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50* Powerhouse Play on Bucks -6 -109

A pair of strong NBA rosters will face off in Minnesota this evening when the Timberwolves (4-1) play host to the Bucks (4-2).

Milwaukee has regained some of its preseason shine with a pair of victories over Orlando and Toronto. The Bucks won both those games handily, despite having to play them on consecutive days.

On average, the Bucks are scoring 119.2 points per game while allowing 111 points per game.

Milwaukee will go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo takes them, and that will likely be enough for a deep postseason run. So far, Giannis leads the Bucks with 26.7 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

In Milwaukee’s most recent game, Giannis had a game-high 36 points in addition to 15 rebounds and eight assists. Three other Bucks starters pitched in with at least 11 points in the game.

Only a loss to the 76ers that featured a scuffle between Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid has kept Minnesota from earning a perfect record through five games. Most recently, the Wolves defeated the Wizards 131-109.

On average, the Wolves are scoring 118 points and allowing 112 points per game.

Towns has been Minnesota’s best player through the opening part of the season. With 27.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, Towns leads the Wolves.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Rockets/Grizzlies under234 -110

While the Rockets (3-3) continue to struggle on defense, the Grizzlies (1-4) are just, plain struggling. Tonight, these two teams will go head to head in Memphis. The over/under is set at 234 points.

Houston is set for its fourth-straight game on the road after playing in Washington D.C., Brooklyn, and Miami. In all three contests, the Rockets showed they’ll need a lot of offense to overcome their weak defense. In losses to the Heat and Nets, Houston allowed 123 points or more. In their victory over the Wizards, the Rockets allowed 158.

On average, the Rockets are scoring 121.3 points per game while allowing 127 points per game.

It’s no surprise to see James Harden leading the Rockets in scoring with 35.3 points per game. In addition to a team-high 9.8 rebounds and 9.2 rebounds per game, Russell Westbrook has added another 21.2 points per contest.

The Grizzlies needed overtime to take down Brooklyn and earn their first win of the season. Memphis has been unable to win or surpass 105 points in any of their four other games.

On average, Memphis is scoring 106.6 points per game while allowing 119.4 points per game.

With a team-leading 18.8 points per game, Ja Morant has gotten off to a great start to his NBA career. However, the Grizzlies don’t have another player averaging more than 13.2 points per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Mavs -4½ -109

It’s been a strong start to the season for the Mavericks (3-2), who took the Lakers to overtime two night ago. Tonight, Dallas will go into Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers (2-3).

That overtime loss to Los Angeles was one of just two Dallas losses, with the other coming in a two-point game against a strong Portland team. The Mavericks have been able to take down the Pelicans, Wizards, and Nuggets so far this season.

On average, the Mavericks are scoring 113.8 points per game while allowing 112.4 points per game.

Of the star duos in the NBA, the pair of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are often forgotten behind the offerings of the Lakers, Clippers, or Rockets. However, the Dallas duo has been very strong. While Porzingis leads the team with two blocks per game in addition to his 21 points per game, Doncic leads the Mavs with 26.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.

The Cavaliers have an interesting collection of talents, but they’re currently trying to get back to .500. Most recently, Cleveland lost to Indiana after having beaten the Pacers earlier in the season.

On average, the Cavaliers are scoring 103.8 points per game while allowing 107 points per game.

Kevin Love is back to averaging a double-double so far this year with his 17.2 points and 16.8 rebounds per contest. Tristan Thompson is also off to a solid start with 17.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Kings +1 -114

An early-evening NBA matchup will feature two of the worst teams in the league when the Knicks (1-5) host the Kings (1-5) in New York. No matter what, one of these squads will start the year with just one win out of their first seven games.

After dropping their first five contests of the season, Sacramento was able to scrape together their first victory in a one-point game against a strong Utah team. De’Aaron Fox led the Kings in that contest with his game-high 25 points.

On average, the Kings are scoring 99.2 points per game and allowing 113.2 points per game.

Fox leads the team on the season with his 17.7 points per game in addition to his 6.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Buddy Hield struggled from the three-point line in the team’s win over the Jazz, but he’s normally very capable from that range, which is why he’s averaging 16.3 points per game.

Since defeating Chicago towards the end of October, the Knicks have lost two straight to Orlando and Boston. In that contest against the Magic, New York only scored 83 points.

On average, the Knicks are scoring 100.8 points per game while allowing 108 points per game.

While Julius Randle leads New York in both rebounds, with 11 per game, and assists, with five per game, young RJ Barrett is the team’s leading scorer with 17.7 points per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Nuggets/Magic under202 -105

A team with championship aspirations will face off with a team on the rebuild tonight when the Nuggets (3-2) head into Orlando to take on the Magic (2-3). The over/under is set at 202 points.

Since a strong 3-0 start to the season, Denver has dropped two straight to Dallas and New Orleans. Including an overtime win against Phoenix, the Nuggets have failed to score more than 108 points through their first five games.

While the Nuggets have six scorers averaging double-digit points, no players has more than Jamal Murray’s 17.8 points per game. Nikola Jokic is having the largest all-around impact with his 15 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.

The Nuggets are averaging 106 points per game and allowing 106.4 points per game.

Orlando is aiming to get back to .500 after dropping three of their last four, and it isn’t likely they’ll do so if they allow Denver to get over 100 points. Through five games, the Magic have yet to score more than 99 points.

Only three Orlando players are averaging at least 10 points, led by Evan Fournier’s 18 points per game.

