Angeles Clippers 

The Clippers travel to Orlando at 4-4 after consecutive road losses to the Thunder and 76ers. Forwards Danilo Gallinari and Tobias Harris continue to form a strong frontcourt duo, combining for an impressive 45 points and 16 boards against Philly last night. Calls for Center Boban ‘Tiny’ Marjanovic to start will continue, after he bagged 15 points and 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes yesterday. A real strength of this Clippers side is the excellent defense of backcourt mates Patrick Beverley and Avery Bradley, whom I expect to shut down Orlando here. 

Prediction: Clippers -1.5 

Whilst the Clippers haven’t been in red-hot form of late, I’m not putting my hard-earned cash on Orlando in their current form. As outlined earlier, the Clippers backcourt defense should prove the difference in this one, as Orlando struggle to generate offense. The deep bench of the Clippers means that they bounce back strongly here, despite being on a back-to-back. 

Washington Wizards 

The 1-6 Wizards return home after a truly brutal West Coast road-trip that saw them lose their last 4. In-fighting has already begun in the Wizards locker room, which will surely be aided by the return of notoriously good teammate Dwight Howard here. John Wall and Bradley Beal have continued to put up numbers on offense, but the lack of a strong supporting cast has cost Washington so far. Power Forward Markieff Morris missed Wednesday’s tilt with the Grizzlies and his projected return should help the struggling Wizards here.  

Oklahoma City Thunder 

After an 0-4 start to the campaign, the 3-4 Thunder continue their East Coast road trip after three straight victories, including a come-from-behind win in Charlotte last night. Point Guard Russell Westbrook has been on a tear of late, falling just 2 rebounds shy of a triple double yesterday. Dennis Schroder and Alex Abrines combined for 46 off the bench, effectively overcoming a poor shooting night from Paul George. Back-to-backs are never easy, but I think the Thunder are finding form here and expect the consistency of Westbrook to lead them to victory. 

Prediction: Thunder +3 

I’ve taken the Thunder in their past 2 games and I’m keeping the trend going here. Teams travelling from long west-coast road trips rarely perform well in their first game back and I can see a sluggish Washington performance in this one. OKC again have the two best players on the floor and I think they should cover the 3 points here, if not win it outright. 

Phoenix Suns 

After a promising opening win over the Mavericks, the Suns have slumped to 6 straight terrible losses. A dreadful 30-point home loss against San Antonio last time out typified their season. The absence of Devin Booker has really hurt the offense and his impending return will no doubt provide a boost. That said, their defense has been absolutely atrocious. They’ve also allowed big offensive nights to OKC, Golden State, Memphis and the Lakers. Against this immensely talented Raptors side, I expect them to struggle here.  

Toronto Raptors 

The 7-1 Raptors bounced back from their only loss of the season with a convincing win over Philadelphia in their last time out. Small Forward Kawhi Leonard has gotten off to an incredible start to the season, averaging 27.3 points and 7.8 boards as part of the 50-40-90 club. Point Guard Kyle Lowry has also started the season strongly with less of an offensive burden, whilst Shooting Guard Danny Green has slotted in seamlessly. This exciting Raptors side runs 10-deep and will be looking to reclaim top spot in their conference on this road trip. 

Prediction: Raptors -8.5 

Even if Devin Booker plays in this one, I’m very confident in a Raptors win. In the modern NBA, 8.5 points isn’t too high of a point spread either. I expect the Raptors smothering defense to contain Phoenix, whilst Leonard and Lowry lead the way with big offensive nights. Raptors by double digits here. 

