The NBA season is in full swing, and there are plenty of betting opportunities. Our experts -- Preston Johnson, Doug Kezirian, Jordan Schultz and senior writer Andre Snellings -- are here to give their best bets from Wednesday's lineup of games.
Records
Johnson 1-0
Schultz 1-2
Kezirian 1-2
Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook unless noted otherwise.
Wednesday's games
San Antonio Spurs at New Orleans Pelicans (-3.5, 236)
Kezirian: We can all fall victim to hype and excitement, but I do see value with Zion Williamson in his NBA debut. His minutes will be limited, but his athleticism and size are guaranteed, and that gives us an opportunity with a prop bet at Caesars Sportsbook.
I think all signs point to at least six rebounds, especially with a game total this high. New Orleans plays with the fifth-fastest pace, according to NBA.com, and the Spurs rank in the top 15, so Williamson will have his chances.
Pick: Williamson over 5.5 rebounds (-115)
Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls (PK, 219)
Johnson: This one is fairly straightforward for me. With Karl-Anthony Towns back from injury, there are going to be opportunities to bet Wolves overs before the market readjusts. Minnesota is 14.1 points better on offense per 100 possessions when Towns is on the floor this season. Only Trae Young has a bigger impact on his team (+14.3/100 for Atlanta).
Defensively, the Wolves are 10 points worse per 100 possessions (that's third percentile leaguewide). There isn't a bigger no-D, all-O guy in the NBA. When Towns went down because of an injury last month, Minnesota rattled off a run of eight unders in their first nine games with him out. The lone game that went over required an overtime period against Brooklyn. Since returning three games ago, only the game against Nuggets failed to go over the total (and Denver was missing three starters).
Both Minnesota and Chicago rank in the top 10 in seconds per possession this season, so I anticipate the pace will be there for us as well. My projection is 222.8, so I'm a buyer at 219.
Pick: Over 219
Snellings: The Timberwolves have lost six straight games and 15 of their past 20 overall, including losses by an average of 9.7 points in 10 straight games in which Towns has played. The Bulls have not been stellar -- winning three of their past six but also only three of their past 12 outings with an average margin of -6.8 in those games -- but they have been playing at a higher level than the Timberwolves of late. The Bulls are also playing at home in this matchup.
According to BPI, the Bulls are favored to win by 3.1 points.
Pick: Bulls (PK)
Los Angeles Lakers (-10.5, 224.5) at New York Knicks
Schultz: The Knicks lack an identity. We all know that. But things probably will worsen without injured rookie RJ Barrett, who provides a consistent, if not efficient, offensive threat.
Meanwhile, New York is a lowly 2-8 ATS in its past 10 games. More importantly, during their past six games against teams over .500 (for example, the Lakers), the Knicks are giving up nearly 120 points per game. Not only are LeBron James & Co. operating at an elite level offensively (shooting an NBA-best 48.5% from the field), we know the Knicks struggle to guard even the most basic of attacks, especially from the perimeter. In fact, Mike Miller's team ranks dead last in defending the long ball, allowing opponents to drill 39% of attempts.
Pick: Lakers -10.5
Memphis Grizzlies at Boston Celtics (-7, 233)
Schultz: Memphis has won eight of its past 10 -- with seven covers -- in large part because of a brilliant offense that is slotted third in the NBA over the past month (122.6 PPG over the past 10 games). It's not merely the Ja Morant show, either. The Grizzlies are very young and very deep, with six players averaging double figures, highlighted by the stellar play of young forwards Jaren Jackson Jr. (17.8 PPG on 40.7% 3s) and Dillon Brooks (nearly 16 PPG on over 39% from 3).
Boston is coming off an emotionally charged victory over the Lakers, but it would be foolish to discount the Celtics' recent woes. With injuries to Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker, Boston has dropped several games to teams below .500, failing to cover in six of 10. The Celtics have also dropped two of their past three home games.
Pick: Grizzlies +7
Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets (-8, 228.5)
Snellings: The Rockets and Nuggets have split their first two matchups of the season, both winning by double digits at home. However, the Rockets have struggled of late, losing five of their past six games with four of those losses by at least nine points. Their overall scoring margin in those six games is -4 PPG, despite their lone win being by 30 points. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have won six of their past eight games with an average scoring margin of +3.4 PPG during that stretch.
According to ESPN BPI, the Rockets are favored to win by 3.6 points, which is far below the eight-point spread. This estimate doesn't factor in the injuries that the Nuggets are dealing with, but Michael Porter Jr. has stepped up in a major way in the past few games to help the team maintain its level.
Pick: Nuggets +8