On average, the Magic are scoring 94.8 points per game while allowing 99.6 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Pelicans/Thunder over228½ -110

After losing their duo of stars in the offseason, the Thunder (1-4) have gotten off to a rough start to the season. In a late afternoon matchup, the Thunder will host the Pelicans (1-4) in Oklahoma City. The over/under is set at 228.5 points.

With first overall pick Zion Williamson yet to return from injury, New Orleans dropped their first four games of the season. However, they’re fresh off their first win of the year in which they cruised to victory over a strong Nuggets team.

Brandon Ingram, Jahlil Okafor, and Frank Jackson all pitched in with at least 21 points. Okafor’s 26-point performance was the best on the night, and helped him earn a plus/minus of +19. On the season, Ingram is leading the way with a team-high 26.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

Oklahoma City got in on the Warriors-bashing parade with a 120-92 win, but that’s been their only victory of this young season. Since then, the Thunder have lost a pair of games to Houston and Portland.

The Thunder are trying to win with a true team effort. While Shai Alexander leads the team with 21.6 point per game, Steven Adams is tops on the team with 11.8 rebounds per game, and Dennis Schroder has a team-high 4.4 rebounds per game.

While New Orleans is scoring 121.2 points per game, Oklahoma City is scoring 102.2 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Cavs/Pacers over212 -109

Both the Cavaliers (2-2) and Pacers (1-3) will need to keep pace with the Bucks if they want to compete for the division title. Tonight, the Pacers will host the Cavs in Indiana. The over/under is set at 212 points.

Cleveland is coming off a 117-111 win over the Bulls after losing at Milwaukee the game before. For a preview of tonight’s matchup, we can look at the Cavaliers’ second game of the season in which they took down the Pacers by a score of 110-99.

On average, the Cavaliers are scoring 106 points per game while allowing 108.3 points per game.

A lack of star power has allowed center Tristan Thompson to spread his wings. Thus far, Thompson is scoring a team-leading 20.3 points while reeling in 11.8 rebounds per game. Kevin Love has been productive as well, scoring 16 points and adding a team-leading 16.8 rebounds per game.

The Pacers finally got a win in a 118-108 game against Brooklyn after starting the season with three straight losses. Tonight’s game against Cleveland will be Indiana’s first home game since the season opener.

On average, the Pacers are scoring 105.3 points per game while allowing 108.3 points per game.

Domantis Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon lead the way for Indiana. While Sabonis is averaging 22.8 points and 10 rebounds per game, Brogdon is averaging 22 points and 11.3 assists per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Bucks/Magic under216 -110

It’s been a disappointing start to the season for the Bucks (2-2), who don’t figure to lose many games this year. Tonight, Milwaukee will be on the road to take on the Magic (2-2) in Orlando. The over/under is set at 216 points.

The Bucks haven’t faced the easiest schedule in the world to start the 2019-20 season, but they would have expected better results. Although Milwaukee earned wins over Houston and Cleveland, they fell to Miami and Boston.

Thus far, the Bucks are averaging 119.3 points per game while allowing 117.5 points per game.

Khris Middleton has gotten off to a strong start with 20.8 points per game, but this is Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team, and he’s showing it. With 23.8 points, 13.5 rebounds, and eight assists per game, Giannis leads the Bucks in all three categories.

Generally speaking, the Magic have been involved in low-scoring affairs so far this season. Orlando’s two wins came in a 94-85 win over Cleveland and a 95-83 win over the Knicks. In their four games, the Magic have yet to score 100 points. 

On average, the Magic are scoring 95.8 points per game while allowing 93.8 points per game.

While Orlando doesn’t have a dominant player in the lineup, Nikola Vucevic has been a strong performer with 15.8 points and a team-leading 11.2 rebounds per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Spurs/Clippers over226 -109

When Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers (3-2) play host to Leonard’s first team, the Spurs (3-0), they’ll be facing an undefeated squad. The over/under is set at 226 points.

San Antonio hasn’t played many games yet, but they’ve won them all. All at home, the Spurs took down the Knicks and Wizards before winning by three against a good Trail Blazers team three nights ago. Thus far, the Spurs have scored at least 113 in every contest.

Earning an average of 119 points per game, San Antonio is able to lean on five double-digit scorers and two players averaging more than 20 points per game. With 22 points per game, DeMar DeRozan leads the Spurs alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, who’s averaging 21.3 points, eight rebounds, and 2.7 blocks.

The Clippers have lost two of their last three games, but they’ve scored at least 111 points in every contest aside from yesterday’s loss to the Jazz. On average, the Clippers score 116 points per game while allowing 112 points per game.

In Paul George’s absence, the trio of Leonard, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harris continue to lead Los Angeles in scoring. In addition to Harris’ 18.4 points and Williams’ 22.6 points per game, Leonard is averaging 27 points, 7.5 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Jazz -1½ -105

The Clippers (3-1) are the favorites to win the Western Conference as well as the NBA Finals, but there’s plenty of good competition aiming for an upset. One of those good competitors is a talented Jazz team (3-1). Tonight, the Jazz are hoping to prove they can play with anyone when they host Los Angeles.

After opening the season with a pair of relatively comfortable wins over the Lakers and Warriors, the Clippers fell to the Suns before rebounding against Charlotte with a 111-96 victory.

With a 52% field goal percentage, the Clippers are averaging 121.5 points per game while holding their competition to 112.5 points per game.

There’s a sharp drop off in scoring without Paul George on the floor for Los Angeles. Kawhi Leonard, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell are all averaging at least 20 points per game, but the next scorer on the list is Landry Shamet, who’s scoring just 10.3 points per game.

