We have NBA picks for Friday, Oct. 25, 18 teams in action and seven of them hosting their 2019-20 season home opener.
Overall, I am off to less-than-desirable 3-6 start, following a 1-3 debut and a 2-3 encore Wednesday night. Tough sledding so far, obviously, but we power on for a Friday evening with 18 teams in action and seven hosting their 2019-20 home opener. The odds used below are provided by The Action Network, the go-to place for all information on all of your NBA picks.
1. Boston Celtics (-3) vs. Toronto Raptors
Boston is fresh off a double-digit loss to the Sixers Wednesday night, looking to avoid an 0-2 start (in the standings as well as against the spread) in their home opener. Toronto stole a win from the Pelicans in the season opener, needing overtime to escape the New Orleans upset bid. Boston and Toronto were projected for slightly under 50 wins in Vegas, making this a pretty even matchup as the slim spread would indicate. This game is likely to come down to the wire, so let’s back the Celtics in their home opener.
2. New Orleans Pelicans (-2) vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Pelicans also have their home opener tonight, following two days off. The Mavericks took care of the Wizards at home Wednesday night but face a much more difficult task tonight trying to match up with the New Orleans roster. The Wizards legitimately might have the worst roster in the NBA top-to-bottom, especially if you take Bradley Beal out of the equation, while the Pelicans, even without Zion Williamson, have a deep and talented mix of youth and veteran savvy. Despite the greatness of Luka Doncic, fade the Mavericks on the road tonight with the tight spread.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (-8) vs. Washington Wizards
The Thunder lost a close game in Utah to start 2019-20, one of the most hostile environments around the league. The Wizards struggled to keep up with a young Dallas roster that is, while talented and potentially something to fear in the future, not the highest quality of opponent at this point. As long as the Thunder are trotting out a healthy group centered around Chris Paul, Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinaro, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they have enough to handle the Wizards. Fade Washington as they play their second road game in three nights.
4. Over 220 total points; Denver Nuggets vs. Phoenix Suns
Denver took care of business in Portland Wednesday night, but tonight we back the over instead of the Nuggets, who are currently 11.5-point favorites over the Suns. Denver played at Portland’s slowed down pace in their first win of the season, making 18-of-32 3-pointers en route to scoring 108 points on 81 field goal attempts. The Suns racked up 124 points in a 29-point win over the Kings in their home opener, showing little issue in regards to scoring. The line of 11.5 points is a high number to cover against an NBA team that just proved it is capable of hanging 120+ points in their last contest and consider me skeptical of the Suns’ (new look or not) ability to hang in a road game vs. the Nuggets for 48 minutes. Trust the points tonight in Denver.