The Boston Celtics open their season Wednesday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets. Brooklyn is a 3.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Celtics closed last season 2-11 straight up and 3-6-1 against the spread while hitting the OVER in seven of their final eight games. The OddsShark Computer predicts a 98-93 Brooklyn win.
The Celtics follow this game with back-to-back road games against the Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks. Boston does not yet know the status of point guard Rajon Rondo for any of these games. Rondo is rehabbing his broken hand, and it appears he is a game-time decision for the season opener. Celtics coach Brad Stevens has said Rondo will not be on a minutes limit when he returns, so the team is likely waiting until he is as close as possible to 100 percent.
The NBA kicked off action with three games Tuesday, but has their biggest day of action Wednesday with 12 contests. The two biggest NBA title favorites in action are the Chicago Bulls (6-1) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-1). The Bulls opened as 2.5-point favorites on the road against the New York Knicks, but that line has grown to -4 at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Bulls closed last season poorly, finishing 1-5 ATS, while the Knicks were 4-1 ATS in their final five games. Chicago?s upcoming week of games includes at home against Cleveland on Friday, on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, and at home against the Orlando Magic next Tuesday.
The Thunder open the season on the road as 8-point underdogs against the Portland Trail Blazers, with the point total set at 201. The Thunder finished last season 69-32 but just 52-46-3 ATS. In the last 10 matchups between these teams, the Thunder were 8-2 SU and 7-2-1 ATS. Oklahoma City turns right around to face the Clippers in L.A. on Thursday, host the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, and then play back-to-back road games in Brooklyn and Toronto next Monday and Tuesday.
The defending champion San Antonio Spurs opened their season with a 101-100 win over Dallas. The Spurs failed to cover a 3.5-point spread, and the game just came in under the 203 point total. San Antonio travels to face the Phoenix Suns on Friday in a light opening week.
The Cavaliers are the preseason favorites on the odds to win the NBA championship, with 5-2 odds. They open their schedule Thursday hosting the Knicks. Cleveland follows that with a four-game road trip, including games at Chicago, Portland, Utah and Denver. Cleveland was 40-42 ATS last season and is 4-6 ATS against the Knicks in its last 10 games. It is safe to say some of that will change with the return of LeBron James.
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