4-leg multis are never simple in the NBA, but this is one I’m relatively confident in. Here you’ve got 4 teams who are favoured by 7 points or more in games they have a significant talent edge in. The Jazz and Warriors have been straight money at home in recent years, whilst the Pacers and Raptors are travelling to take on two of the worst teams in the NBA. All of this makes for excellent value at $2.38 

Charlotte Hornets 

The 4-4 Hornets enter this matchup off the back of a comfortable home win over Miami. PG Kemba Walker has gotten off to a very strong start to the season, averaging 30 points and 6 assists, whilst also shooting 41% from deep. Point Guard Tony Parker dropped 24 points off the bench in Wednesday’s victory, reminiscent of old times. Another exciting development for Charlotte this season has been the development of Shooting Guard Malik Monk. He dropped an efficient 20 points against the Heat, as he continues to earn the trust of Coach James Borrego.  

Oklahoma City Thunder 

After a shock 0-4 start to the season, the Thunder have rebounded strongly with consecutive home victories. Russell Westbrook dropped an efficient 32 points and 8 assists in another instalment of his rivalry with Patrick Beverley. Paul George continued his strong start to the campaign with 32 points and 12 boards, whilst Center Steven Adams rounded out the ‘big 3’ with a double-double of his own. Dennis Schroder has averaged an impressive 13 and 6 so far in this campaign and will look to contain the effective backup Hornets Guards in this one. 

Prediction: Thunder +1.5 

After their slow start, I think the Thunder are about to go on a run here. They have the two best players on the floor, whilst Steven Adams can handle anything the Charlotte bigs throw at him. OKC have too much star power here as they take the outright victory in Charlotte. 

Philadelphia 76ers 

The 4-4 Sixers have had an inconsistent start to the season and enter this one off a 17-point defeat in Toronto. Aussie Ben Simmons has still started the season strongly, averaging a well-rounded 13.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8 assists per game. Center Joel Embiid has enjoyed averages of 27 and 12 so far, dropping an impressive 31 against the Raptors on Wednesday. Aside from J.J. Redick, the rest of the Sixers supporting cast just hasn’t been there this season. None of their wins have been to impressive this season and I can see them struggling against this deep Clippers side. 

Los Angeles Clippers 

The 4-3 Clippers travel to Philadelphia after a disappointing loss to OKC on Wednesday. A dreadful 3rd quarter that saw them score only 10 points was the catalyst for defeat there. That said, they do boast 2 impressive wins over Houston as well as wins over OKC and Washington in their first 7. Small Forward Danilo Gallinari is averaging 20 points and 6 boards so far, whilst Tobias Harris and Avery Bradley have both started the year strongly. A bench unit featuring Lou Williams, Boban, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Montrezl Harrell has performed very well so far and should dominate the matchup with Philly’s shaky bench. 

Prediction: Clippers +5 

None of the 76ers wins so far have come against anyone of note. I think the deep and versatile roster of the Clippers can give them problems here. Especially with the key number of 5, I’m fairly confident in a Clippers cover in this one. 

Atlanta Hawks 

The 2-5 Hawks return home after back-to-back 20-point defeats on the road. Center Alex Len put in a fine display against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, going 9-9 for the field as he went off for 22 points and 9 boards. Trae Young also had an efficient display, going 9-13 from the field as he put up 24 points and 4 assists. It was defensively where Atlanta lost this one. They gave up 50% from the field and a further 50% from 3 to the previously winless Cavaliers side, getting comfortably outrebounded as well.  

Sacramento Kings 

Sacramento continue their East-coast road trip at 5-3 after 4 consecutive wins. Point Guard De’Aaron Fox has led the way with impressive averages of 17.5 points and 6.9 assists, shooting 48% from the field in the process. Second overall pick Marvin Bagley has also started the season strongly, averaging 12 points and 7 boards off the bench. Willie Cauley-Stein, Nemanja Bjelica and Buddy Hield have all been strong components of an offensively dominant Kings starting five.  

Prediction: Atlanta Hawks +1.5 

Almost every possible metric in this one points to taking the Kings, so I’m doing the exact opposite. Whilst they’ve surprised everyone so far, this number places a ton of line value on the Atlanta Hawks. Sacramento were just 5-point underdogs to Orlando and now they’re road favourites? This is definitely a contrarian play, but I see Trae Young leading Atlanta to victory here.  