The Jazz have every chance to compete for a Western Conference championship, especially if Donovan Mitchell can take the next step towards superstardom. So far, he’s helped Utah to three wins out of four, with only a loss to the Lakers blemishing the record.

Mitchell, who’s averaging 24 points, five rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, is getting help from CJ McCollum, who’s scoring 23.7 points per game of his own.

The most impressive aspect of the Jazz in the early part of the season is their ability to hold all four opponents to 95 points or fewer.

50* Powerhouse Play on Blazers -1 -109

Through four games of the NBA season, the Trail Blazers (2-2) are a .500 team. Tonight, Portland will travel into Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder (1-3).

Portland is now set for its third-straight road game after going 2-1 against the Kings, Mavericks, and Spurs, with their only loss coming in the second game of a back-to-back against San Antonio. Before this road trip, the Blazers opened the season with a 108-100 loss to Denver.

On average, the Blazer are scoring 113.3 points and allowing 113 points per game.

The scoring duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum has picked up where it left off a season ago. So far, Lillard is averaging 30.8 points per game while McCollum is adding another 23.3 points per game.

Hassan Whiteside has gotten off to a great start for Portland, as he’s dominated the boards with 12.3 rebounds per game while pitching in offensively with 13 points per contest.

The Thunder haven’t found much success in this early season. Of their three losses, Oklahoma City failed to score more than a 95 points in two of them. On average, the Thunder are scoring 103 points per game while allowing 101.3 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been the top scorer for Oklahoma City, averaging 23.8 points per game. The only other Thunder player over 14 points per game is Danilo Gallinari, who’s scoring 19.3 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Bucks/Celtics under223 -110

As the Celtics (2-1) continue their opening stretch of games against Eastern Conference contenders, they’ll host the Bucks (2-1) in Boston this evening. The over/under is set at 223 points.

Milwaukee kicked off the season with a 117-111 win over Houston before falling to Miami in an overtime contest. The Bucks then rebounded with a 129-point performance in a victory against Cleveland two days ago.

Thus far, the Bucks are averaging 124 points while allowing 118 points per game.

As expected, Giannis Antetokounmpo is the main man in Milwaukee. With 24.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and nine assists per game, the Greek Freak leads the Bucks in all three categories. Khris Middleton is the second scoring option for the Bucks right now, as he’s averaging 19 points per game alongside his 6.7 rebounds per contest.

The Celtics opened the season against two teams that figure to compete for some of the higher playoff seeds. After falling to Philadelphia in the season opener, Boston took down Toronto by a score of 112-106. With a good defensive performance, the Celtics held the Knicks to fewer than 100 points in a win on Monday.

A balanced Boston team features a slew of scorers, but without anyone who figures to compete for a scoring title. The Celtics can boast four players with at least 16 points per game between Kemba Walker (22 points), Jayson Tatum (20.3 points), Jaylen Brown (17.3), and Gordon Hayward (16.3 points).

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Heat -8 -105

Through three games, the Hawks (2-1) and Heat (2-1) have identical records. Tonight, the Heat are set to host the Hawks in Miami.

Atlanta opened the season with a pair of wins over Detroit and Orlando. Most recently, the Hawks took their first loss in a tight 105-103 game against Philadelphia. With a win this evening, the Hawks would take control of the Southeast division.

Through three games, Trae Young has been exceptional for Atlanta. Young leads the team in both points, with 34 points per game, and assists, with nine per game. However, it’s hard to find a second scorer on the Hawks right now. John Collins, who leads the team with 10 boards per game, is second on the team with 14.3 points per game.

The Heat have followed the same path to 2-1 as the Hawks by winning their first two contests before dropping the third. It’s easier to forgive Miami’s loss, though, as it came in the second game of a back-to-back.

In the Heat’s overtime win against Milwaukee, Goran Dragic led the team in scoring from the bench with 25 points. On the season, Dragic is tied with Justice Winslow as the second-leading scorer with 19 points per game.

Playing less than 32 minutes per game, Kendrick Nunn leads Miami with 22.3 points per game.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Nuggets/Kings over218½ -109

As the Kings (0-3) go in search of their first win of the season, they’ll host the Nuggets (2-0) in Sacramento this evening. The over/under is set at 218.5 points.

The undefeated Nuggets have scored exactly 108 points in each of their first two games. Most recently, Denver defeated the Suns by a single point in overtime.

In that Phoenix game, Jamal Murray led all Nuggets players with 27 points. Murray also added seven rebounds and three assists on his way to a +3 plus/minus.

However, the star of the game was Nikola Jokic, who earned a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists.

The winless Kings are allowing 119.7 points per game while scoring an average of just 96 points. Most recently, Sacramento lost to Utah by a score of 113-81 with a dreadful shooting performance that included shooting 37% from the field and 26.9% from three.

When you only score 81 points, you likely don’t have any big-time scorers. That was certainly the case for the Kings, who only had two players in double digits – Dewayne Dedmond (11 points) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (10 points).

The Nuggets should be able to score relatively easily on a poor Sacramento defense, and the Kings aren’t likely to be as bad shooting the basketball as they were two days ago.

50* Powerhouse Play on Blazers/Spurs over220 -109

One of the better teams in the West is set to face off with a perennial powerhouse in the conference as the Blazers (2-1) go into San Antonio to take on the Spurs (2-0). The over/under is set at 220 points.

