There’s nothing like a Taco Tuesday filled with NBA action, and we’ve got four games on the slate. Early season betting is more about the feel of the roster, rather than informed decisions based on record and play. We don’t have enough games completed yet to have data that’s worth diving into. So tonight, in addition to tacos in our gut, we’ll be using our gut instincts on these games.
Detroit Pistons (+175) at Washington Wizards (-215)
Neither of these teams will be relevant after the All-Star break, but both teams have exciting players to watch. Cade Cunningham is a star, and the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic was a great replacement for Jerami Grant this offseason. Plus, Isaiah Stewart is a brawler on the boards. This team is just a year and another key piece away from making an impact as a low seeded playoff team.
Washington is in a slightly better position, having a poor man’s version of a big 3 in Bradley Beal, Porzingas and Kyle Kuzma. Neither team is going to blow you away on a nightly basis. However, expect Washington to win this game tonight on their home court. The spread is 6, giving Detroit the points, but Washington will cover this. They are the better team, and Detroit will be without a major scorer tonight in Alec Burks. The second Wicked Wager is on the first half line. The current number of 3 is a short one, and the Wizards will cover that with ease. Put your money on Washington tonight.
Wicked Wagers – Washington 1H -3 (-109) / Full Game Washington -6 (-110)
Dallas Mavericks (-220) at New Orleans Pelicans (+175)
The Pelicans are going to be missing Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson tonight. That’s bad for New Orleans, and it’s shocking that Dallas is only favored by 5.5 in this spot. The Mavs should wax the Pelicans tonight with ease.
We don’t have much to go on, as the season is still very young, but the Mavs are the better team even if the Pelicans are at home. Also, they have some guy named Luka Doncic, who is pretty good at basketball. I’m not scared of the 5.5 here on the road and will be playing that. There is a play on the Pelicans that I like for tonight though, and that’s in the first quarter. BetRivers has this line as Pelicans +2 in the first quarter. For a team that’s still going to have Valanciunas and McCollum on the floor, there is no reason they can’t win the first quarter outright. At the very least they can play hard for the first 12 minutes and keep this game close.
Over the course of 48 minutes the Mavs will dominate, but the first quarter plus the points is a sneaky way to get value on the absence of two starters. Remember, for these guys that normally come off the bench these games are a big deal, and we often see those guys show out.
Wicked Wagers – Pelicans 1Q +2 (-127) / Mavericks -5.5 (-113)
Golden State Warriors (-103) at Phoenix Suns (-121)
It’s not every night we get a possible conference finals preview, but here we are. The Warriors visit the Suns in Arizona, with both teams at 2-1. These two teams each had their own preseason drama but both teams are playing well out of the gates.
These teams’ matchup very closely, especially with James Wiseman back for the Warriors. He’s an answer for Deandre Ayton and gives the Warriors much needed size to stop the big man. Devon Booker and Steph Curry have been lights out, and both teams have been scoring at a high rate. This game is a coin flip, however it’s usually best to lean to the home team in these circumstances. Again, this type of slate is about gut feelings, and I have a gut feeling that the Suns will win this game.
What we aren’t relying gut feelings for is a play on the total. Considering it currently sits at 226.5, this games Wicked Wager is the point total under. Phoenix is a good defensive team and hasn’t played a game that would have gone over 226.5 yet this season. It took an overtime game against Portland to get even close to that number. Golden State has played much higher scoring games, but that’s more to their opponent’s credit than theirs. It’s also noteworthy that in four games between these teams last year, none would have hit the over either. Play the under, cash the ticket.
Wicked Wager – Full Game Under 226.5