There are only 2 teams that really fit the criteria of what I’m after with a daily multi here. I expect the 6-1 Nuggets to continue their very strong start as they travel to Cleveland to face the hapless Cavaliers. Similarly, I think the strong defense of Boston will cause Milwaukee problems in a rematch of last year’s playoff series. At $1.91, this represents solid value to me.

Brooklyn Nets 

The 2-5 Nets enter this one off of 3 consecutive losses, including a defeat to the Knicks at the Garden in their last outing. Despite his poor showing in New York, a bright spot for the Nets this year has been the emergence of Shooting Guard Caris LeVert. LeVert is currently averaging 19 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 boards on 48% shooting. Point Guard D’Angelo Russell has also performed admirably in his contract year, enjoying career highs in points, assists and field goal percentage. This is a deep and well-coached team that plays hard every night. 

Detroit Pistons 

After an impressive 4-0 start, the Pistons travel to Brooklyn after consecutive losses to the Celtics. Blake Griffin has been the standout performer on this Detroit side, averaging 28 points and 10 boards whilst shooting 55% from 3. He is capably supported in the front court by Andre Drummond, who’s averaging an impressive 18.4 points and 15.8 rebounds of his own. Through 6 games, we still don’t have a great feel for who the Pistons are as a team. I think they’re a playoff side out East and should be winning these types of road games. 

Prediction: Pistons +2.5 

Whilst they are off a back-to-back, I see strong line value on the Pistons here. They were 5-point favourites against Brooklyn on opening night, have had a strong start to the season and now find themselves as underdogs. The big man duo of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond should prove too strong for the young Nets bigs here. I think Vegas has this line wrong and expect Detroit to grab a road win here.  

Minnesota Timberwolves 

The Timberwolves enter this one fresh off an emotional win over the Lakers on Tuesday. Jimmy Butler led the way and outplayed LeBron in this one, pouring in 32 points on 6/7 from 3. Center Karl Anthony Towns also had a strong outing, going off for 25 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks. Former MVP Derrick Rose has continued to get run on this Minnesota side, putting up 11 points, 7 boards and 7 assists against LA. Ultimately, I just don’t trust this inconsistent team against a Utah side looking like they could nab the #2 seed in the West. 

Utah Jazz 

The 4-2 Jazz will look to conclude their 4-game road trip with a win here in Minnesota. They’ve looked very strong in the past week, defeating Houston, New Orleans and Dallas by an average of over 13 points per game. Center Rudy Gobert has continued a dominant start to the season, averaging 17.7 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game so far. Donovan Mitchell is starting to look like the player we saw last year, averaging 26 points per game on over 60% shooting in this 3-game streak.  

Prediction: Jazz -2.5 

I’ve been on the Jazz every game in this 3-game win streak and I’m going back to the well again here. I think Gobert can limit Karl-Anthony Towns in this one, placing too much pressure on Jimmy Butler to carry the offense. The Jazz are a deep and versatile team that play with strong energy every night. I expect them to keep this train rolling en route to a victory here in Minnesota. 

Chicago Bulls 

After getting massacred on Tuesday night by the Golden State Warriors, the 2-5 Chicago Bulls will be looking to restore a little dignity in this one. Their 3-point defence was absolutely atrocious, allowing Klay Thompson to go 14/24 all by himself. They had no answer for Steph Curry or Kevin Durant either, as Golden State put this one to bed by halftime. Offensively, the Bulls have shown flashes this season. In Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker and Wendell Carter Jr, they have 3 young offensive pieces that are capable of making Chicago competitive this year. 

Denver Nuggets 

The 5-1 Nuggets commence this Eastern Conference road trip after Tuesday night’s victory over New Orleans. Center Nikola Jokic continued his very strong start to the season, falling one rebound shy of another triple double. Guards Jamal Murray and Gary Harris have emerged as one of the association’s premier young backcourts, both putting up 23 points in this one. Wily Power Forward Paul Millsap complements this lineup well and has started the season strongly after last year’s injuries. I expect the Denver offense to go bonkers on this injury-riddled Bulls side. 