Since losing to the Nuggets in the season opener, Portland has responded with a pair of wins over Sacramento and Dallas. In those two recent games, the Trail Blazers scored 122 and 121 points. On average, the Blazers are scoring 114.3 points per game while allowing 113 points per game.

Early in the season, Portland appears to have a very strong trio in the starting lineup. While CJ McCollum offers a second scoring option with 22 points per game, Damian Lillard leads the team with 31.7 points and six assists per game. The surprise has been Hassan Whiteside, who’s been a beast in the post with 14.7 points and 14 rebounds per game.

The ever-steady Spurs opened the year with wins over the Knicks and Wizards, scoring 120 and then 124 points. On average, San Antonio is scoring 122 points per game while allowing 116.5 points per game.

The Spurs offer a talented trio of their own between LaMarcus Aldridge, who leads the team with 24.5 points per game, DeMar DeRozan, who is averaging 19.5 points per game, and Dejounte Murray, who leads the team with nine rebounds and five assists per game in addition to his 18.5 points.

50* Powerhouse Play on Bulls/Knicks under223 -109

The winless Knicks (0-3) are set to host their second home game of the season this evening as they welcome the Bulls (1-2) to New York. The over/under is set at 223 points.

Since taking a tough, one-point loss to Charlotte to open the season, Chicago took down Memphis by eight and lost a 108-84 game that came as the second game in as many days. On average, the Bulls are scoring 106.3 points per game while allowing 112 points per game.

With 21.3 points per game, Zach LaVine leads all Bulls in scoring. It’s been a decent start to the year for LaVine, who also leads the team with five assists per game in addition to his 4.3 rebounds.

Lauri Markkanen offers the second part of Chicago’s one-two punch alongside LaVine. With 11.7 rebounds per game, Markkanen leads the Bulls on the boards.

New York managed just 95 points in their most recent game – a 118-95 loss to Boston – but it came on the latter end of a back-to-back. The night prior, the Knicks only lost by four points to Brooklyn.

It’s been a very bright start to the season for rookie RJ Barrett. Through his first three games, Barrett is averaging 21 points, five rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.

Julius Randle has been another solid player for the Knicks, scoring an average of 16.3 points per game while bringing in a team-leading 10.7 rebounds.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Blazers/Mavs under221 -115

Tonight, the Trail Blazers (1-1) will have the chance to hand the Mavericks (2-0) their first loss of this young season when they tip off in Dallas. The over/under will be set at 221 points.

Portland followed up a 108-100 opening night loss against Denver with a 122-112 win over Sacramento. Now, the Trail Blazers are set for their second road game in three days.

Against the Kings, both Damian Lillard and Hassan Whiteside earned a plus/minus of +23. Lillard finished the game with 35 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Whiteside was second on the Blazers in scoring with 22 points in addition to his nine rebounds and three assists.

In their two victories, Dallas scored 108 and then 123 points. A field goal percentage of 47.3% has allowed the Mavericks to outscore their opponents by seven and eight points.

Luka Doncic leads the Mavericks in nearly every major category with 29.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. Against New Orleans, Kristaps Porzingis was a huge presence with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists, and five blocks.

On average, the Trail Blazers are allowing 110 points per game and the Mavericks are allowing 108 points per game.

50* Powerhouse Play on Celtics/Knicks over212½ -110

With both teams playing the second game of a back-to-back this evening, the Knicks (0-2) are looking for their first win against the Celtics (1-1) in New York. The over/under is set at 212.5 points.

Boston followed up an opening night loss to the 76ers with a 112-106 win over the Raptors yesterday. The performance on the offensive end of the floor was a big step up from the Philly game, in which they managed just 93 points.

Against Toronto, the Celtics had three scorers over 20 points. While Kemba Walker scored 22, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the way with 25 points, nine rebounds, and four assists each.

Tatum led the way from the three-point line, making four of his seven attempts.

The Knicks will play their first home game of the season after losing on the road against San Antonio and Brooklyn. New York was competitive in both contests, scoring at least 109 points in each.

Against the Nets, six Knicks were in double digits. Allonzo Trier led all New York players with 22 points from the bench. Knicks fans will be excited to see RJ Barrett lead the starters with 16 points in addition to his three rebounds, three assists, and six steals.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Heat/Bucks under225½ -110

Either the Heat (1-0) or the Bucks (1-0) will suffer their first loss early in the 2019-20 season when they face off against one another in a late afternoon game in Milwaukee. The over/under is set at 225.5 points.

Without Jimmy Butler, who Miami brought over the Philadelphia in the offseason, the Heat posted a 120-101 victory over the Grizzlies in the season opener.

Justice Winslow was able to take that game over, scoring 27 points and adding seven rebounds and seven assists on his way to a +22 plus/minus in 37 minutes on the floor. Kendrick Nunn was close behind Winslow with 24 points of his own.

As a team, Miami took just 18 three-pointers and made only seven.

The Heat will be going into Milwaukee without Butler, Dion Waiters, and James Johnson.

The Bucks didn’t have the most explosive offensive performance against Houston in their season opener, but they did enough to win by a score of 117-111.

Beyond Giannis Antetokounmpo, who dominated the game with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, the Bucks didn’t offer much in the way of scoring. No other player on the Milwaukee roster had more than 14 points in the contest.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Blazers -2½ -109

Two teams looking for their first when will face off this evening when the Trail Blazers (0-1) take on the Kings (0-1) in Sacramento.

Portland is coming off a relatively close home loss to a good Nuggets team. The Blazers didn’t shoot well, making just 41.4% of their shots from the field, but they showed their scrappiness with nine steals in the game.

