SmitsTips hit on 2/5 bets in Wednesday’s NBA preview but broke even in value with a handy $3.25 win on LaMarcus Aldridge to score 22+ and the Spurs to win. We will look to improve on that form today as we take a look at some of the key games this Saturday and offer our betting tips below.
2017-18 NBA Preview & Betting Tips for Saturday, 28th October
Oklahoma City Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves (11am AEST)
The Thunder and the Wolves met just last week in OKC and the game ended in thrilling fashion with Andrew Wiggins hitting a 31ft buzzer beater to sink the Thunder. Both teams have looked like they will be playoff teams in the West through their opening games and OKC’s new look star trio of Russel Westbrook, Paul George and Carmelo Anthony have meshed surprisingly well for a new unit.
The Wolves also have a new look unit with Jeff Teague and Jimmy Butler joining the young guns already in Minnesota, their issue coming up against OKC will be their depth. The Wolves fall away after their starting 5 quite dramatically whereas OKC have some really talented players to call upon off their bench. Raymond Felton, Jerami Grant, Patrick Patterson and Josh Huestis have all been impressive for the Thunder this year and will need to be again on the road this Saturday.
OKC will go into the game fully fit, however, Wolves star Jimmy Butler is questionable for the game due to illness. Even with the Wolves at home, without Butler we have to give the slight advantage to the Thunder here.
TIP: Oklahoma City to win - $1.74 at Ladbrokes
Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks (10.30am AEST)
Brooklyn have been a bit of a surprise packet so far this season and currently lead the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 record. Through the first two weeks of the season they are the highest scoring team in the league, averaging over 120 points per game and they come up against the lowest scoring team in the league on Saturday in the Knicks.
The Knicks average just 93 points per game through their first three games, all of them losses, and star centre Kristaps Porzingus looks to be their only threat on offence. Brooklyn will likely be without starting PG D’Angelo Russel for Saturday’s game after going down with a knee injury last week.
It’s a great chance for the Knicks to get their first win on the board here against the Nets at home. Neither team was really expected to be outstanding before the season started and with the Nets losing both of their potential starting point guards in the first week of play, we should see that scoring average start to come down.
TIP: New York Knicks -2.5 - $1.92 at Sportsbet
Washington Wizards at Golden State Warriors (1.30pm AEST)
Punters who backed the Golden State Warriors overs for total wins now will be beginning to sweat as the reigning champions have dropped two of their opening five games. Losses to Houston and Memphis in the first week of play weren’t in the cards for the Warriors, but they have bounced back in their last two with good wins over Dallas and Toronto.
The Toronto game was the first of a three-game home stand in which they’ll aim to settle their season after returning from a three-game road trip through week one of play. They host the Wizards Saturday who suffered a shock defeat at the hands of the Lakers on Thursday to register their first loss of the season. John Wall has been dominant to start the season and the progression of starters Otto Porter and Kelly Oubre Jr gives the Wizards a dangerous line-up.
Golden State start as red hot $1,17 favourites for this matchup, which is a bit of an oversight in our opinion given their somewhat shaky start to the season. The 10.5 line that has been set for this match has only been covered once by Golden State this season and that was against a lacklustre Dallas team. We like the Wizards to keep this one close enough, especially on the back of a disappointing performance against the Lakers.
TIP: Washington +10.5 - $1.91 at Ladbrokes
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