We’re still in the first week of action in the 2019-20 National Basketball Association regular season, which could explain why the Atlanta Hawks, at 2-0, are in a tie for first in the Eastern Conference. The Brooklyn Nets won a raucous game with the New York Knicks for supremacy of Gotham City, but taken together New York is not a basketball metropolis as of yet, because the two resident teams are a combined 1-5 so far.
The Los Angeles Clippers beat their fellow tenants, the Lakers, on the season’s opening night, but both teams now sit at 2-1 in a rivalry that will run all season long. Dallas got a triple-double from Luka Doncic to seal a comeback win over New Orleans over the weekend, but then came home to blow a late lead and lose by two to Portland. Minnesota is the league’s only 3-0 team, and they currently sit atop the West standings. If you’re going to wager on the NBA Betting action this week, check out our sports betting picks.
Top NBA Betting Picks of the Week – October 28th Edition
Memphis Grizzlies at L.A. Lakers (10:30 pm ET, NBA TV)
The Memphis Grizzlies take a 1-2 record west with them to face the Lakers in Hollywood, although that first win of the season came on Sunday as they won a track meet against Brooklyn, 134-133 in overtime. Ja Morant showed that his college skills are more than translating into the pro game, leading Memphis with 30 points on the night, along with nine assists.
None of those assists was finer than the one he dished to Jae Crowder in the waning seconds of overtime, as Crowder drilled a three-ball from the top of the key to send Memphis to the win. Memphis will have to defend better against the Lakers, though, if they want a shot at a road win.
After dropping that opener to the Clippers, the Lakers have beaten the Utah Jazz by nine and the Charlotte Hornets by 19, and they continue their early-season run of games at Staples Center on Tuesday as they welcome Memphis.
In that win over Charlotte, Anthony Davis and Lebron James each put up a double-double, and Dwight Howard turned back the clock by putting up 16 points, ten rebounds and four blocks in the win. The Lakers put the hammer down late in the third period, going on an 18-2 run to seal the win. The Lakers will be hard to beat if these key players keep on rolling.
Final NBA Betting Prediction: Los Angeles 114 – Memphis 104
Minnesota Timberwolves at Philadelphia 76ers (7:00 pm ET)
Minnesota has opened the 2019-20 campaign with wins over Brooklyn, Charlotte and Miami — certainly not the league’s elite, but it is important to take advantage of opportunities in one’s schedule. Their win over the Heat came on Sunday, by the score of 116-109.
In that game, Andrew Wiggins went on a tear late in the fourth period, nailing four three-balls and scoring 16 points in the last six minutes of the game, on a night where he had 25 points overall. Karl-Anthony Towns put up 23 points and 11 boards as the Timberwolves have opened the season with three straight wins for just the third time.
Philadelphia is also undefeated so far in 2019-20, with wins over Boston and Detroit to start the campaign. They beat the Celtics emphatically at home in their opener, rolling by 14, and then they went to Detroit and won by six on Saturday.
In that win over the Pistons, Philadelphia did not dress Joel Embiid, who is nursing an ankle injury, so Al Horford stepped up, scoring 29 points, and free agent signing Al Horford put up 23. Mike Scott came off the bench to add 17. Ben Simmons added 13 points and 10 assists, as the 76ers came back from a 13-point lead in the third period to deliver the win. With Embiid on the bench, though, I don’t see Philadelphia solving Towns and the Minnesota defense.
Final NBA Betting Prediction: Minnesota 111 – Philadelphia 105