Damian Lillard led all scorers in the game with 32 points, including three three-pointers. Lillard also added eight assists and four rebounds.

Hassan Whiteside put in an efficient shift for Portland, snagging 19 rebounds and scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field.

Sacramento had a tougher time in their season opener against the Suns. By shooting a dismal 39.1% from the field, the Kings were blown out by a score of 124-95.

By shooting 50% from the three-point line and putting up a high volume of shots from the field, guard Buddy Hield scored 28 points in addition to his five rebounds and two assists.

With 14 points, Marvin Bagley III was the next-highest scorer for Sacramento. By bringing down 10 rebounds, Bagley III earned a double-double.

50* Powerhouse Play on Bulls -1 -109

Both the Bulls (0-1) and Grizzlies (0-1) will aim to avoid an 0-2 start when they take on one another this evening in Memphis.

These two teams opened up the 2019-20 season Wednesday night on the road, and while they both lost, Chicago fell by only a single point. By a score of 126-125, Charlotte bested the Bulls while the Grizzlies lost in Miami by a score of 120-101.

Although the outcomes were the same, the Bulls managed to display a better a shooting performance in their matchup. With a 46.7% field goal percentage, Chicago outshot a Memphis team that made just 42.7% of their shots from the field.

For the Bulls, Lauri Markkanen was a beast from everywhere on the floor aside from the three-point line, where he was 1-of-7. In 34 minutes, the Chicago big man scored 35 points and pulled down 17 rebounds, five of which came on the offensive end.

Both Thaddeus Young and Coby White added 17 points each from the bench, which was more than any starter not named Markkanen.

Even without Jimmy Butler in uniform, the Heat cruised to victory over the Griz on Justice Winslow’s 27-point performance.

Memphis didn’t have a single player get to the 20-point mark, but Ja Morant started his NBA campaign with 14 points and five rebounds. 

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Hawks/Pistons under222½ -110

While the vast majority of the NBA played its first game on Wednesday, the Hawks (0-0) are set to open their season tonight in Detroit when they take on the Pistons (1-0). The over/under is set at 222.5 points.

After a 29-53 season a year ago, Atlanta enters its second year of a youth movement spearheaded by Trae Young. Last season, Young averaged 19.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per game.

After an active offseason, Young will be joined by the likes of Evan Turner, Jabari Parker, Cam Reddish, and Vince Carter, who is set for the 22ndand final season of his productive career. If rookie De’Andre Hunter can provide a much-needed defensive presence, this team could take a huge step forward.

The Pistons will enter their home opener without the freshest of legs after playing in Indiana last night. Detroit was able to earn a 119-110 victory over the Pacers without Blake Griffin, and will now aim to do the same thing again.

Andre Drummond was a force for the pistons in that game, leading all scorers with 32 points and adding a monstrous 23 rebounds, seven of which came on offense. Yet after playing 41 minutes, don’t expect Drummond to duplicate that performance in his second game in as many nights.

50* Powerhouse Play on Wolves/Nets over225½ -109

Two teams aiming for low-end playoff seeds will face off to start the season when the Timberwolves (0-0) go up against the Nets (0-0) in Brooklyn.

After ending a 14-year playoff drought last year, the Wolves will once again rely on the All-Star talents of Karl-Anthony Towns. Last season, Towns averaged 24.4 points and a career-high 12.4 rebounds.

The NBA’s youngest head coach, Ryan Saunders, will be pushing his backcourt – Andrew Wiggins and Jeff Teague – to do more damage from the three-point line. Wiggins averaged 18.1 points with 33.9% shooting from three throughout the 2018-19 season.

Under Saunders, it’s highly likely that Minnesota will display a much faster pace than previous years.

The Nets may be a year away from competing for an NBA title, but they’ll be aiming to lay a foundation to build on starting this season.

Brooklyn may be the headliner of a wild offseason by acquiring the trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan. However, the Nets lost both Jared Dudley and All-Star D’Angelo Russell.

Although Irving experienced a tumultuous year in Boston last season, he hit career highs with five rebounds and 6.9 assists per game in addition to averaging 23.8 points.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Celtics/76ers under211½ -110

Two teams aiming to contend for the Eastern Conference title will face off in the season opener as they Celtics (0-0) go into Philly to take on the 76ers (0-0). The over/under is set at 211.5 points.

This Atlantic Division showdown features a host of talent on either side of the ball, which is why only Milwaukee holds better odds than these two teams in the conference.

On the side of Boston, the departures of Al Horford and Aron Baynes will leave them thin at big man, and losing Kyrie Irving takes away a huge scoring threat. However, the Celtics were able to sign Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter to ease those losses.

Walker will be added to a talented roster that features Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward. But with a number of players learning to play together, the Celtics may need some time to gel offensively.

Philadelphia’s big offseason losses included Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick, but the team was able to reload by adding Josh Richardson and Al Horford.

Those two players will join Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris to send out a formidable squad with plenty to offer on both ends of the floor.

50* Powerhouse Play on Magic -8 -114

New Cavaliers (0-0) head coach John Beilein is set to make his debut for the franchise on the road against the Magic (0-0) in Orlando.

Beilein is taking over a team that has three remaining or returning players from the 2016 glory days: Matthew Dellavedova, Kevin Love, and Tristan Thompson. Love hasn’t been able to return to his 26 point, 13 rebound days from Minnesota, but he averaged 17 points and 10.9 rebounds a season ago.