Prediction: Over 226.5 Points 

After profiting significantly off the under trend in the past weeks, I believe Vegas is starting to over adjust. The Bulls porous defense has nobody that can match up with Nikola Jokic are the Nuggets young dynamic guards. I expect this to be a free-flowing and high-scoring game with little defense played. This total is 5-10 points too low for me. 

This is another multi that I believe represents excellent value. I expect this high-flying Nuggets team to dispose of an injury-riddled Bulls side with ease, whilst the Indiana “flat-track bully” Pacers are usually money as a road favourite. Similarly, I expect LeBron to lead the Lakers to a home win over Dallas as the biggest favourite they’ve been all year. Add the Golden State Warriors to this for extra value if Anthony Davis is out. 

Cleveland Cavaliers 

The Cavs continue their homestand at 0-6, after the surprising firing of Head Coach Tyronn Lue yesterday. With Power Forward Kevin Love expected to be out for the foreseeable future, it’s tough to find a bright spot on the Cavs roster. They have very much felt the absence of LeBron James and their anaemic offence has struggled to generate enough good looks this year. They’ve lost all 3 home games by double digits this year, including a 22-point thumping against the Hawks last week. The firing of Coach Lue could be just what the Cavs needed, although it does have the potential to send this franchise in a further downward spiral.  

Atlanta Hawks 

The 2-4 Hawks travel to Cleveland after a beatdown in Philly last night. Atlanta’s offence continued to struggle, shooting only 37% from 3 and 21% from the field. A lack of reliable scorers means that far too much is being put on the shoulders of Rookie Point Guard Tre Young. Defensively, the Hawks didn’t fare all that much better. Aussie Ben Simmons led the way with a near triple double as the Sixers piled up an impressive 33 assists. That said, travelling to the winless Cavaliers represents an excellent opportunity for a get right game. 

Prediction: Under 226.5 Points 

After a strong offensive start to the campaign, both of these sides have struggled in recent games. The Hawks are averaging under 100 points in their last 3, whilst the Cavaliers total has fallen under this number in their past 3 games. Whilst neither of these sides are that strong defensively, I don’t see either side putting up over 115 in this one. Especially after last night’s back-to-back, I expect Atlanta to opt for a slower pace in this one. 

Oklahoma City Thunder 

The 1-4 Thunder continue their homestand after a much-needed win over Phoenix on Monday. Russell Westbrook and Paul George both led the way with an efficient 23 points each in a strong performance by the starters. In the absence of Center Steven Adams, Nerlens “Wrongly Banned on Facebook” Noel had one of his best performances as a pro, dropping 20 points, 15 rebounds and 4 steals in just 26 minutes. With the impending return of Adams, and some winnable upcoming fixtures, I expect OKC to rebound from their poor start. 

Los Angeles Clippers 

The 4-2 Clippers have surprised a lot of people this season with their exciting style of team basketball. They enter this matchup with OKC after beating Houston by 20 on Saturday and delivering a 32-point beatdown on the Wizards on Monday. Small Forward Tobias Harris continued his strong start to the season, leading the way with 22 points and 11 boards. A major strength of the Clippers is their bench, which was on full display in this one. Lou Williams, Mike Scott, Montrezl Harrell, Boban and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all added double-digits off the bench in a complete team display. 

Prediction: Thunder -2.5 

Given that we’re only 6 games into the season, I believe there is strong line value on OKC in this one. When the preseason lines came out, they were expected to win 15 more games than the Clippers. Taking into account 3 points for home court, this line suggests that Vegas now believes the Clippers are a better team. Personally, I think OKC has the top-end talent and strong homecourt advantage necessary to win this game and cover the small 2.5-point line. 

