NBA Opening Night Is Here 🎥

Two marquee matchups headline the first night of the 2022-23 season, with four title hopefuls in action. We've got you covered with a full preview 🏀 (4 min read)

Author

Will Gendron
October 18, 2022

Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Well That Was Fast

It seems like just yesterday that the Warriors were hoisting up the Larry O'Brien trophy after taking out the Celtics in six games. The title marked the franchise's fourth championship in eight years, having gone to Finals six times in that same span. Tonight marks the beginning of another road to glory 🏆

Will the Dubs be able to secure a fifth title and become the first team to go back-to-back since LeBron and the Heat did it a decade ago? The oddsmakers believe there is a shot, slotting Golden State as tied for the third most likely team to win the Finals this year 👇

NBA Championship Odds (subject to change)

  • Milwaukee Bucks: +550 (bet $100, win $550)

  • Boston Celtics: +600

  • Los Angeles Clippers: +700

  • Golden State Warriors: +700

  • Brooklyn Nets : +900

  • Phoenix Suns: +1000

Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Breaking Down Opening Night

To start things off, the Sixers will pay a visit to TD Garden to take on the Celtics. Aside from the obvious talent that both teams are fielding — Tatum, Brown, Embiid, Harden etc. — this game could offer a glimpse into a future playoff matchup 👀

📍 Sixers vs. Celtics

  • Despite missing Robert Williams and Danilo Gallinari, the Celtics are still favored in this one (-2.5) because their roster is still stacked with good players at every position

  • I'm predicting a relatively low-scoring game, considering Boston sported a league-best defense last year, didn't lose any rotation players and added Malcolm Brogdon (a serviceable perimeter defender) into the fold

  • While Philly relied more on their offense to notch wins, expect an improved defense this year after adding PJ Tucker, De'Anthony Melton and Danuel House. For this game I'd lean towards the under (216 total points)

  • Spread: -2.5 Celtics

  • Moneyline: -138 Celtics (bet $138 to win $100), +118 Sixers (bet $100 to win $118)

  • O/U: 216 total points

📍 Lakers vs. Warriors

  • The Warriors will be raising their championship banner and holding a ring ceremony ahead of the late game, which happens to be a re-match of last season's opener against the Lakers

  • I don't expect the Lakers to win this one because of a talent gap, but also because Los Angeles struggles to play in the half-court, while Golden State is always defensively stout, compounding the issue

  • So far Los Angeles has yet to win their season opener since LeBron James joined the franchise in 2018. It should be the Warriors night, so I'm taking them to cover the spread (-6)

  • Spread: Warriors -6

  • Moneyline: Warriors -245, Lakers +200

  • O/U: 225 total points

Oh, and since Jordan Poole got paid $123M, here's a bunch of smooth buckets 💧

It's worth noting that LeBron averaged the his highest point total since his third season in the league last year (30.3 ppg), and I think he will continue to focus on scoring for a team that lacks reliable shooting. Can't wait to see how the King looks 👑

Trivia question: What do you think the record is for defending NBA champs on opening night?

Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

For My Parlay Gurus

Tonight I believe in the energy brewing in Philadelphia, so I'm taking the Sixers moneyline. On the other side of things I think the Warriors overwhelm the Lakers at their home arena, and I'm taking them to cover the spread. Welcome back to the NBA, let's ride 👇

  • Sixers ML @ Celtics: +118

  • Warriors -6 vs. Lakers: -106

$100 on this bet would win you $324 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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Trivia Answer: Defending champs have fared well and are 59-16 on opening night

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