In case you didn’t know, let me be the first to you that the NBA is back, baby!
Tuesday’s two-game NBA slate features matchups between four Western Conference contenders who all could represent the conference come June. Along with the ongoing, public back-and-forth between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets, we get the treat of revamped Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns rosters that feature big-name players facing their former teams.
With so many elite players taking the floor, several intriguing bets exist.
Here’s one perfect bet for the four teams playing on NBA Opening Night.
All odds via BetMGM.
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Austin Reaves - Over 1.5 Three-Pointers
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off of a big final stretch of the 2022-23 season and an even bigger 2023 summer, it’s clear that Austin Reaves is that guy. Or in his words, he’s HIM.
Labels aside, Reaves is poised for a huge season. I’d expect him to pick right back up where he left things in the Lakers’ 4-0 defeat to the Nuggets last season, where he made 3.5 threes per game at a 56.0 percent clip. Over 1.5 triples feels like easy money to make.
Jamal Murray - Over 2.5 Three-Pointers
(Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
If Autin Reaves was superb in the Lakers-Nuggets Western Conference Finals, Jamal Murray was unworldly. How about 32.5 points and 3.8 threes per game on 40.5 percent shooting from deep? I look at this mostly-the-same Lakers roster and see zero answers for Murray at the point of attack. Maybe the extracurriculars of ring night will play a role, but I still would imagine 3three or more threes being a safe bet.
Chris Paul - Over 7.5 Assists
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
One of the greatest playmakers and floor generals of all time, Chris Paul, is getting ready to play with the two greatest shooters to ever step foot on an NBA court (Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson). The new-look Warriors looked surprisingly in sync with one another, and I think that even if things aren’t as fluid on opening night, Chris Paul should sleepwalk into eight or more assists in this Golden State offense.
Kevin Durant - Over 26.5 Points
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Here it is — Kevin Durant finally gets to play a game in front of an arena full of Warriors fans. Perhaps it’ll be just another game for KD in his 17th NBA season, but I think a part of him may want to give the Bay Area fans a little extra. He’ll be as fresh on this Tuesday night as he’ll be all season, too, which makes getting to 27 points even more likely for one of the game’s best-ever scorers. Hammer the over.