With some young talent in the form of Collin Sexton and rookie Darius Garland, the Cavs have a shot at the playoffs if they get solid contributions from Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.

The Magic have made some moves that give them a great opportunity to make a second-straight postseason appearance for the first time since 2012. First of all, Orlando resigned Nikola Vucevic, who averaged 20.8 points, 12 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game last year.

Orlando simply offers more firepower than the Cavs, featuring Terrence Ross, Michael Carter-Williams, Markelle Fultz, Aaron Gordon, and Jonathan Isaac.

If Gordon, who shot 34.9% from three last year, and Isaac, who shot 32.3% from three last year, can improve from deep, this team could be dangerous.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Lakers -2½ -110

The NBA season will tip off with a bang as we get things started with the battle for Los Angeles between the Lakers (0-0) and Clippers (0-0).

While we’ll have to wait for the real war between LeBron James and Anthony Davis versus Kawhi Leonard and Paul George – George is out after undergoing surgery on his shoulders – tonight’s matchup will certainly quench a thirst that was created as soon as these two teams acquired their premier talent.

After sending a host of young players to New Orleans, including Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, and Brandon Ingram, the Lakers acquired Davis and became an instant favorite in the Western Conference. Davis joins LeBron and the up-and-coming talent of Kyle Kuzma in addition to veteran role players like JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo.

The Clippers pulled off a pair of blockbuster moves to land free agent Kawhi Leonard and acquire Paul George from the Thunder. With the likes of Patrick Beverley leading the role players on the Clippers, this team is full of scrappy guys who’ll compliment their stars.

Without George on the floor, the advantage falls to the Lakers. Last year, Davis averaged 25.9 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game with the Pelicans, and LeBron averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game for L.A.

As we get our first look at these two teams, keep an eye on Danny Green and what sort of contribution he can provide for the Lakers from three.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Blazers/Nuggets under220 -110

Throughout the preseason, the Trailblazers (2-2) haven’t had much trouble scoring points and the Nuggets (3-0) haven’t lost a game. Tonight, these two squads will face off in Denver.

Portland has scored at least 118 points twice in their exhibition games, and they’re coming off 126-118 win over Utah.

In that game, the duo of C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard did the majority of the damage for the Blazers. Including five three-pointers, McCollum ended the contest with a game-high 28 points in addition to four assists. Lillard finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and four assists of his own.

After going 11-of-15 from the field and 5-of-7 from three, don’t expect McCollum to be as efficient in tonight’s game.

The Nuggets have won all three games in the preseason, but have failed to score more than 111 in any of them. Most recently, Denver defeated Phoenix 107-102.

Jerami Grant led the Nuggets with 22 points in that contest, followed by 18 from Gary Harris and 16 from Jamal Murray. Despite scoring just three points, Torrey Craig led the Nuggets with a plus/minus of +20.

No Denver opponent has scored more than 102 thus far in the preseason.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Melbourne United +23 -110

The Kings (2-2) will open up the regular season against the Suns on October 23rd. Tonight, Sacramento will complete its final in-game preparations in the team’s preseason finale against Melbourne United.

After starting the preseason with a pair of losses to the Pacers, including a 132-131 overtime loss in the first exhibition game, the Kings have rallied to defeat the Suns 105-88 and the Jazz 128-115.

The latter of Sacramento’s wins came against Utah, when the Kings received another effective night from guard Buddy Hield. On 9-of-17 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from three, Hield racked up 23 points in 28 minutes. Hield ended with a plus/minus of +22 and added five assists and three rebounds.

The team’s second leading scorer was Marvin Bagley III, who put up 22 points in 30 minutes on the floor. Bagley was a 50% shooter from the floor and from three on 16 and four attempts, respectively. The Kings power forward had a strong night on the boards, bringing down 11 rebounds and blocking two shots.

The Sacramento bench was led by Bogdan Bogdanovic, who scored 16 points alongside eight assists and five rebounds in 29 minutes.

50* Powerhouse Play on Spurs +4 -110

Through three preseason games, the Spurs (0-3) are winless. For head coach Gregg Popovich, getting better performances out of his team with just two games remaining before regular season play will be the objective. Tonight, the Spurs will take on the Rockets (3-1) in Houston.

While the Spurs have allowed between 107 and 125 points in each preseason game thus far, the Rockets have scored at least 109 points in each of their exhibition games. The bigger issue for Houston is having allowed 129 and 111 points to the Raptors in back-to-back games.

San Antonio most recently took on New Orleans in a game highlighted by Demar DeRozan and Bryn Forbes. While DeRozan had 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field, Forbes was 7-for-13 on his way to 18 points for the Spurs.

It was no surprise to see both James Harden and Russell Westbrook leading the Rockets in scoring in their latest contest. Both men put up 22 points, three rebounds, and three steals while Westbrook dished out four assists and Harden assisted nine times.

Both teams will have one preseason game remaining after this evening’s contest.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Cavs +4½ -110

Through three preseason games, the Celtics (3-0) have failed to lose a single contest. Tonight, the Celtics will go into Cleveland to take on the Cavaliers (1-2) for the second-straight game.

Game by game, Boston has scored 107, 100, and 118 points against the Hornets, Magic, and Cavs. Meanwhile, Cleveland has scored 120, 105, and 72 against San Lorenzo, Detroit, and Boston.

In Sunday’s matchup between these two squads, a 37-9 second quarter put the game out of reach for Cleveland before the halftime break. On the way to a 118-72 blowout, Boston outscored the Cavs in every single quarter of play.

