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Earlier this week, the NBA announced the Christmas Day and the opening week national tv schedules. The regular season will begin on October 19 with two games. The night starts at 7:30 p.m. ET with the Brooklyn Nets taking on the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. At 10:10 p.m. ET, the Golden State Warriors will play the revamped Los Angeles Lakers.
Outside of those two games, there are six other games on the schedule over the first week that could be of interest to NBA fans to start the 2021-22 season. Here we’ll take a look at a couple of games from the opening week and where the odds currently stand at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Nets vs. Bucks
We begin the 2021-22 NBA regular season with a rematch of last season’s thrilling Eastern Conference semifinals that went the full seven games between the Nets and Bucks. The Nets will be at full-strength, which includes the Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. We did not get a chance to see all three play together in the Eastern Conference semifinals as Irving suffered an ankle injury midway through the series and Harden was dealing with a hamstring injury.
As for the Bucks, they will look to prove that their title run last season was not a fluke. Their Big 3 of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday stepped up at big time moments through their postseason run. Right now, the spread is currently at a pick’em and moneyline is sitting at even money for both squads (-110). These two teams could see each other again in the playoffs this upcoming season.
Suns vs. Lakers
The other interesting game on the opening week schedule is on Friday, October 22 between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers. Last season, these two teams played each other in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Despite being a 7th seed, many fans and analysts thought that the Lakers would defeat the 2nd seed Suns.
However, that would not be the case as the Suns took advantage of a Lakers team that did not have a healthy Anthony Davis and won the series in six games. LeBron James tried to do his part, but it was just too much to handle from a Suns team that was getting contributions from everybody on the floor. The Lakers will look to send a message to the start season as they have revamped their roster with the acquisition of Russell Westbrook. The Suns did not do much to their roster, but still have a lot to prove after blowing a 2-0 lead in the Finals vs. the Bucks.
Tuesday, October 19
Nets vs. Bucks
Spread: Pick ‘em
Total: 237.5
Moneyline: Nets -110, Bucks -110
Warriors vs. Lakers
Spread: Lakers -4.5
Total: 229.5
Moneyline: Lakers -200, Warriors +170
Wednesday, October 20
Celtics vs. Knicks
Spread: Knicks -1.5
Total: 218.5
Moneyline: Knicks -120, Celtics +100
Nuggets vs. Suns
Spread: Suns -5.5
Total: 224.5
Moneyline: Suns -220, Nuggets +180
Thursday, October 21
Mavericks vs. Hawks
Spread: Hawks -2.5
Total: 225.5
Moneyline: Hawks -140, Mavericks +120
Clippers vs. Warriors
Spread: Warriors -4
Total: 226.5
Moneyline: Warriors -180, Clippers +155
Friday, October 22
Nets vs. Sixers
Spread: Nets -1.5
Total: 230.5
Moneyline: Nets -125, Sixers +105
Suns vs. Lakers
Spread: Lakers -3.5
Total: 227.5
Moneyline: Lakers -180, Suns +155
Saturday, October 23
Hawks vs. Knicks
Celtics vs. Bucks
Spread: Bucks -6
Total: 232.5
Moneyline: Bucks -240, Celtics +195
Warriors vs. Suns
Spread: Suns -3.5
Total: 228.5
Moneyline: Suns -180, Warriors +155
Nets vs. Lakers
Spread: Lakers -1.5
Total: 235.5
Moneyline: Lakers -120, Nets +100
Mavericks vs. Jazz
Spread: Jazz -4.5
Total: 226.5
Moneyline: Jazz -200, Mavericks +170
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