Houston Rockets 

The 1-4 Rockets enter this one in dreadful form, coming off consecutive home losses. Without James Harden and James Ennis, the already thin Rockets rotation was exposed even more against the Clippers on Saturday. Chris Paul rebounded from his suspension in mid-season form, going 3-13 from the field and enjoying a team worst plus minus of -26. With Harden already ruled out for this one, Houston is at very real risk of falling to 1-5 here. 

Portland Trail Blazers 

The 4-2 Trail Blazers conclude their 4-game road trip in Houston after a solid win in Indiana last night. Damian “Souncloud Rapper” Lillard has started the season in incredible form, putting up averages of 33.8 points, 6.6 assists and 6 boards to start the campaign. He’s been ably supported by C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic, the latter of whom is averaging a respectable double-double so far. Moreover, second-year big man Zach Collins has been leading an upstart Portland bench unit, enjoying 17 points and a +22 rating last night. They’ll be looking to finish off their road trip in style here.  

Prediction: Trail Blazers +4 

I hate taking a team in the last game of a road trip, but the Rockets are so decimated with injuries right now that I think Portland are good value here. Guys like Isaiah Hartenstein, Gary Clark and Michael Carter-Williams simply aren’t NBA calibre rotation players and they’re expected to get big minutes in this one. Similarly, Carmelo Anthony sticks out like a sore thumb on defence and I expect Lillard and McCollum to isolate him regularly in pick and roll. 

With a lack of quality favourites in the action tonight, I’m going with the two best teams in the East in the daily multi. After comfortably defeating them in Detroit over the weekend, I expect Boston to dispose of the Pistons easily with homecourt. Similarly, I expect a rested Kawhi Leonard to lead Toronto to victory over Ben Simmons and the Sixers after last night’s poor showing in Milwaukee. At $1.67, the value is too good to pass up.

Philadelphia 76ers 

The 3-3 Sixers enter this one off a narrow home victory over the Hornets on Sunday. Center Joel Embiid led the way with an impressive 27 points and 14 rebounds, whilst Aussie Ben Simmons added another double-double of his own. Robert Covington built off his strong start to the campaign with 18 points and 10 boards, adding in 4 blocks for good measure. This win was buoyed by an improved performance from the Sixers defence, allowing just 38.5% from the field. The Sixers have largely struggled so far this season, however hosting the lowly Hawks likely represents a get-right game.  

Atlanta Hawks 

The 2-3 Hawks travel to Philly off the back of a dreadful home loss to the Bulls on Sunday. Offensively, Atlanta couldn’t get going at all. They shot just 32% from the field and 30% from three against what is widely considered to be a dreadful Bulls defence. Despite this loss, rookie Point Guard Trae Young has gotten off to a strong start this season. His 35 points and 11 assists against Cleveland highlight just what he is capable of. Small Forward Taurean Prince has also impressed a lot this season, averaging 20 points and 5 boards per game so far.  

Prediction: Under 229.5 

The fast-scoring start to the season has continued to inflate bookie totals and this is just another example of that. I expect the versatile perimeter defence of the 76ers to really shut down this Atlanta offence. Similarly, the Sixers offence has looked rather out of sync lately and I don’t see them putting up 120+ in this one. Ultimately, I think this total is around 10 points too high and I will confidently take the under.  

Chicago Bulls 

The injury-ridden Bulls return home after a surprising road win in Atlanta on Sunday. Shooting Guard Zach LaVine continued his strong early start to the campaign, putting up 27 points and 11 rebounds. Power Forward Jabari Parker looked solid in a bench role, putting up a comfortable 18 and 8 in his most minutes of the season. It was a surprisingly stout performance from this Bulls defence that was really the catalyst for victory. They completely shut down the Hawks offence and managed to dominate the defensive glass in the process. Sadly for Bulls fans, things won’t be as easy when the defending champs come to town.  