The Cavaliers can’t be much worse from the three-point line. The five Cleveland starters went a combined 1-for-22 from beyond the arc. So, of a potential 66 points, the starter alone left 63 points on the floor.

Sindarius Thornwell was Cleveland’s best player, scoring 12 points and bringing down five rebounds in 17 minutes. Thornwell wasn’t all that far off from matching the combined point total of all five starters, who managed just 21 points on a horrid shooting night.

The Celtics, who received double-digit scoring nights from three starters and three subs, should be expecting tougher competition from a Cavaliers team that would struggle to shoot worse than they did a few nights ago.

50* Powerhouse Play on Bulls/Raptors under224½ -109

The Bulls (0-3) have failed to earn a win in any one of their three preseason contests this far, but have another chance this evening when they go on the road to take on the Raptors (1-1). The over/under is set a 224.5 points.

Although Chicago is yet to finish a game as the victors, they’ve scored 112 points or more in two of their three games. Only a 105-87 loss to Indiana has kept the Bulls from triple digits.

In that loss to the Pacers, guard Coby White was the most prolific offensive player by a wide margin. With 24 points on 10-of-22 from the field and 4-of-9 from three, White led all scorers. White also managed to snag eight rebounds in his 30 minutes on the floor.

The Raptors have played Houston twice in this preseason. In both games – a 134-129 win and a 118-111 loss – Toronto has easily reached triple digits.

In the loss, four Raptors starters reach double-digit points. With five three-pointers, Norman Powell led the team with 22 points in just 22 minutes. Fred VanVleet earned a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists from the point guard position.

Pascal Siakam added another 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, and Serge Ibaka added 12 points and eight boards.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on 76ers/Magic over206½ -109

The NBA regular season is rapidly approaching, and both the Philadelphia 76ers (2-0) and Orlando Magic (3-1) will be finetuning their squads in a contest against one another. The over/under is set at 206.5 points.

Philly has won both its preseason games thus far, taking down Guangzhou 144-86 before defeating Charlotte 100-87. On average, the 76ers have scored 122 points per game in the preseason.

Against the Hornets, Josh Richardson and Tobias Harris led the way. Richardson had 18 points, four assists, and three blocks in 25 minutes, and Harris had 16 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes. Al Horford added another 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Magic scored at least 115 in their first two exhibition games before beating Atlanta 97-88 and losing to Boston 100-75. On average, Orlando is scoring 109 points per game through four games.

Terrance Ross has been a standout player for the Magic in the preseason, and the game against the Celtics was no exception. While all five starters failed to reach double-digit points, Ross scored 21 points and earned a plus/minus of +10.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Blazers -1½ -109

Both the Suns (1-1) and Blazers (1-1) have earned one win and one loss so far in the preseason. Tonight, these two teams will continue the road towards regular season basketball with a contest in Portland.

Phoenix followed up a 111-106 win over the Timberwolves with a 105-88 loss to the Kings.

In that recent game against Sacramento, Devin Booker led the Suns with 18 points in 24 minutes. Booker also contributed seven rebounds alongside three assists and three steals.

Dario Saric failed to get in a rhythm, shooting just 3-for-12 from the field and 1-for-5 from three. In the end, Saric had nine points and six rebounds in the game.

The Trailblazers opened the preseason with a 105-94 loss to the Nuggets, but quickly rebounded with a 104-68 win over Haifa Maccabi.

In the latter game, Anfernee Simons scored a team-high 22 points in 30 minutes on the floor. In addition to a plus/minus of +21, Simons added four three-pointers, five rebounds, and three assists. With 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two blocks, Zach Collins earned the best plus/minus on the Blazers with a +22.

50* Powerhouse Play on Celtics/Magic over215 -110

Although it may not mean anything when the regular season begins, both the Celtics (1-0) and Magic (3-0) have started off the preseason with flawless records. With an over/under of 215, these two teams will face off this evening. The over/under is set at 215 points.

Boston has played just one game thus far, winning by a single point over Charlotte in a 107-106 contest. The Celtics will play just four total preseason games, with a pair of contests against the Cavaliers waiting after this Magic game.

Against the Hornets, Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 20 points in 23 minutes on the floor. Tatum was 3-for-8 from three, and added four rebounds, three steals, one assist, and one block. Kemba Walker added 12 points and and four assists of his own.

Other than a low-scoring 97-88 win over Atlanta, the Magic have scored 115 and 125 points in their two other preseason victories. In Orlando’s win over Detroit, Aaron Gordon put up 25 points on 10 of 17 shooting from the field.

In the most recent game, it was Terrance Ross who led the team with 20 points from the bench. Jonathan Isaac pitched in with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals in 26 impressive minutes.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Cavs/Pistons over216½ -110

As preparations for the 2019-20 NBA regular season continue, the Cavaliers (1-0) will take on the Pistons (1-1) in Detroit. The over/under is set at 216.5 points.

Both Cleveland and Detroit put up a big offensive number in their most recent games. Against San Lorenzo, the Cavaliers scored 120 points. In a win against Dallas, the Pistons scored 124 points.

In Cleveland’s win, the team got at least 12 points from Cedi Osman (12 points), Tristan Thompson (14 points), Larry Nance Jr. (15 points), Jordan Clarkson (17 points), and Kevin Porter Jr. (16 points).

Thompson has the most impressive performance of the bunch, receiving a plus/minus of +28 while racking up 10 rebounds and three assists in addition to his point total.

