NBA Betting Preview: Day 2
Last updated: Oct 17, 2018, 10:18PM | Published: Oct 17, 2018, 5:31AM
Opening night is in the books and the NBA season is officially underway. Day 2 sees 11 games on the agenda, with a jam-packed slate among teams making their season debut.
On today's betting preview we'll be taking a closer look at Milwaukee's visit to Charlotte, Sacramento hosting Utah, and New Orleans blockbuster encounter with Houston.
Milwaukee @ Charlotte
It's a battle of the new coaches as James Borrego's Hornets host Mike Budenholzer's Bucks. Milwaukee will show off it's new system unleashed around Giannis Antetokounmpo, designed to spread the floor and put shooters around the Greek Freak.
Charlotte under their previous coach were a notoriously strong team at home, but we're going against the grain on this one. In some matchups, sometimes it's best to put your faith in the best player on the floor. That's Giannis, and he is going to be frightening under Budenholzer.
Key Factor: Giannis is the key to this play. His per 36 numbers in preseason were ridiculous: 34.8 points, 16.9 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.0 block. Charlotte won't be able to match up to him as he looks to replicate last season's hot start, and it'll be the difference here.
Play: Milwaukee -2
Utah @ Sacramento
The miserable Sacramento Kings take on the Utah Jazz in their respective season opener, and the Kings will be up against it playing a team who finished last season in red-hot form. The Jazz closed out the season on a 29-6 stretch, led by Rudy Gobert's return from injury and Donovan Mitchell's breakout campaign.
Sacramento have some nice young pieces, but they're raw and they'll be up against it in a big way. Points are going to be hard to come by against a Jazz defense that swallows up and spits out offenses for fun.
Key Factor: it's all about that Jazz defense. The league's best last season, they held opponents to 102.9 points per 100 possessions, including 100.9 from January onwards. Rudy Gobert is a monster and Sacramento won't have an answer.
Play: Utah -8.5
New Orleans @ Houston
In what shapes up as the game of the day, the Houston Rockets host the New Orleans Pelicans. Likely to be a high scoring affair, two vastly different offenses will go head to head as the Rockets isolation-heavy style takes on the Pelicans run-and-gun system.
Carmelo Anthony is likely to start in his Houston debut, and Clint Capela will have his work cut out for him against Anthony Davis and Julius Randle. Jrue Holiday vs Chris Paul will also be an interesting battle, with two of the best defensive guards in the league going head to head.
Key Factor: Anthony Davis is the key to this game. The Rockets don't have a matchup for him, and Capela will have his hands full trying to limit his impact. Expect the Pels to keep this close enough even if they don't get the win.
Play: New Orleans +7.5
Season Record: 1-1