Golden State Warriors 

The 6-1 Warriors conclude their road trip in Chicago after winning a close one in Brooklyn last night. Kevin Durant continued his excellent start to the season, dropping an efficient 34 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Not to be outdone, Point Guard Stephen Curry drained 7 threes en route to a 35-point outburst of his own. This game wasn’t as close as the final score would indicate, with Golden State enjoying a 16-point lead after 3 quarters. Despite this being the end of a tiring East Coast road trip, I just don’t see how this terrible Bulls team can hang with Golden State.  

Prediction: Warriors -11 

I’m not usually one for public plays, but I’ll make an exception for this one. In terms of line value, the Bulls were just recently a 5.5-point underdog to the Atlanta Hawks. This is a really poor side and they have no-one that can guard Steph Curry or Kevin Durant. Even if Golden State start slow, they’re still more than capable of putting together another epic 4th quarter run as they did in New York. This number will likely only increase closer to tip-off, so I’d recommend getting in quickly.  

Minnesota Timberwolves 

The 2-4 Timberwolves enter this one off the back of a dreadful 30-point home defeat to Milwaukee on Saturday. They faced a 25-point deficit at halftime and were booed off the court by the rowdy Minnesota crowd. Jimmy Butler seemed ready to throw in the towel in this one, scoring just 4 points on a poor 2/11 from the field. On defence, they were absolutely carved apart by an upstart Bucks offence. Milwaukee got anything they wanted, shooting 53% from the field and 41% from 3. With LeBron and the Lakers coming to town, a much better defensive effort is required here. 

Los Angeles Lakers 

The 2-4 Lakers continue their road trip in Minnesota after blowing a 4th quarter lead in San Antonio on Sunday. LeBron James can’t be faulted for this one, pouring in an efficient 35 points and 11 rebounds. Lance ‘Born Ready’ Stephenson continued his resurgence of late, dropping 14 and 9 off the bench. Whilst the rest of the starters struggled, the impending return of Small Forward Brandon Ingram should boost LA in this one.  

Prediction: Under 239 

I’ve had some success with Lakers Unders recently and it’s a trend I plan on continuing here. I think this total is somewhat inflated by the dreadful defensive performance of the Timberwolves in their last game. LA’s offensive numbers have dipped recently, and the bookies appear to be slow to react to this. The total is 5-10 points too high for me and I’m fairly confident in the under. 

After some recent success with the daily multi, this is another play that I’m fairly confident in. The Sixers and Warriors are both double-digit favourites against two of the worst teams in the NBA and should win here comfortably. Similarly, both Miami and San Antonio are significant home favourites against teams they have the talent advantage over. 4-leg NBA multis are never easy, but any of these teams losing here would be a significant upset in my opinion.

Brooklyn Nets 

The 2-3 Nets return home after a heartbreaking 2-point loss in New Orleans on Saturday. Backcourt mates D’Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert led the way, combining for 45 points and 8 assists in an impressive night of action. Guards Shabazz Napier, Allen Crabbe and Spencer Dinwiddie gave Brooklyn some much-needed scoring off the bench, each chipping in for double figures. They also did a strong job inside, outrebounding and containing a very talented Pelicans frontcourt. It was ultimately poor clutch play that prevented this plucky Nets side from going to 3-2. 

Golden State Warriors 

The 5-1 Warriors make the short journey to Brooklyn after Saturday’s win over the Knicks. Small Forward Kevin Durant stole the show with an efficient 41 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, including 25 in the 4th quarter alone. Stephen Curry continued his strong start to the season with a quick-fire 29, whilst Power Forward Draymond Green added an efficient 18 and 6. It was a trademark offensive performance from the Warriors, with the team managing to shoot 58% from the field and 48% from 3. Facing a notoriously difficult early Sunday start, the Warriors will need to be at their best here. 

Prediction: Draymond Green Under 7.5 Assists 

In 3 road games this season, Draymond is yet to eclipse 6 assists. Facing this tough and gritty Brooklyn defence, I’m not sure he’ll find success here either. Given the strong starts to the season by both KD and Steph, I expect the ball to be in their hands a lot here. 8 or more assists for Draymond would very much surprise me.