In Detroit’s win over Dallas, Luke Kennard was the Pistons’ top scorer with 19 points in 26 minutes on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. Blake Griffin pitched in with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists in his 27 minutes on the floor.

Bruce Brown was the only Detroit starter unable to hit double digits, as Andre Drummond scored 13 points, Reggie Jackson scored 13 points, and Tony Snell scored 11 points in addition to Griffin.

50* Powerhouse Play on Nuggets/Clippers over226 -110

The Clippers (1-1) are set to play host to the visiting Nuggets (1-0) in Los Angeles tonight. The over/under is set at 226 points.

Denver started the preseason with a 105-94 win over the Portland Trailblazers tow nights ago. With 14 points in 20 minutes, Paul Millsap led all scorers. Millsap added five rebounds, two steals, and a block. Michael Porter Jr. played 17 minutes off the bench, scoring nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field.

The Clippers followed up a 109-96 loss to the Rockets in the preseason opener with a 127-87 win over the Shanghai Sharks. In the latter game, Maurice Harkless led Los Angeles in scoring with 16 points in just 12 minutes. Jeff Green went 5-for-10 from the field to put up 13 points.

After the game against Los Angeles, the Nuggets will play Phoenix and Portland again before kicking off the regular season against Portland on October 23rd.

Before the Clippers start the season against the Lakers on October 22nd, they’ll face Melbourne and Dallas after this Nuggets game.

Although Kawhi Leonard will not play against Denver, both teams have the potential to score 115 points or more.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Suns/Kings over229 -110

The Suns (1-0) and Kings (0-2) will continue their respective marches towards the 2019-20 season with a preseason matchup in Sacramento. The over/under is set at 229 points.

Phoenix kicked off preseason action with a 11-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves two nights ago. In 21 minutes on the floor, DeAndre Ayton led all Suns with 18 points and 13 rebounds in the game. Frank Kaminsky came off the bench to score 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field.

The Suns are likely to continue giving solid minutes to their starters with just three preseason games remaining before competitive play kicks off.

The Kings started the preseason with two losses to the Pacers, but they scored 131 points in one of them. The most recent contest was a 130-106 game.

In 28 minutes, Buddy Hield led the Kings with 17 points, and added five rebounds and five assists. Marvin Bagley III scored 15 points and reeled in six boards. Yogi Ferrell was the best player from the bench, scoring 12 points with four assists.

Sacramento has allowed an average of 131 points between its two games thus far, so Phoenix should have little trouble offensively.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Bucks -2½ -110

As the Utah Jazz (1-0) and Milwaukee Bucks (1-0) prepare to kick of the 2019-20 NBA regular season, they’ll face off against one another this evening. Both teams won their preseason opener.

The Jazz began their preseason campaign with a 133-81 win over the Adelaide 36ers. Center Tony Bradley led the team with 18 points and a plus/minus of +30. Jeff Green added 16 points in 18 minutes of play.

The Bucks kicked off the preseason with a 122-112 win over the Chicago Bulls. The Lopez brothers each played 19 minutes. Robin Lopez ended the game with 14 points and five rebounds while Brook Lopez racked up 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Utah will go into this game with several players on the injured list. Donovan Mitchell, Dante Exum, and Rudy Gobert are all listed as day-to-day at this point in time, with no reason with risk their health in a preseason game.

While Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe, and Khris Middleton didn’t see action in the first preseason game, coach Mike Budenholzer has intimated those players are likely to get action in this game.

The Jazz will play New Orleans, Sacramento, and Portland before getting the regular season underway. The Bucks have Dallas, Washington, and Minnesota remaining on their preseason schedule.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Adelaide 36ers/Jazz under209 -110

As the Utah Jazz get ready to kick off a new season in search of further postseason success, they’ll begin their preparations with a preseason matchup against the Adelaide 36ers. The over/under is set at 209 points.

This 2019 Jazz team should feature more firepower than the team has had in years. Alongside breakout star Donovan Mitchell, a full-strength Jazz team will start Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Rudy Gobert.

Last year, Mitchell led all Jazz players with 23.8 points per game. Mitchell also added 4.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

At center, Gobert led Utah with 12.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Gobert was also the team’s second leading scorer with 15.9 points per game.

Former Grizzlies point guard Conley figures to be a big upgrade for the Jazz. Last year, Conley scored 21.1 points per game while adding 3.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists on average.

Bogdanovic brings his 18 points and 4.1 rebounds per game over from his 2018-19 season with the Pacers.

Although the Jazz should never be in doubt against the 36ers of the NBL, that wasn’t the case last year. In a preseason game last season, the 36ers outscored Utah in the first and third quarters.

100* Sharp Money Syndicate Play on Rockets -3½ -110

Coming off a 140-71 victory over the Shanghai Sharks, the Houston Rockets will face off against the Clippers in another preseason matchup. This will be Los Angeles’ first preseason contest, and will take place in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

After a 53-29 season, the Rockets will head into a new year with James Harden at the forefront of everything they do. However, Houston has added a big piece in the form of former Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russel Westbrook.

Last season, Harden scored 36.1 points per game while earning an average of 6.6 rebounds and 7.5 assists. Meanwhile, Westbrook racked up 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game.

Despite putting Westbrook and Harden together, the more anticipated duo will be that of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Leonard comes to LA after a championship season with the Raptors, and George arrives in his new home after playing with Westbrook in Oklahoma City last year.

Leonard, who averaged 26.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game last year, is unlikely to play in the Clippers’ two preseason games in Hawai’i.

In the 2018-19 season, George led the Thunder with 28 points per game. George also average 8.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.