Dallas Mavericks 

The 2-3 Mavericks return home after suffering consecutive road losses at the hands of Atlanta and Toronto. Highly touted Rookie Luca Doncic has started the season strongly, already enjoying averages of 19 points and 6 assists. New Center DeAndre Jordan has also started the season strongly, enjoying a double-double in every game so far. Forward Harrison Barnes made his debut on Saturday, putting up 14 points in an inefficient outing. With Point Guard Dennis Smith Jnr in question for this one, I expect Dallas to struggle against this balanced and versatile Utah side.  

Utah Jazz 

The 3-2 Jazz travel to Dallas after handing the Pelicans their first loss of the season last night. Backcourt mates Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell led the way, combining for 50 points and 18 assists in an all too comfortable victory. Center Rudy Gobert took advantage of Anthony Davis’ absence, going off for a monstrous 25 points, 14 rebounds and 4 blocks. It was a typically strong effort from this smothering Utah defence, holding the Pelicans to 42% from the field and 26% from 3 in a complete performance. 

Prediction: Jazz -3.5 

I had success with the Jazz yesterday and I’m going back to the well here. This team has looked very strong in their past 2 games and I believe they enjoy a significant talent advantage over Dallas here. The ease with which they won last night means that fatigue shouldn’t be as much of a factor either. Utah to win this comfortably in my best bet of the day. 

Los Angeles Clippers 

The 3-2 Clippers return to Staples Center after laying a thumping on the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Big man Montrezl Harrell was huge off the bench with an impressive 30 points and 6 rebounds, whilst Lou Williams added in an efficient 23. The starters didn’t have to do much in what was a very comfortable win. This Clippers team has the depth advantage on almost every night and this was firmly on display here.  It was defensively where the Clippers really won this game, holding the usually high-powered Houston offense to just 38% from the field.  

Washington Wizards 

It’s only 5 games into the season but we’ve already seen the Wizards annual meltdown occur. After a thumping at the hands of Golden State, Washington travelled to Sacramento only to blow a 4th quarter lead against the lowly Kings. Guards John Wall and Bradley Beal led the way on the court, combining for 47 points, albeit relatively inefficiently. However, the two guards caused yet another stir off the court, attacking teammates in the media after what was an awful loss. This is where the Wizards either falter or come back stronger than ever, and I have a feeling it will be the former. 

Prediction: Clippers -3.5 

I think the Clippers are the more talented team in this one. They also match up very well with Washington, with Beverley and Bradley representing an excellent defensive duo to match up with Wall and Beal. The Wizards bench has also been terrible for years and they simply can’t hang with the depth of the Clippers here. I think LA runs the Wizards out of the gym here as their road trip gets even worse.

After yesterday’s big $2.32 hit, we’ve got another quite enticing multi here. Golden State and Oklahoma City should really deliver the goods here as double digit favourites. Similarly, the Jazz have a significant talent advantage over the Mavs and represent a great way to beef this price up. The multis have been performing well lately and this looks like a good chance to keep this trend going.

Detroit Pistons 

The 4-0 Pistons face their toughest test of the season here against the pre-season Eastern Conference favourites. Power Forward Blake Griffin has started the season on an absolute tear, averaging 33.8 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists so far. Center Andre Drummond has ably supported him, putting in a monster 22 points and 26 rebounds against Cleveland on Friday. Whilst the Pistons are 4-0, they haven’t really played anyone of note so far this season. A win over this strong Celtics team will cement their status as a playoff contender out East. 

Boston Celtics 

The 3-2 Celtics travel to Detroit after a thrilling comeback win in Oklahoma City on Friday. Small Forward Jayson Tatum continued his strong start to the campaign, leading all scorers with 26 points. Center Al Horford controlled the paint with 19 points and 9 boards, whilst Marcus Morris added 21 and 10 off the bench. It was a ferocious display from the Celtics defence that ultimately won them this game. They contained Oklahoma City to only 39% from the field and 25% from 3 in what was a smothering display.  

Prediction: Celtics -3 

Despite the Pistons undefeated start, I think Boston is the much better team here. They play at a level far higher than any team Detroit has played so far, and I believe their depth and versatility gives them a strong edge. Expect Boston’s deep and talented wing rotation to outplay Detroit’s here en route to victory.  

New Orleans Pelicans 

The 4-0 Pelicans enter this one off a thrilling comeback victory over the Brooklyn Nets last night. Point Guard Jrue Holiday led all scorers with 26 points, whilst big-man Anthony Davis dropped 18 points, 14 rebounds and 5 blocks. Power Forward Nikola Mirotic has cooled off after his hot shooting start, missing his last 7 3 pointers. Free agent acquisitions Elfrid Payton and Julius Randle also continued their strong start to the campaign in last night’s win. With no time to rest after a very emotional game, I’m not sure the Pelicans will have the juice in this one. 

Utah Jazz 

The 2-2 Jazz travel to New Orleans after a crucial road win over Houston on Thursday. Shooting Guard Donovan Mitchell bounced back from a poor start to the season, leading the way with 38 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Center Rudy Gobert added yet another double-double, whilst Aussie Joe Ingles led the team in plus minus. On this front end of a back-to-back, Utah will need to be at their best to defeat this upstart New Orleans side.  

Prediction: Jazz Moneyline 

Whilst the Pelicans have surprised many this season, I believe that Utah matches up very well with them here. The Gobert and Favors front court should be able to contain Davis and Mirotic in this one. This will allow Utah’s deep wing rotation to exert their matchup advantage against a New Orleans side that very much struggles at the 3. With the energy and coaching advantage, I’m expecting Utah to pull out the road victory here. 

Miami Heat 

Despite being decimated by injuries this season, the Heat enter this matchup a respectable 2-2. They come fresh off their best performance of the season on Thursday, a 23-point drubbing of the hapless New York Knicks. Small Forward Josh Richardson has emerged as a key contributor for this Heat side, averaging 19 points and 5 rebounds so far. Mercurial Center Hassan Whiteside added yet another double, bringing his season averages to 13.5 points and 14.3 rebounds. Despite this start, the Heat have gotten very little love from the betting public and are the least bet team on this Sunday slate. 

Portland Trail Blazers 

The Trail Blazers travel to Miami off an impressive 3-1 start. Point Guard Damian Lillard has led the way again, dropping 41 points in Friday’s 14-point road victory over Orlando. Shooting Guard CJ McCollum had his best performance so far in his relatively poor start to the season, dropping a further 22 points on 58% shooting. The emergence of young big man Zach Collins has given Portland another option in the front court, with the second-year man averaging an efficient 10 and 5 off the bench. Portland are again heavily backed by the betting public, but I can see them struggling here in South Beach. 

Prediction: Heat -1.5 

This is definitely a contrarian play, with statistics suggesting the Heat receiving less than a quarter of spread bets on this one. Nevertheless, I continue to think that Portland are overrated by the general betting public. They haven’t had an overly impressive win in this young campaign and it wouldn’t surprise me if they fall victim to the Miami nightlife on a big Friday night. The return of Justise Winslow should bolster the Heat in this one and I expect them to cover this small line. 

This is one of the better value multi bets we’ve had on the season. I especially like it as I’m fading what I believe to be 3 of the worst teams in the NBA. Kevin Love being questionable for this one further decreases Cleveland’s chances against the Pacers, whilst the absence of Devin Booker will be too much for Phoenix to overcome in Memphis. Similarly, I expect Milwaukee to continue their strong start to the campaign with a routine home win over Orlando. All of this makes for a very tasty $2.32 price. I expect this to only decrease closer to tip-off, so get in quick.